Posted on 12/05/2005 7:21:39 AM PST by ckilmer
Sounds of Dog's 'Laugh' Calms Other Pooches Researchers: Canine Laugh Is Long Loud Panting Sound Dec. 4, 2005 — - Researchers at the Spokane County Regional Animal Protection Service in Washington state say sometimes a bark is just a bark -- but a long, loud panting sound has real meaning.
They say the long, loud pant is the sound of a dog laughing, and it has a direct impact on the behavior of other dogs.
"What we found is that it had a calming or soothing effect on the dogs," said Patricia Simonet, an animal behaviorist in Spokane who has studied everything from hamster culture to elephant self-recognition. "Now, we actually really weren't expecting that."
Nancy Hill, director of Spokane County Animal Protection, admits she was skeptical at first that this noise would affect the other dogs.
"I thought: Laughing dogs?" Hill said. "A sound that we're gonna isolate and play in the shelter? I was a real skeptic … until we played the recording here at the shelter."
When they played the sound of a dog panting over the loudspeaker, the gaggle of dogs at the shelter kept right on barking. But when they played the dog version of laughing, all 15 barking dogs went quiet within about a minute.
"It was a night-and-day difference," Hill said. "It was absolutely phenomenal."
Officials say it works every time, and researchers across the country are taking note.
"The laughing sound that they make is something that was not even considered a vocalization until this study was done," Simonet said.
Those who study dog behavior have varying opinions about exactly what Patricia Simonet's "dog laughing" sound really is. What they do agree on, however, is that to other dogs, it is at least a sound worth keeping quiet to listen to.
Copyright © 2005 ABC News Internet Ventures
Our late, departed Golden Retriever, Prior Lake Jake told me about this years ago.
This is basically true. I accidentally discovered the same thing many years ago, and it very often helps to calm a dog who's uncertain toward you.
No mp3-sound-file-link???
I wonder what this sounds like...
Do you mean a human's laugh? Or do you know what the "doggy laugh" sounds like?
I'd like to hear a recording of the laugh.
Describe the dog-laugh you employ.
I used to make a loud panting sound to my now-deceased golden retriever and he would come running with his tail wagging. When I would do it in public, I would obviously get funny looks. Strangely enough, I've noticed my five-month old human boy making a sound just like a dog panting when he gets excited about something or when I play with him.
S C R A P S, a pretty good acronym for an animal protective service.
Thanks!
Could be that the poor dog just thought you were insane...just kidding. 8^)
I just mentioned this to my dog and she couldn't stop herself from panting.
Hmmm, I am starting to wonder if this is about laughing or about something else...
Where can we buy one of these recordings. My neighbor with two Pekinese desperately needs one as my Christmas gift.
I'm the dog person in my house and the obvious favorite of my Rat Terrier, Abigail. She's been laughing at me for years...well, maybe laughing FOR me. She makes the heavy pant sound when we come home from work which is preceded by an indescribable burst of sound. You would swear she is going to blow-up.
She's getting on in years and has an "accident" most days. If she's quiet when I come home I know she couldn't hold it and, if she's "laughing" I know she had a good day and it's her way of telling me she did good.
Where can I get the *.wav file? I could yuse this on my foster shepherd who shines and whimpers when she doesn't get attention.
ping
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.