Do animals have a sense of humour?

[Bubbles]

.

[Rhiannon]

I just told the dog the brown/sticky/stick joke but he didn't get it.

He doesn't laugh at Father Ted either.

[Anchorman]

I've always thought they have, based on my subjective experiences with sheep (a ram I befriended as a child) horses and dogs.

Now it may well be true, and not my imagination.

You can tell when a animal is having fun at your expense by looking in their eyes.

Has anyone else experienced being on the end of an animal sense of humour?

It's happened to me a few times.

https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn25312-do-animals-have-a-sense-of-humour/

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Not the eyes, but t'other end.
There's a pigeon which sits on the guytter over my back door and takes what can only be called malicious pleasure in anointing anyone extracating themselves from my domicile via that exit.
And, no, there is no nest nearby, nor do we feed the blasted thing.......

[Hope]

Rose, just what do you mean by 'a sense of humour'?

[ekim]

I am not sure whether I would call it humour but I've met dogs who like to tease by placing a ball or stick at my feet for throwing and just as I reach to pick it up they snatch it away and when I straighten up they put it back again.  After several times they allow me to pick it up and throw it for them.

[Hope]

I am not sure whether I would call it humour but I've met dogs who like to tease by placing a ball or stick at my feet for throwing and just as I reach to pick it up they snatch it away and when I straighten up they put it back again.  After several times they allow me to pick it up and throw it for them.

I've had that experience as well, ekim.  Is it humour or simply the animal indicating insecurity?

[ekim]

I don't know, but I have heard some comedians say that they started out on the comedy route as a result of insecurity.  If others kids laughed at them they didn't hit them.

[Jack Knave]

I am not sure whether I would call it humour but I've met dogs who like to tease by placing a ball or stick at my feet for throwing and just as I reach to pick it up they snatch it away and when I straighten up they put it back again.  After several times they allow me to pick it up and throw it for them.

I think dogs do that to dogs as well...?

[Jack Knave]

I think some animals do have a sense of humour, like chimps, and many have a sense of play where some form of teasing takes place. I would guess it is the fun of seeing others' reactions.

[Shaker]

I think some animals do have a sense of humour, like chimps

It would be extremely bizarre though if that weren't the case.

[Jack Knave]

I think some animals do have a sense of humour, like chimps

It would be extremely bizarre though if that weren't the case.

Explain, please.

[Shaker]

I think some animals do have a sense of humour, like chimps

It would be extremely bizarre though if that weren't the case.

Explain, please.

Chimps and bonobos are our closest relatives, the last common ancestor existing possibly as recently as 5 million years ago. If there weren't many and great similarities between them and us it would be very highly peculiar indeed and stand in need of explanation.

[Hope]

If there weren't many and great similarities between them and us it would be very highly peculiar indeed and stand in need of explanation.

suggesting, of course, that the reasons haven't been explained.

[Shaker]

suggesting, of course, that the reasons haven't been explained.

No, the similarities have been explained - by evolution by natural selection. Are you reading somebody else's post?

[Rhiannon]

I am not sure whether I would call it humour but I've met dogs who like to tease by placing a ball or stick at my feet for throwing and just as I reach to pick it up they snatch it away and when I straighten up they put it back again.  After several times they allow me to pick it up and throw it for them.

Both labs I've owned have done that and it is usually a pecking order thing. I indulged my bitch lab as she was generally quite submissive but although I will play for a bit like it with my boy lab he has to hand his toys over as he needs to know his place in the pack.

I still let him on the sofa though. Actually it's usually him on top of me on top of the sofa.

[ekim]

I am not sure whether I would call it humour but I've met dogs who like to tease by placing a ball or stick at my feet for throwing and just as I reach to pick it up they snatch it away and when I straighten up they put it back again.  After several times they allow me to pick it up and throw it for them.

Both labs I've owned have done that and it is usually a pecking order thing. I indulged my bitch lab as she was generally quite submissive but although I will play for a bit like it with my boy lab he has to hand his toys over as he needs to know his place in the pack.

I still let him on the sofa though. Actually it's usually him on top of me on top of the sofa.

Ah, now that I know the motive, the next time it happens I'll leave the ball and throw the dog.  That should establish a new pecking order. 

[Rhiannon]

That sounds like a plan. 

[Harrowby Hall]

What purpose would a sense of humour serve in an animal?

[Rhiannon]

It's explained by pink mohair dog jumpers. Dogs have evolved the need to laugh at their fluff-brained owners as a coping mechanism.

[Harrowby Hall]

It's explained by pink mohair dog jumpers. Dogs have evolved the need to laugh at their fluff-brained owners as a coping mechanism.

Yes. That figures.

[Jack Knave]

I think some animals do have a sense of humour, like chimps

It would be extremely bizarre though if that weren't the case.

Explain, please.

Chimps and bonobos are our closest relatives, the last common ancestor existing possibly as recently as 5 million years ago. If there weren't many and great similarities between them and us it would be very highly peculiar indeed and stand in need of explanation.

That implies a sense of humour has been around for over 5 million years - that's just laughable!!!   

[Jack Knave]

I am not sure whether I would call it humour but I've met dogs who like to tease by placing a ball or stick at my feet for throwing and just as I reach to pick it up they snatch it away and when I straighten up they put it back again.  After several times they allow me to pick it up and throw it for them.

Both labs I've owned have done that and it is usually a pecking order thing. I indulged my bitch lab as she was generally quite submissive but although I will play for a bit like it with my boy lab he has to hand his toys over as he needs to know his place in the pack.

I still let him on the sofa though. Actually it's usually him on top of me on top of the sofa.

Ah, now that I know the motive, the next time it happens I'll leave the ball and throw the dog.  That should establish a new pecking order. 

Try a stern look and a stern voice, instead and get it to not pick up the ball before you.

[Shaker]

That implies a sense of humour has been around for over 5 million years - that's just laughable!!!   

When primatologists conclude that they can identify signs of playfulness and humour in chimps and bonobos why is it laughable?

[Jack Knave]

What purpose would a sense of humour serve in an animal?

I hope you are including humans in the term animal.

The only thing I can think of is a social bonding or hierarchy building one.

[Jack Knave]

That implies a sense of humour has been around for over 5 million years - that's just laughable!!!   

When primatologists conclude that they can identify signs of playfulness and humour in chimps and bonobos why is it laughable?

Oh come on, Shaker, you're trying to tease me.

What do you think the smiley was for?