Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => Plant Sciences, Zoology & Evolution => Topic started by: Brent on 12/02/2009 13:30:02

Title: Are animals (specifically dogs) ticklish?
Post by: Brent on 12/02/2009 13:30:02
Brent asked the Naked Scientists:
   
Are animals (specifically dogs) ticklish?  I would think they are?  

I love your show (http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/), I listen to your podcast (http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/) every week!!

What do you think?
Title: Are animals (specifically dogs) ticklish?
Post by: blakestyger on 12/02/2009 22:20:36
I've just tried tickling our dog - there was a lot of sneezing and squirming and even a low growl but no evidence of the sort of response humans give. I am not ticklish.
Title: Are animals (specifically dogs) ticklish?
Post by: Chemistry4me on 13/02/2009 01:19:14
Where would they get tickled? Under their feet?
Title: Are animals (specifically dogs) ticklish?
Post by: atrox on 23/03/2009 02:18:43
My dog is thicklish. Especially under her feet, yes. But also at her ears and sometimes at her belly ;-)
Title: Are animals (specifically dogs) ticklish?
Post by: Variola on 23/03/2009 08:49:02
This is worth a look.... rats laugh when you tickle them!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=myuceywaOUs (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=myuceywaOUs)

Title: Are animals (specifically dogs) ticklish?
Post by: Chemistry4me on 23/03/2009 08:57:40
Laughing?

Sounds like they're screaming: 'eeek let me go!' [:D]
Either that or I'm starting to imagine things. [:)]
Title: Are animals (specifically dogs) ticklish?
Post by: Variola on 23/03/2009 09:02:46
Quote from: Chemistry4me on 23/03/2009 08:57:40
Laughing?

Sounds like they're screaming: 'eeek let me go!' [:D]
Either that or I'm starting to imagine things. [:)]

he he :) Well you can see the pleasure the rats derive from it.. its quite cute really.
Title: Are animals (specifically dogs) ticklish?
Post by: Chemistry4me on 23/03/2009 09:09:14
Yes indeed.
Title: Are animals (specifically dogs) ticklish?
Post by: blakestyger on 23/03/2009 11:48:44
Quote from: Variola on 23/03/2009 08:49:02
This is worth a look.... rats laugh when you tickle them!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=myuceywaOUs (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=myuceywaOUs)

"...and when when we tested these animals to ask whether they were enjoying this activity the unambiguous answer was Yes."

Right - so they talk as well as laugh.
'Scientists' like this should be should be poked with a sharp stick until they talk sense.
Title: Are animals (specifically dogs) ticklish?
Post by: alansm on 23/03/2009 13:24:14
I tried tickling my pet hyena & cucabura & they definitely laughed.
Others animals laugh too, check this out…
Title: Are animals (specifically dogs) ticklish?
Post by: Don_1 on 23/03/2009 15:33:22
When I stroke my tortoises chin, they put their head right out to get the maximum stroke along the length of the soft skin of their neck, so I can only assume they like it. As for ticklish, have you ever tried to tickle a shell?
Title: None
Post by: passing through on 15/07/2013 21:57:48
Addressing the scratch response deflects from rather than answers the tickle question.  Don't they teach rigorous research before drawing conclusions anymore?

Anecdotal evidence time:  I've a dog who, especially when in a heightened emotional state (ie, playful), responds to manual stimulation of his sides at approximately the armpit location by collapsing to the floor while vocalising and play-biting at my hands until I stop.  This is the only situation I've found where he reacts that aggressively, usually being more inclined to paw lightly and sneak in a few licks.  It's repeatably highly dependent on both heightened state and correct location of the tickles.

So, what say you, Mr Scratch-Response-Equates-Mistaken-Tickling-Beliefs?
Title: None
Post by: goldfish on 04/08/2013 09:24:12
While I can accept that it is a reflex, it doesnt explain when my dog keeps coming back for more?
Title: None
Post by: Whisperline on 27/05/2016 04:51:53
use fun thanks