Can Dogs Laugh? The Science of Dog Laughter and Other Playful Sounds

While all dog owners love to see their furry friends happy and having fun, is there such a thing as dog laughter? It turns out that when dogs are playing, they make a sound that is similar to laughter, called play pant, which is a breathy, forced pant. It is often accompanied by the physical signs of an open mouth, a hanging tongue, and a play face, which includes a loose, open mouth.

In this deep dive into the science of dog laughter, we will look at the many studies conducted by animal behaviorists, neuroscientists, and canine ethologists that have shed light on the many ways that dogs may experience and express happiness.

This will help us better understand dog laughter, as well as other playful sounds, and how they play a role in the way dogs communicate and interact with humans. By exploring the science behind these sounds, we will learn what dog laughter is and how it contributes to the special relationship between people and dogs.

Understanding the Laughter: Canine “Play Pant” and Happy Behaviors

The key to recognizing dog laughter is to understand the behaviors associated with the “play pant.” Dogster explains that Patricia Simonet’s groundbreaking research on dog vocalizations during play identified a forced breathy exhalation that is acoustically distinct from regular panting.

This “play pant” is always accompanied by a series of body language signals, including a relaxed open mouth, a play bow, and a wagging tail, that communicate that the dog is in a safe and comfortable environment.

Psychology Today explains that these behaviors are a form of metacommunication in dogs, which are nonverbal signals that help to clarify the meaning of the vocalizations they make.

These happy behaviors are most often seen during play, which is a clear sign of humor and happiness.

PetMD even points out that certain breeds, like the Irish Setter and English Springer Spaniel, are more likely to exhibit these behaviors, suggesting that there may be a genetic component to a dog’s sense of humor.

In addition, a dog’s age can affect their likelihood to “laugh,” with younger dogs being more likely to respond to the “play pant” with a “laugh” of their own. This may even help them reduce stress and improve their ability to socialize.

This laughter-like response is more than just a sign of happiness; it also helps us understand a dog’s emotional state and how they feel about their environment.

What Is Dog Happiness? How Do Dogs Express Happiness?

Dogs, like human toddlers, have the emotional capacity for happiness, but because they can’t talk, they rely on non-verbal ways to express their feelings. According to an article in the Whole Dog Journal, one study found that dogs express happiness through a loose body, a wagging tail, and soft facial features. These are the doggie equivalent of a smile and show that the dog is feeling happy and satisfied.

Dogs express their emotions through body language, and some of their behaviors, like the “zoomies” and the play bow, make it very clear that they’re feeling happy.

While people can learn to recognize these signs of happiness, a study in Scientific Reports found that people’s cultural backgrounds and experience with dogs play a role in their ability to do so. This means that while the ability to recognize dogs’ emotions is partly instinctual, it’s also learned, and while some emotions, like happiness, are universally recognizable, others require a certain level of experience.

Given the many ways that dogs express happiness, it’s important to dispel some myths. The American Kennel Club warns that hyperactivity, which is often mistaken for happiness, can also be a sign of stress that’s helping the dog to calm down. Learning to recognize these signs can help people form stronger bonds with their dogs and help ensure that their dogs are as happy as they can be.

Hormones That Make Dogs Happy

The laughter-like behavior in dogs is supported by a complex hormonal system that involves several hormones and neurotransmitters. Oxytocin, which is often referred to as the ‘love hormone,’ is important in helping dogs form social bonds with their human owners and other dogs.

In a study in Frontiers in Psychology, Alejandra Rossi suggests that an increase in play-soliciting behavior, which is a sign of a dog’s happiness, is associated with higher levels of oxytocin and lower levels of cortisol, a stress hormone.

Meanwhile, serotonin and dopamine, both of which are neurotransmitters that help regulate mood, are also involved in helping dogs feel happy and reduce their stress, although more research is needed to understand exactly how these hormones work. A study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that giving dogs oxytocin increased their social bonding behavior, suggesting that the hormone could be used to predict and even encourage positive dog behavior.

This information about the hormones that are involved in dog happiness helps us better understand the behaviors that might be interpreted as ‘laughter’ in dogs and may lead to more empathetic and effective interactions with dogs. The sounds that dogs make when they’re happy, which have some of the same acoustic features as human laughter, also deserve further study to better understand what dogs are trying to communicate.

Listening to Dog Laughter: What Dog ‘Laughter’ Sounds Like

The sounds of dog laughter, especially ‘play pant,’ are complex and diverse, and the acoustic structure of these sounds can tell us a lot about the emotions they represent.

A study in Current Zoology examines the acoustic structure of dog whines, which, while not laughter, are similar to laughter in that they are used to communicate emotions. The researchers found that dog whines have multiple fundamental frequencies that are related to the size of the dog, suggesting that the sounds are more complex and multi-layered, much like the polyphonic nature of human laughter.

A study in PMC shows that people are able to accurately judge the emotional valence and the emotional intensity of these sounds. In fact, people can determine the positivity of a bark or a pant based on the sound’s pitch and duration, with higher pitches often indicating higher levels of intensity.

A study in ScienceDirect confirms this, showing that dog barks with different tonalities and pitches are interpreted by humans as conveying different emotional states, just as people interpret the laughter of other people.

These acoustic features—pitch, tonality, and frequency—serve as emotional cues in dog vocalizations, making our interactions with and understanding of our dogs richer. The range of sounds dogs make not only reflects the emotional complexity of human laughter but also reinforces the invisible bond that connects us to our animal companions.

The Human Touch: How to Make Your Dog Happy

The deep connection between humans and dogs has a powerful impact on the happiness and well-being of both species. An article for the American Kennel Club notes that it’s important to learn to read a dog’s body language to understand how they’re feeling.

That said, positive reinforcement and making sure that a dog has time to rest are the most important things to consider when trying to make sure a dog is happy.

One study published in PMC found that dogs who were more social were more likely to respond to food-based training, which shows that the way that humans interact with dogs directly impacts their ability to be happy and well-behaved.

Meanwhile, another study published in PMC found that the compatibility between a dog and its owner can impact the well-being of both parties. People who have similar levels of physical activity to their dogs have lower levels of stress and a better relationship with their pet, which shows that the human-animal bond goes both ways.

By learning to recognize the subtle signs of a dog’s laughter-like expressions, we can better understand the emotional lives of our pets and strengthen the deep bond that we share with them. By providing good care and finding true compatibility, we can help make our pets’ lives—and by extension, our own—better.

The Science of Dog Laughter: What It Means When Your Pup ‘Laughs’

In this exploration of the science of dog laughter, we have examined the science behind play panting, a behavior that is a direct reflection of the joyous expressions we love so much in our dogs.

This happy panting, when combined with a variety of other body language cues, is more than just a sign of excitement, it is a form of communication that is vital to the world of dogs.

By breaking down the behavioral cues, emotional expressions, and physiological responses that make up these behaviors, we have come to a better understanding of the depth of our dogs’ emotional lives.

The acoustic properties of dog laughter-like sounds add another layer to the way we can understand and bond with our pets. These vocalizations have the power to strengthen the invisible but very real bond between humans and dogs. Our interactions with dogs shape their happiness and demonstrate the give and take of the human-dog relationship, showing how important it is to nurture these relationships with empathy and care.

With every tail wag, pant, and playful leap, dogs welcome us into their world of joy. As we continue to explore the nuances of dog emotions, let’s celebrate the laughter we share with our dogs, knowing that it is a reflection of their happiness and a way to deepen our connection.

This exploration of discovery is far from complete, and the opportunity remains for us to continue to learn, understand, and connect with our dogs in new and meaningful ways.