How to Make a Dog Laugh: 4 Steps & What to Look For

Laughter, by very definition, is a physiological response to humor. It signifies acceptance and positive interactions with others. While we can certainly experience acceptance and positive interactions with our dogs, can we make them laugh?

According to experts, dogs can laugh, but not in the same way humans do. Read on to learn more about what a dog’s laugh is, what it sounds like, and how to make yours laugh.

Do Dogs Laugh?

Dogs can laugh, but it’s not the type of noise we’re used to hearing from ourselves.

Human laughter contains a rhythmic and involuntary sound that sounds different from person to person. It can be a “ha-ha,” a “hee-hee,” a chuckle, or a loud guffaw.

Dog laughter is something known as a “play pant,” and while it’s a sound similar to our laughter, it’s more of a form of breathing than a vocal sound. Dogs use this pant to invite humans and other dogs to play.

Researchers found that dogs emit a very specific sounding pant when they play.1 Though it may sound the same to the untrained ear, the dog laugh sounds like a “pronounced breathy forced exhalation.”

What Does a Dog Laugh Look Like?

Dog laughter is typically accompanied by other positive body language, such as play bowing and teasing jumps, and often begins with the canine equivalent of smiling.

Laughing dogs have slightly opened jaws that reveal their tongue. Their mouths are tilted, giving an ear-to-ear grin appearance and providing a stronger impression of laughter.

The 4 Steps to Make a Dog Laugh

1. Choose the Right Time

Picking the right time to try to make your dog laugh is key to achieving the desired behavior. Dogs will often “laugh” when they’re having fun, so take the steps below when you’re already playing with your pup, as it may increase the likelihood of you getting them to laugh.

2. Round Your Lips

Begin by pursing your lips together as if you were about to blow out a birthday candle. In front of your dog, open your mouth so air can escape and smile slightly.

3. Make a Breathy Sound

Make a breathy “hhuh” sound with no actual voicing. If you were to touch your voice box while making the sound, you wouldn’t feel any vibrations.

4. Put it On Repeat

Repeat this “hhuh” sound in front of your dog until they laugh back. The goal is to mimic the same sound your pup makes when they “laugh” to trigger them to return the gesture.

Offer your pup a treat when they make the desired sound to encourage them to do it again in the future.

Do Dogs Have a Sense of Humor?

We all know that dogs make us laugh, but are they capable of having a sense of humor?

It depends on who you ask!

Stanley Coren, an expert in canine behavior, believes that some breeds tend to view life as if it were a giant stage for them to engage in play and pranks2. Coren sided with Charles Darwin, who not only came up with the scientific theory of evolution but also examined emotions in animals and humans to determine if there were similarities. Darwin believed that dogs have a sense of humor that is most easily recognizable when they’re playing.

The breeds with a larger “sense of humor” are:

• Irish Setters
• English Springer Spaniels
• Cairn Terriers
• Airedale Terriers
• Miniature Schnauzers

Not all breeds are created equally, nor do they have the same propensity for playfulness. Some of the more serious breeds include:

• Basset Hounds
• Bulldogs
• Bloodhounds
• Samoyeds
• Saint Bernards

Conclusion

Dogs exhibit certain behaviors that demonstrate their fun-loving nature, such as playful bowing, pawing, relaxed jumping, and, yes, even canine laughter. You’ll know your dog is laughing along with you when their playful body language and behavior are accompanied by a breathy “hhuh” sound and a big ear-to-ear grin.

While we can’t empirically prove that dogs have a sense of humor or that they laugh, most dog owners don’t need science to prove that their dogs are fun and funny. It’s easy to see it in their goofy poses, playfulness, and desire to make us laugh.

Featured Image Credit: christinarosepix, Shutterstock