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Does your dog laugh? Researchers Think So

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Contributed by: Luanne Porter on 9/17/2007

The dog behaviorists at Spokane County Regional Animal Protection Services, "SCRAPS" say there is a definite difference between a dog's normal panting and the sound of it's laughter, and they have the tapes to prove it. Patricia Simonet, of Sierra Nevada College in Lake Tahoe, brought this revelation, and the audio proof, to the attention of the experts at SCRAPS.

"To an untrained human ear, it sounds much like a pant, 'hhuh, hhuh,'" says Simonet. "However, this exhalation bursts into a broader range of frequencies than does regular dog panting."

Simonet discovered this when she and her students analyzed recordings.They investigated the question by standing in parks with a parabolic microphone that enables them to record dog hubbub from a distance. Later, with recordings of those laughs and growls, the researchers tested 15 mostly young dogs in an observation room. When the researchers broadcast the laugh, a puppy often picked up a toy or trotted toward a presumed playmate, if a person or another dog was in the room. Simonet's own best attempt at the laugh likewise prompted dogs to look for a romp. Broadcasting growls elicited no such effects.

Luanne Porter, or "Mom," as almost everyone calls her, a dog behaviorist who owns and operates Mom's K9 Kamp in Sherman Oaks, says she's glad that, finally, someone is proving what she and countless dog lovers have known all along.

"Dogs definitely have a sense of humor. My training method depends on their fun loving nature and their ability to laugh. And it helps tremendously with my day care and boarding. I've never tried to distinguish the actual sound of their laughter, but I've never doubted it for a minute. I can see it in their body language, and I'm not just talking about a wagging tail. It's the facial expressions, the wriggling body, the 'happy feet', all sorts of things.They not only experience laughter and joy, they experience all the emotions man experiences. And laughter is the epitome of joy. Just watch a dog at play, or take note of his reaction when you ask him if he wants to go to the dog park. Is there any doubt that he's delirious with the anticipation of it all?"

The researchers also found that when tapes of dogs laughing are played for dogs in a kennel or shelter situation, the usual frenzied barking dissipates and the dogs seem somewhat comforted by the sound.

"That doesn't surprise me at all", says Porter, who has seen dogs develop a camaraderie very similar to man. "That just speaks to their natural affinity for making emotional connections. I've seen my regular clients' dogs make friends with each other here. After a separation when they've both been home for awhile and they meet again, here at Kamp, it's obvious they're happy to see one another. It's like old-home-week. They have fun with each other and take comfort from one another.

"I've also seen dogs grieve for each other. When two dogs grow up in the same home together and one dies, the remaining dog often shows grief with symptoms like excessive paw licking or biting, low energy, a lack of appetite, and even waking in the middle of the night, disoriented and seemingly searching for someone or something. Dogs develop emotional connections with each other and with us.There is no doubt in my mind."

Porter has been studying dogs, and doing cage-free training, boarding and daycare, in home environments, for 25 years. She's developed her own, unique, method of "laughter-training" for dogs, with "play" for rewards rather food. She says it keeps them happy, attentive and eager to learn.

"I can't tell you how many dog owners have come to me with their 'untrainables', saying things like, 'Princess FiFi just won't listen.' or 'No matter how much I yell at him, Mortimer Jr. won't stop peeing in the house!'" The problem is usually a lack of communication which leads to a frustrated, angry owner, and a dog who wants nothing more than to please, but doesn't speak our language--yet. And, faced with an angry owner who isn't aware, all the dog can do to save himself is run off or tune out.

"How would you feel if someone were speaking to you in a foreign language you couldn't understand, and, suddenly, for no apparent reason, just burst out yelling at you, or hit you?" Porter said. "To get a dog back to the stage where she's eager to please and to learn, I use humor and play, along with a willingness to make a complete fool of myself. Dogs love that. When I can hit that funny bone, it's great fun for both of us. And they become very enthusiastic students. There's nothing that keeps a dog's attention more than a good chuckle. As a matter of fact, when a dog that's nervous, sad, shy and/or frightened comes to me, my first job is to get him laughing. That breaks the ice, lightens the mood, and then I can start working (and playing) with him."

'Mom' is celebrating 25 years in this field, and her first year here in Sherman Oaks by introducing some very interesting new programs to this area. There's 'K9 Weight Loss Kamp' for the couch-potato-chow-hound, ; 'Turbo Care Free Housebreaking', an amazingly quick (3-5 days) and humane way to teach a dog where to relieve himself; and the program that gets the kids involved: 'K9 Kids'.

"Parents often get a dog or puppy only after eliciting promises of life and death from the kids that they will be the dog's caretaker, and do all the required feeding, clean-up, walking and training. A week or two after the pup comes home, though, the kids lose interest, and/or are frustrated with their attempts at training, and leave all the dog chores undone. This creates conflict in families, and, meanwhile, the puppy's behavior gets more complicated. The 'K9 Kids' program helps the kid(s) understand the dog better, makes training more fun, and helps the child and dog to form a deeper bond. The child is now more aware that this little animal is not just something to play with and leave alone like any other toy. This little animal loves this child and needs him. The kids can now relate to the puppy and it gives them motivation to take care of it.

