My rescue dog, Grace, didn’t. When we first adopted Grace, her eyes and tail were downcast. Dogs are curious creatures who love to use their nose to sniff things out. Yet on our daily walks Grace was disinterested in everything. As if Grace had forgotten how to be a dog.
We were told our dog was nine years old, someone else said she was six, the vet’s final verdict was that she was two or three. From my vantage point, she looked and acted older than her years. But with time, love and patience, Grace’s eyes braved looking into ours for longer periods. The frown left her forehead and, about six months later, her tail wagged (leaving my shin smarting from time to time). I noticed one more change—Grace was grinning.
“Always laugh when you can. It is cheap medicine.”
— Lord Byron
Why Dog Laughter is Good for Humans… and Their Furry Friends
Many, but not all, dogs laugh. But canine laughter is not the same as a human’s vocalization. A dog’s laugh is more of a pant when they are happy and a wagging tail often accompanies it. Beware! A dog’s laughter can be contagious. Watching your dog play, frolic, and have fun can trigger a happy response in humans by releasing the hormone oxytocin. And when you smile and laugh, that can trigger laughter contagion in your dog and they may smile and laugh back at you. Laughter is great medicine for the human body and another example of the Animal-Human Health Connection, which is about deepening our relationships with our animal friends so can all lead healthier and happier lives.
5 Benefits of Laughing
- Benefits your heart, lungs, and muscles by enhancing your intake of oxygen
- Releases tension by diminishing the stress hormone cortisol
- Benefits mood by releasing happy hormones
- Increases immunity by releasing chemicals that diminish stress
- Helps relieve pain by causing the body to produce natural painkillers
Over the last two years, I’ve paid attention to the things that make Grace laugh. The moment she gets to the dog park and sees her furry friends, she races inside. Lifting her legs high in the air, she makes a beeline to the nearest canine, who will tumble and roll with her. From the moment we arrive until the moment we leave, Grace has a wide grin on her face—a far cry from the dog that spent over a month glued to my leg, not wanting to engage with any dog.
Does Your Dog Have a Sense of Humor?
Every morning, Grace nibbles on my earlobes. If that doesn’t get me out of bed, she leapfrogs back and forth over my sleeping body. The pies de resistance comes when she pokes her wet nose into my armpit, which always gets the desired response—I laugh.
Dogs are masters at interpreting our body language. They know when we are feeling joyful or are experiencing sadness. They also know when they are pleasing us. By the wide grin on Grace’s face and her subsequent barking, she knows my laughter results from her doing. And for that, I’m grateful. Laughter is the best medicine, and it’s a wonderful thing to share often and a lot with your best friends — human and animal.
Stay Pawsitive,
Carlyn MDO 💜
PS: What’s the funniest thing your dog or cat does? Let us know in the comments so we can share a laugh with you.
My rescue Coco jumped down the street as high as my shoulder while walking on a leash..
All the neighbors use to laugh when they saw.her..Never knew why she did that but I think she was so
happy to be walked and have fun..She was smiling..gone now from a mitral valve prolapse.
I miss her..She died in her sleep next to me on my Birthday eve..
I was very moved by your account. Dogs are wonderful, pure love. If I think of all the dogs and cats I had I am overwhelmed with what they gave me. Every one is different, like yours one of a kind. I wish I wasn’t so sensitive but my heart is a mosaic of all the dogs and cats I in my life. I cannot begin to write about them without tears. The 2 dogs in my life now love their walks in the woods and the mixed border collie does jump high in the begining from excitement.
I love that your heart is a mosaic of all the animal friends you’ve had in your life. It’s devastating to lose them, but I for one, am glad for the tears because it means I’ve loved and loved well. As you have. Thank you for sharing Katie.
What a touching story, Dianne. My heart is full to hear that you and Coco rescued each other. I’m sure she found a great deal of happiness from her unique relationship with you just as you did from her. Thank you for sharing.
My two dogs may not have a particularly unique way of expressing joy and laughter, but they sure do so with abandon. In the morning, my husband will get the dogs fed and out for their first walk. If I’m still sleeping when they return, they clamber and bark up the stairs and jump up and down along my side of the bed – only their heads popping up – until I sleepily lift them up onto the bed. At this point they hit me with their good morning routine – paws on the chest, bright eyes and slobbery kisses – before sitting back with happy, triumphant smiles. They won’t leave until I actually get out of bed. For a non-morning person, this is the best way to launch the day!
Reading your account put a huge smile across my face. How lucky are we to have such pawsitive companions. The world can be such a challenging place but having this kind of unconditional love is a true gift. Thx for sharing, Stefanie!