The dog behaviorist Alexandra Horowitz says that dogs don’t feel guilt or act guilty; they just act submissive to appease the alpha. She’s run experiments that seemed to indicate this. Your anecdote is exactly the kind of thing she says shouldn’t happen, although maybe he was anticipating your anger and trying to compensate in advance.
The dog behaviorist Alexandra Horowitz says that dogs don’t feel guilt or act guilty; they just act submissive to appease the alpha. She’s run experiments that seemed to indicate this. Your anecdote is exactly the kind of thing she says shouldn’t happen, although maybe he was anticipating your anger and trying to compensate in advance.