This is all very very sad. However, all I've ever heard is that a dog forgets about what they have done within 10, 20 seconds. But I actually think they do know what they have done. Because sometimes I leave my 2 little ones in the house to roam while I leave and when I come back, if I see that they have gotten into things and made a mess or if one of them pottied where they shouldn't have, all I have to do is look at the mess (they run to me when I get home so they are watching my every move) and let out a gasp of disbelief and the one who didn't puts their head down and sneaks away to their crate. The one who didn't do it will stick with me in this happy go lucky way. Maybe my puppies just have this great memory, I don't know. But they do know when they've done something bad I just wish it would kick in before they do it! LOL!
Ok sorry, way off the topic, but I had a response to an above comment.