“A Place Where We Can Laugh At Our Non-Human Friends”: 50 Times Animals Were The Funniest (New Pics)

It turns out that humans aren't the only ones with a sense of humor. You might be surprised to know that animals also find things funny. And they sometimes go out of their way to amuse their furry friends, and non-animal pals.

Philip Tedeschi is an expert when it comes to the human-animal connection. He's a go-to specialist for online pet marketplace Rover, and he told Bored Panda that animals play because they have a sense of humor.

"Dogs, like other human and non-human animals, are highly sentient with the capacity to engage in reciprocal exchanges with members of both the same and different species, rooted in the ability to experience consciousness and a diverse range of emotional states," Tedeschi said during an interview with us.

"This includes the awareness of one's environment, along with the ability to feel emotions such as joy, grief, love, and empathy. In both humans and animals, sentience also involves cognitive integration, where emotional experiences influence learning, memory, and adaptive behaviors, enabling problem-solving and complex interactions. Play is one of them!"

The expert adds that dogs can and do find best friends that engage in the type of play they find most enjoyable and reciprocal. "Evidence of learning and memory capacity in animals demonstrates their ability to engage with the world and adapt their behaviors in response to both external stimuli and emotional states," he says. "Just like humans, animals exhibit the capacity to engage in playful, curious, and social behaviors, which are essential for forming bonds, exploring their surroundings, and ensuring survival."

Play is literally one of the behaviors that is critical to all species, Tedeschi explained, but it’s so easily observed and joyful in dogs. "The opportunity to play is critical to a dog’s happiness. In additional to it being fun and enjoyable, it also serves as a critical form of mental health and well-being. It serves as a platform for friendship, building of social bonds, and skills, and many other aspects of a healthy social and emotional life."

Have you ever watched a dog chase its tail? They sprint around in circles, and one would swear they don’t know the appendage is actually part of their own body. If you’re wondering what’s behind this weird but funny behavior, experts say it could be one of many things.

"Generally, the reasons most commonly used to explain these behaviors are fun and games (play), boredom, irritants such as burs, parasites, fleas or ticks, overstimulation, anxiety and hyper-arousal, injury or other medical issues," ​Tedeschi told Bored Panda.

The expert says dogs sometimes even chase other dogs' tails. "It’s important to remember that all animals have both species-specific behaviors that may be common in that particular species but are also individuals," said Tedeschi.

They might be bored, or seeking attention, says Dr. Jerry Klein, the American Kennel Club’s Chief Veterinarian. “Many times, the action is benign in nature, such as play or attention, to induce someone or something to play with them. Even negative attention, such as a reprimand, might be considered by the puppy as positive attention,” Klein suggested.

Sometimes, tail-chasing is purely out of curiosity. Certified professional dog trainer Erika Lessa writes that the behavior might begin when a young pup suddenly becomes aware of its tail and begins checking it out with its mouth. “Their spinning is a short-lived effort to get more information about their tail,” says Lessa.

Klein adds that in puppies, most tail-chasing is harmless fun. It often reduces or stops with age. “If tail-chasing becomes more frequent or severe over a relatively short period of time, a veterinarian should be consulted,” he advises.

Tedeschi tells Bored Panda that if the behavior is new and has never before been observed in an adult dog you observe routinely, there is an increased likelihood that there is an acute issue with their tail that is distressing.

"When dogs chase their tails routinely and attempting to bite or lick its tail repeatedly it important to determine the cause and seek assistance. For example, the term 'Happy Tail' for example is a painful or uncomfortable condition that occurs when a dog injures the tip or the base of its tail by frequently hitting it against objects or even dislocating the base," he explained. "If this behavior is chronic, or there is a sign of injury, it is worth having it checked by a vet."