DATE: Thursday, September 11, 1997          TAG: 9709110739

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B2   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: GUY FRIDDELL

                                            LENGTH:   47 lines

SURE, LOTS OF ANIMALS CAN LAUGH - AND SCOLD, TOO!

Do animals laugh? An expert on their behavior said they do, citing that several species of primates such as gorillas, chimpanzees, orangutans, can utter the sound of laughter.

You might the find the soundings on the weird side. But then haven't you heard unearthly sounds from humankind when they're laughing?

Other animals have ways of demonstrating merriment. The dog wags his tail; the sinuous cat winds around your ankles and climbs in your lap and purrs to convey happiness.

Clyde Beatty, the animal trainer who kept order with a whip, a kitchen chair and pistol loaded with blanks, put on quite a show of authority. But in the midst of all of his bravado, a lioness, seated on a stool, would show her affection for him by purring at him.

A mule's way of demonstrating affection is not to kick you. But even then you must be alert. Author William Faulkner said that a mule will remain quiescent all his life to get one clear shot at you with his hind hooves.

A dog with whom I am familiar, Boomer the Lab, wags his tail to convey all degrees of emotion. He is as adept in showing disappointment or hurt.

Early one morning, I had cut from a chicken bone the meat to season his dog chow, when my attention strayed. I turned to find him fleeing with the bone in his mouth.

``BAD DOG!'' I yelled so loudly that he dropped the bone. I had feared that its fragments might injure his stomach.

He ran into the father's room and under the bed, where he stayed for an hour. No soft talk would bring him out.

When I crawled after him, he fled to the fartherest corner under the bed and folded his paws so that it was impossible to pull him out.

Gin tossed three Milkbones under the bed.

``Better eat one with him,'' she said, ``You owe him that.

He only knows the biscuits. No amount of pampering was going to make him forgive that shout from one who never before raised his voice. The 14-month-old dog had become a scared pup. I rejoined Gin in the kitchen.

Every so often I would whistle and call but there was no answer.

``Ask him if he wants to go for a walk,'' she advised.

``Hey Boomer,'' I called. ``Let's go out. Find your ball.''

No sound from the bedroom for a minute or two. And then Gin said, ``Look!''

In the hallway, looking into the kitchen, he stood wagging his coppery tail, ears pricked forward, eyes alert, the ball in his mouth.

Apology accepted, finally.

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