Sunday, February 7, 2010

Feeling a bit emotional?

Interesting article here (from Cesar Millan’s newsletter this morning).I really like the idea of using canine "laughter" to calm shelter dogs. From the article:
"Researcher Patricia Simonet from Sierra Nevada College discovered that certain breathy, excited exhalations could be the canine version of laughter. Her team brought a parabolic microphone to a park and, from a distance, recorded the sounds that dogs made while playing. They discovered a special exhalation that was different from normal panting. Later, the team played the sound for other dogs who started to play after hearing the "laugh." They also discovered that it helped to calm shelter dogs who were under stress."Crazy lady is searching for a recording of this sound, to maybe help calm my stressful moments. She sometimes worries that I "feed" off of her anxiety. During her shrink appointment last week, I would not settle in the room-- I kept pacing, whining and putting my head on her lap. She was crying, and I was upset. As soon as she calmed down, I relaxed in the room. The human shrink thought it was great (what? I know. Shrinks.) He said I was crazy lady's medicine. I think crazy lady wanted to be my medicine. (like the booty shot?)
I keep reminding her that we can help each other. I told her, "Don't worry chick-a-dee. As long as you play and cuddle with me, all is great with our world!"

P.S. Crazy lady found it! You can listen to the sound of "laughter" here, and read the original article here (or, just go to www.laughing-dog.org for more information).

5 comments:

Unknown said...

Very interesting post about laughter. I got lost checking it out, but I'm baack. It is no secret, we're all our cracker humans' sanity.
Twink!

Anonymous said...

hahahahaha! i was laughing when i read this post! my dogs laugh at me all the time! should i be insulted?

and yes we like woo's booty shot. you have longer hair on your booty than Loki! no fair! he wants his hair back!

wags-n-wiggles,
wild dingo
pee ess woo: don't cry crazy lady. you should be HAPPY you ended up with Sugar and NOT Loki! OM dawgs... he would be ABSOLUTELY no help and NO service to you. Unless you played tug with him 23.5 hours a day with him (15 minutes to eat, 15 minutes to potty...)

NAK and The Residents of The Khottage Now With KhattleDog! said...

Woo are so yingie to the khrazy lady's yangie -

Or is she the yingie and woo the yangie?

Thanks fur sharing -

Great stuff!

Hugz&Khysses,
Khyra

Life With Dogs said...

I'm feeling emotional about the booty shot! ;)

Tweedles -- that's me said...

love the "don't worry chik a deee"
tee hee hee
love
tweedles