Do dogs have a sense of humor? The answer, in my opinion, is a definitive yes. I know this to be true, because I have a German shepherd that most certainly has a sense of humor. In fact, he happens to be a practical joker, a regular comedian. I swear this dog is laughing at me most of the time.

Ok, I have some examples. I’m sure that everybody knows the old toilet paper stuck to the foot routine. Well, my dog pulled that gag, not once, not twice, but several times, and as far as I can tell this was no accident. He knew he was getting a laugh. I swear this dog had a wry little smile on his face as he pranced through the room with the paper streaming from his foot. He looked like he was laughing right along with the rest of us.

Then, after the paper on the foot trick lost its charm, he gave it up for another gag. One night we had come home with some fast food from a local fast food burger restaurant. The dog took this opportunity to grab the empty bag off the table and stick his head in it and shake it all around. Then, when the bag came off his head, he had that wide smiling face, and again looked like he was laughing his ass off. Of course he got a huge laugh from everyone present, and I could tell, as I watched him look around the room for approval, that he was enjoying the attention.

Some of his other gags are more annoying than funny. One trick that I find most annoying is this one where he comes after me to take him out. He hops around and yips, and insists that I get the leash and take him outside. Then, when I stop what I’m doing and get the leash, he runs away laughing. He thinks its funny, as well as the other members of my family. I, however, find it infuriating, but, in the end, I wind up laughing too.

Now the most recent gag he pulled is also the most elaborate. I’m convinced that this silly dog carefully planned out this caper.

We have an old oil burner that is over due for a cleaning. Even though it is summertime here, it runs from time to time to make hot water. Anyway, sometimes the burner backfires and a whiff of oil can be smelled in the kitchen. Well, somehow, the other night, this prankster dog of mine managed to waff the odor of oil all the way upstairs to my bedroom. In this way he inveigled me down to the cellar to check on the oil burner. As I approached the furnace I stepped in some doggy indiscretion, and slipped on it, nearly falling on my ass. This, of course, is reminiscent of the flaming bag of dog poop on the doorstep gag. Of course my dog was probably nearby laughing at me. I know that if he had opposable thumbs he’d be video taping the whole affair to be aired on youtube at a later date.

Now I’m sure that my dog is not unique, I’m sure that there are many other comedic dogs out there playing practical jokes on their unsuspecting masters.