Do Dogs Laugh?

And Can We Share a Joke With Them?

Does Your Dog Laugh?

Have you ever looked at your dog mid-play and thought: They’re laughing at me?

I have.

It’s a strange and lovely moment — that sideways glance, the breathy huff, the joy in their eyes. It feels like they’re in on a joke with you.

Not just reacting. Not just playing. But sharing.

It turns out… maybe they are.

What Research Says

In 2005, researcher Patricia Simonet and her team identified a vocalization in dogs — a breathy, forced exhalation made during play — that closely resembled human laughter. When they played recordings of this “dog-laugh” for stressed-out shelter dogs, something remarkable happened:
🐾 barking decreased
🐾 tail wags increased
🐾 more dogs approached the speaker to “join in”

The shelter dogs became more relaxed, curious, and social — all from hearing what sounded like another dog having fun.

It made me think: maybe the question isn’t just “Do dogs laugh?” Maybe it’s “Can we learn to laugh with them?”

Sharing a Joke With Your Dog

If you’ve ever had an “inside joke” with your dog — a silly voice that gets them zooming, a goofy move that sparks a play bow — you’ve already touched the edge of something scientists are just starting to explore.

Dogs might not laugh exactly like we do, but they absolutely know how to co-create joy.

That’s what I love most about relationship-based training: it makes space for moments like these. It lets us wonder. It lets us be a little silly. It invites us to connect beyond commands and cues — into something richer, something alive.

Try This: The Next Time You Play With Your Dog

• Let them lead the rhythm for a moment.

• Use a playful, rising tone — not words, just sounds.

• Mirror a play bow.

• Let the game be ridiculous.

• See what changes.

What if training was also a form of shared laughter? Because it can be — it’s so often what I aim for in the training programs I create.

Let Me Know

Have you ever felt like your dog was laughing with you? Do you have a shared joke or game that’s just yours? I’d love to hear it — leave a comment and tell us what brings your dog joy.