Dogs Laugh, Study

While making my daily commute home from work today, the CBC news reported a study that concluded that dogs have a sense of humor, in a matter of speaking. A number of studies have concluded that certain vocalizations dogs make during play have a relaxing effect on other dogs, which suggests that they might be indicative of laughter.

A quick search on the web wielded these results, among many others:

Paws & Pets: Do Dogs Laugh?
Rested Dog Inn: Dogs May Be Having The Last Laugh - On Us
The Washington Times: Dogs Laugh When They Play
MSNBC.com: It's No Joke: Even Animals "Laugh"
Physorg.com: Dog "Laugh" Silences Other Dogs
Science News: Don't Look Now, But Is That Dog Laughing?

So, what does this mean? It's nothing new, really. I have studied animal behavior, and play behavior in children and animals. Many Animal species are known to make certain vocalizations while engaged in play behavior. All it really tells us is that the animal subject is relaxed and happy.

It is more of a philosophical question if you wonder if these animals posses a sense of humor -- which to me, is a far more interesting question. I'd like to see a dog laugh when it sees some old person slip on a banana peel, or when it sees some guy take a football to the groin.

But then again, developing a sense of humor is social and cultural. What is inherently funny for one person may not be amusing; it may even be annoying to another.

More study of primates in the wild -- especially the great apes -- might give us insight into the question of whether a sense of humor is entirely a human trait. Chimpanzees exhibit similar behaviors when they are excited, which resembles humans when they are entertained. They smile, make vocalizations similar to laughter, they clap their hands and beat their chests; they jump up and down as if barely able to contain their excitement. Watch an excitable child for any length of time, and you'll see what I mean.

When you study animal behavior as much as I have, you become amazed at how human-like animals are... You also realize how animal-like we really are.