[ SHOWGSD-L ] Laughter in dogs
- From: Gail Sprock <gsprock@xxxxxxx>
- To: ShowGSD List <showgsd-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sat, 13 Oct 2007 07:40:59 -0700
Laughter might not be confined or unique to humans, despite =20
Aristotle's observation that "only the human animal =20
laughs". The differences between chimpanzee and human laughter may be =20=
the result of adaptations that have evolved to enable human =20
speech. However, some behavioral psychologists argue that self-=20
awareness of one's situation, or the ability to identify with =20
somebody else's predicament, are prerequisites for laughter, so =20
animals are not really laughing in the same way that humans do. The =20
dog-laugh sounds similar to a normal pant. However by analyzing the =20
pant using a spectrograph, this pant varies with bursts of =20
frequencies, resulting in a laugh. When this recorded dog-laugh =20
vocalization is played to dogs in a shelter setting, it can initiate =20
play, promote pro-social behavior, and decrease stress levels. In a =20
study by Simonet, Versteeg, and Storie, one hundred and twenty =20
subject dogs residing in a mid-size county animal shelter were =20
observed. Dogs ranging from 4 months to 10 years of age were =20
compared with and without exposure to a dog-laugh recording. The =20
stress behaviors measured included panting, growling, salivating, =20
pacing, barking, cowering, lunging, play-bows, sitting, orienting =20
and lying down. The study resulted in positive findings. Exposure to =20
the dog laughing recording resulted in the following: significantly =20
reduced stress behaviors, increased tail wagging and the display of =20
a play-face when playing was initiated, and more frequent pro-social =20=
behavior such as approaching and lip licking. This research suggests =20=
exposure to dog-laugh vocalizations can calm and possibly increase =20
shelter adoptions. (Simonet, Versteeg, & Storie 2005).
=96Gail
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