We love our dogs. Deeply, irrationally, and with a level of devotion usually reserved for soulmates and celebrities we’ve never met. But what if we told you your furry best friend isn’t as innocent as they seem?
That’s right — your dog might be gaslighting you.
It starts subtly. A missing sandwich. A mysteriously overturned trash can. A wide-eyed look that says, “Wasn’t me.”
Suddenly, you’re questioning your memory, your judgement, and whether you imagined the half-chewed slipper.
Here are 10 telltale signs your dog is gaslighting you — and no, it’s not just in your head.
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1. They Pretend They Didn’t Just Hear You Say “Sit” for the 500th Time
You know they know what “sit” means. They’ve done it a million times.
But now? Suddenly, they just look at you blankly, like they’ve never heard the word before in their life. Maybe even tilt their head as if to say, “What is this ‘obedience’ of which you speak?”
You question yourself: Did I train them properly? Am I being unclear?
Nope. You’ve been played.
Gaslighting level: Olympic-tier. You’re doubting your own commands.
2. They Act Starving — Right After They Just Ate
They’ll inhale their food, lick the bowl clean, and then look at you like you forgot to feed them. Cue the dramatic stare. The sad sigh. The paw on your leg.
You check the bowl… and then check your sanity.
“Did I actually feed them? Am I a monster?”
Gaslighting level: Canine con artist. They’d win an Oscar for best performance in a dinner scene.
3. They Suddenly ‘Can’t’ Jump on the Couch — Until You’re Not Looking
They’ll whine at the foot of the sofa like they’re physically incapable of jumping up.
You feel bad. You bring over their favourite blanket, maybe even lift them.
Then, two hours later, you walk in to find them asleep on the backrest like a panther.
Gaslighting level: Manipulative genius. Has you doing all the work for something they could do in one bounce.
4. They Hide Their Toys — Then Act Like You Lost Them
You saw them take the squeaky chicken behind the curtain.
You watched it happen.
But now they’re standing in front of you, looking betrayed, like you let the beloved chicken vanish into the void.
You end up crawling under the couch in your pyjamas, muttering apologies.
Gaslighting level: Emotional blackmail with a squeaker.
5. They Do Something Naughty, Then Immediately Act Cute to Distract You
One second, they’re ripping apart your sofa cushion.
The next, they’re sitting sweetly, head tilted, tail wagging like a metronome of innocence.
You try to be mad. But somehow, you’re the one apologising for raising your voice.
Gaslighting level: Weaponised cuteness.
6. They Play Dead When It’s Time for a Bath
You so much as look in the direction of the shampoo, and suddenly your dog is a limp sack of fur.
You try to move them. They go boneless.
You try to coax them. They act as though they’re being marched to their doom.
And then, right after the bath? They’re zooming around the house at Mach 5 like nothing ever happened.
Gaslighting level: Academy Award winner for “Most Dramatic Overreaction to Soap.”
7. They Bark at Nothing — Then Act Like You’re the Paranoid One
Your dog suddenly erupts in a barking frenzy at the door.
You jump up, heart racing. Who’s there? Is it danger?
You peek outside… and there’s absolutely nothing.
You turn around, and your dog is calmly licking their paw like, “What? You’re being dramatic.”
Gaslighting level: Chaos agent with plausible deniability.
8. They Pretend to Be Hurt — Until the Lead Comes Out
Limping? Paw drag? Sudden inability to climb the stairs?
You panic. You consider calling the vet. You start googling “dog bone disease.”
Then you shake the lead, and your dog forgets they were ever on death’s door and sprints to the door like an Olympic athlete.
Gaslighting level: Medical miracle… with timing.
9. They Insist on Going Out, Then Just Sniff the Wind Like It’s a Religion
You pause your Netflix show. You put on shoes. You open the door.
Your dog bolts outside like it’s urgent… then just stands there, sniffing into the breeze like some kind of philosophical sage.
No bathroom break. No run. Just contemplation.
You start to wonder: Was this a power play?
Gaslighting level: Zen master of wasted time.
10. They Make You Feel Guilty for Leaving… Then Sleep the Whole Time You’re Gone
You walk out the door. The look they give you is devastating.
You picture them pining, pacing, and staring at the door all day.
Then you check your pet cam and see they’ve been asleep on your pillow for six hours.
They barely even noticed you were gone.
Gaslighting level: Emotional puppeteer with a fluffy tail.
Final Thoughts: The Fluffiest Master Manipulators
Let’s be clear: your dog isn’t evil. They’re not malicious.
They’re just really, really good at getting what they want — and looking adorable while doing it.
That’s the genius of dog gaslighting. You know they’re working you… but you don’t care. Because at the end of the day, they’re still your best friend. Your ride-or-die. Your manipulative little furball with the heart of gold.
And honestly? You’d fall for it all again tomorrow.
And they know it.
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Amanda created and owns The Discerning Cat. A lifelong cat lover she is the proud parent of two Siberian cats, Alexei and Vladimir. She is passionate about understanding cats and different cat breeds.