I rsquo ve often affectionately joked with my mother-in-law about her ability to talk to her dogs She responds to their barks with loving understanding Perhaps now she and dog owners everywhere will also listen for their canine pals to laugh Scientists have discovered that many animals including dogs cows foxes seals and parakeets all have ldquo vocal play signals rdquo mdash otherwise known as laughter Identifying these accompanying sounds helps distinguish an animal rsquo s play behaviors from what might otherwise look like fighting to a human observer That animals express laughter and joy gives us a delightful glimmer
[... more]
