CAN DOGS LAUGH? ARE THEY TICKLISH?

CAN DOGS LAUGH? ARE THEY TICKLISH?

You definitely know it - the pet lies on its back and stares at you. This is a clear sign that he wants to scratch his belly. He often grins contentedly while scratching, wags his tail, sways from side to side or starts kicking with his back paw. In these situations, you may have wondered: Are dogs ticklish?

Most dogs respond positively to being petted and scratched - do they experience the same sensations as humans do when tickled? Do they like it or are they uncomfortable? And in what places are dogs the most ticklish? Let's find out.

The answer is yes! A study conducted by Stanley Coren PhD, DSc, FRSC in an article for Psychology Today magazine discusses that animals can be really ticklish and can even laugh while doing it, just like humans. But it's a different kind of laugh, we all probably know that we can't get a classic laugh out of a dog. It is rather a breathy sound, without barking, in which the dog's mouth is slightly open and therefore resembles a smile.

dr. Marty Becker, MVDr. in Vet Street stated that while investigating dog tickling, he tickled his dog on the sides, chest and abdomen. A healthy dog ​​usually reacts to these touches with an uncontrollable movement of its hind legs, which dog owners often call "starting a motorcycle". This reflex, combined with the already mentioned dog's laughter, is a reaction to tickling.

Dogs thoroughly enjoy this attention, especially as long as they feel generally safe and not injured or exhausted in any way. But beware: If you tickle a dog that has a full bladder, an accident can happen. Besides, that happens to people when they're tickled too, right?

WHERE IS THE DOG TICKLED MOST?

Basically, it can be anywhere. According to the Caroline Springs Veterinary Clinic in Victoria, Australia, dog paws are surprisingly even more sensitive and itchy than human paws. This explains the fact that many dogs are not able to stand having their nails trimmed in peace. They often don't mind the tweezers themselves, but simply tickle them.

To find out exactly where your furry friend is itchy, gently stroke him from head to tail. Then stroke the belly and behind the ears - dogs love that! Have you noticed that touching only a specific spot elicits a reaction? Has the dog started wagging his tail or kicking his leg? This may mean that he is more sensitive and tickled there.

It's important to remember that just like people, not all dogs enjoy being tickled. If your pet turns away from you, pulls its ears back or its "smile" disappears, stop touching it and let it know it is safe.

So how is it? Can dogs be ticklish? Can they laugh? Yes! Before you start tickling the dog, make sure it is in the right mood. If he is not feeling well or tired from a long hike, let him rest. You also wouldn't want anyone to touch you in such situations. But as long as the fur makes eye contact, rolls around and invites you to play, leave all the work aside and hooray for the fun!