Has it ever been shown that non-human animals have a sense of humor?

Answer 1

Here's a link which discusses some animals' "sense of humor."

http://www.stuartwilde.com/Articles/SW_articles_animals_laugh.htm

Answer 2

I suppose it would depend on what you consider a "sense of humor". Many people want to accredit empathy to having a sense of humor... and that's just not the case. Animals do have the ability to feel basic emotions.. they can feel some level of frustration.. of depression (well noted in rescue dogs during the 9/11 and other long rescue missions), fear, rage/anger, and the likes.... but true humor is a complex emotion.. something beyond the realm of animals... they do feel empathy.. and may try to cheer you up... but their actions to cheer you up will be based on how you react! Not on a predetermined humorous thought on their part.

It wouldn't surprise me if some of the extremely higher functioning animals had a rudimentary sense of humor (dolphins, primates, parrots)... but as a general rule.. no.

Answer 3

Higher order psitticines (african greys, amazons, etc.) who have learned elaborate vocabulary often say things in a way which makes you wonder whether they really understand what they are saying when they say such things.
I have a book called the Parrot's Lament (great book, btw) that compiled a bunch of stories about animals regarding a sense of humor, intelligence, etc.
One of the stories involved a woman who owned a large number of parrots - two of them being African Greys that did NOT get along. She kept one in the kitchen, and the other in a separate room because they'd fight constantly if they were together - the one being in a separate room named "Paco."
She described how one day she was cooking cornish game hens in the kitchen when her African Grey caught sight of the dish and exclaimed, "Oh no! Paco!!" - when she reassured the bird that Paco, was, in fact - still alive and in the room and brought him in to show him, the bird responded with a melancholy, "ooohh noo.. " and then laughed maniacally.

Anyone who has ever spent a large amount of time around an African Grey would swear they have a ridiculous sense of humor - and yes, it might be rudimentary but I'm easily amused.. so what's the difference? :)

Answer 4

I think people love their pets and mistake instinct for emotion.
We have several dogs and I love them. We breed boxers and train them.

They consider themselves as part of the pack in a family and they even find their place within that pack (family).

I think they care and they try to console but I don't think they have the deep emotions most people cast upon them. People treat their pets like their children and they often confuse reward and response behaviors with emotional responses.

For example a dog who does ticks to make you laugh does not know it makes you feel better but they do know you will be pet/reward them for this behavior. This could be easily confused with a sense of humor.

For the dog it comes down to 'I do this ...I get rewarded'.
For the human it is 'You made me happy so you get rewarded'.

Getting statements from people giving examples of a sense of humor is not science. These people may have good intensions but it doen't make it true just because they really really believe it. I have not found any evidence of animal's having a sense of humor. If there is I would like to read it.

Answer 5

An overwhelming 92.3% of the respondents reported that they had seen their animal laugh or smile.

Almost two-thirds of those who participated in the poll expressed their belief that animals can joke among themselves.

And a whopping 84.6% not only agreed that animals do funny things to cheer up people they perceive as sad or depressed, but have actually seen this happen.

I asked responders to share personal anecdotes or stories that demonstrate their animals' sense of humor or their propensity to play tricks on people to get a laugh at their expense.

One participant shared a poignant story about her dog: "Tasha was in serious condition. The vet said she had three days to live. The assistants put her on a green stretcher and took her for X-rays. Tasha had been very somber. When she returned, her head was high, she smiled and wagged her tail. I think she liked being carried on the green stretcher. I think she was saying to me, 'Look at me! I am a Queen!' Even as she was dying, Tasha could be upbeat and expressive. She warmed my heart."

Another one wryly reported: "My dog always takes my seat if I get up for five minutes and then come back."

Another canine caretaker shared: "Last night, my dog, while laying on her dog bed, lifted the carpet just enough to make a tunnel that she put her snout in. We were all seated around her in the family room. When we started laughing at her, she wagged her tail, took her head out, and yawned a big happy smile."

Answer 6

I used to work with Chimpanzees in a lab and they liked to be tickled under their arms and would "laugh" run away and come back for more. It was great fun for them so in a sense it showed they appreciated the silliness/humorous aspect of tickling. I know, I am committing the sin of anthropomorphism, but I do believe animals understand simple forms of humor.

Answer 7

I even have hens, a guinea rooster, a peacock, canines, hamsters and cows and characteristic skilled kindness, melancholy, stress, stubbornness, huffing, humour ,sympathy, jealously and grimy looks off animals. some animals of the comparable species are not getting on and from time to time animals of different communities get on. each and every animal has a different character and in a %. of hens or canines, there'll be a dominant one, a sort one, a susceptible one and people who shop on with the dominant one.some varieties of animal are extra services to different personalities (Labradors are ordinary going, Rhode Island purple hens are bossy). interior the summertime, our Silkey hens had dissimilar chicks and interior the night whilst the hens fluffed up their feathers to maintain the chicks heat , the cockerel did the comparable.whilst final summer season, a doberman had domestic dogs yet grew to become right into a lazy mom, so it grew to become into the male dad who could examine on and sparkling the domestic dogs.Our bantam cockerel continuously we could the smaller, weaker hens take food first, however the Rhode Island Reds could in no way do this.the comparable cockerel keeps look ahead to the hens whilst they are stealing food from the canines kennel, oftentimes with the canines interior the kennel on the time!Cows will have faith a delightful face adequate to get a returned rub of a delightful individual.I had a spaniel who enjoyed the organisation of cows.My grandparents' canines knew to be delicate with them. So, definite animals do journey the comparable emotion as us human beings, yet they can't rationalize their concepts or make a deep decision.they could make minor judgements, such as doing something they comprehend they shouldn't, whilst they think of human beings are away.

Answer 8

I think they do. I can't give you scientific prooof, but I've lived with cats and dogs for at least 25 years and I can tell you I've seen them "laugh" any number of times - often at me.

Answer 9

Koko the first ape that was taught to use sign language made jokes (not good ones! but she understood the concept)

Answer 10

i'm not sure but i know human animals do.