'Mom' has been developing all these programs over the years to meet the growing and changing needs of today's dog owners and is enjoying introducing them to clients in this area. There are 'Field Trip Wednesdays', and, for the hot summer days, water games, mud play, and a wading pool. Everything is centered on play, laughter and love. There are three separate indoor/outdoor play areas(for small, medium, and large dogs). "They eat when we eat, sleep where they choose to sleep, and they are part of the family here. Some of them come for training originally, and then often come back and visit us for day care and/or boarding. Others come here just for the boarding or day care,and they all laugh and enjoy playing.

"We teach the untrained dogs what the rules are and make sure they follow them, so that when they go home, they understand how to behave. We also teach their humans how to reinforce everything their dogs have learned and how to make it fun for everyone.That's what the dogs want, and that's what they need. It doesn't take a whole lot of research to know, without doubt, that Man's Best Friend laughs, smiles, feels sorrow, anxiety..... everything we feel."

There are skeptics, but there's more science, too. Studies have shown that all mammals, including dogs, have a "pleasure center" in their brains that is stimulated by dopamine, the chemical that releases feelings of joy and happiness. For example, when a dog is playing fetch, dopamine is released in the pleasure center and the dog is "happy."

Since humans have very similar brain chemistry, shouldn't we assume that dogs and humans experience all emotions in similar ways? Is it such a leap to believe dogs have a sense of humor?

Penn State guest lecturer Fred Metzger, DVM, isn't so sure. "Dogs probably don't feel emotions like love(for instance) in the typical way humans do. Dogs make investments in human beings because it works for them. They stand something to gain from putting so-called emotions out there. The more 'cute factor' they give us, the more we feel like they love us. This makes it more likely that we will give them more attention, food treats, outdoor access-all based on how much of a show they put on for us." Metzger theorizes that dogs "love" us as long as we continue to reward their tricks and antics with treats and attention.

'Mom' respectfully, but strongly, disagrees. "So, they aren't capable of experiencing emotions, but they're extremely capable actors? No. Treats are nice, sure, but what a dog is really looking for is our love, which, admittedly, could translate to affection. I think maybe we're doing a little bit of 'tomato/tomäto', there, but, semantics aside, I'm not sure if Dr. Metzger is giving the dogs enough credit. Or is he giving them too much? Do they just respond to us with unbridled emotion, or do they spend their spare time plotting things to get treats and attention? And let's not forget about dogs' legendary loyalty.

"Throughout history there have been stories of dogs risking life and limb for their 'master'. I've seen dogs loyal to 'masters' who starve them and beat them. They get no 'treats'. The dog's loyalty is never ending and sublime, and, in those cases, extremely sad. This is not an animal performing tricks for instant gratification. This is an animal who truly feels all the same emotions humans feel, and frequently loves with more grace than the average human being. This is an animal who loves unconditionally. That's emotion."

'Mom's' position is clear. "Dog's don't hatch plans. They operate on unrestricted emotion. The things that make a dog most happy are our presence, the presence of other, familiar dogs and play. Play begets laughter, laughter produces a happy dog." People, more and more, are becoming aware of their dogs' emotions and this is why they take their dogs to places like Mom's K9 Kamp for training, day care and/or boarding. Folks are looking for fun, safe, cage free places for their dogs to be while they (the dog's humans) go out of town or simply go about their long work day. They're also looking to get their dogs trained in a home environment where the dogs are treated as individuals and the families' particular circumstances are taken into account.

Leaving a dog home alone all day can be boring, depressing and anxiety producing for dogs. All these negative feelings can create behavior problems much more complex than the usual puppy issues, but that's only part of the equation. We don't want our dogs to feel bad. Then, of course there's also the possibility of danger. The heat in Southern California can cause dehydration and fire is a threat. As one dog owner put it, "What if I'm at work all day and a fire breaks out near my house? If my dog's home alone and I can't get there to get him out, I'll never forgive myself. " With 24/7 supervision at K9 Kamp, dog owners can rest assured that their dogs will be taken to safety in any kind of emergency, and that 'Mom' will alert the dogs' families as soon as possible.

Mom's K9 Kamp isn't just for the dog who needs training or the dog owner who occasionally takes a vacation or business trip. It's also for the dog owner who has a busy schedule and doesn't want his/her dog to feel lonely and abandoned all day. This is a place where the dog's family can be confident that their best friend is having fun, learning, and being well taken care of by people who care.

'Mom' enjoys her work. "My regular clients tell me that their dogs start jumping around in the car with excitement as soon as they realize they're on their way to my place, and that makes me smile." And when 'mom' smiles, everybody smiles. Picking up a puppy terrier mix that's wagging his tail and wriggling himself almost out of his skin, 'Mom', in a goofy, baby-cartoon-like voice says "Now, look at that! If that's not pure, emotional joy, then I don't know what is."

Moms K9 Kamp has several different programs,with discounts,for day care, boarding and training, and is open 24/7, including holidays. Reservations are a good idea (especially during the winter holidays) but if you have last minute plans, try anyway. Call (818) 902-1416 or email Luanne Porter at: momsk9kamp@aol.com

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