People often ask if dogs have a sense of humor. Some dog owners say “yes”, and some insist “no way”.
Theories suggest that, if playfulness defines a sense of humor, then dogs certainly get the idea of what is funny. Charles Darwin looked for similarities in emotions between animals and humans and observed what he considered a sense of humor that goes beyond just the game. “The most typical one is their game of keep away, where if you toss something to a dog, he’ll grab it, run a distance away, then drop it on the ground and wait there until you come close, then grab it and run away.”
Playfulness seems to depend on the dog breed
A study at the University of California-Davis examined certain breeds’ playfulness. This included the dogs’ willingness to chase balls or frisbees and play games like hide-and-seek. The study considered Irish Setters, English springer spaniels, cairn and Airedale terriers, miniature schnauzers, golden retrievers, Australian shepherds and poodles to be some of the most playful, while at the opposite end, chihuahuas, rottweilers, bulldogs, and bloodhounds were considered the least playful.
Again we ask, “Does your dog have a sense of humor?”
Sources:
AKC
Happymag.tv