Why do dogs tilt their heads? 

 
why dogs tilt their heads


Some of the most photographed dog looks are the attentive expression, upright ears and yes—the tilted head! Is it just to look cute? Are they confused? Are they really listening to us? Or is the tilt saying, “Tell me more!” 


Here are five reasons your dog tilts their head:

  1. To help them hear. Those big ear flaps can get in the way and block sound; although they have good hearing, tilting their head allows them to capture sound better. The ear flaps can even change the direction of sounds, such as in breeds whose tall ears may prevent them from clearly hearing sounds behind them (e.g., German shepherds and corgis). Other breeds (e.g., spaniels) have furry, droopy ear flaps that can cover the entire ear canal, muffling sounds. A head tilt can help move the ear flap out of the way and help clarify sounds.
  2. To help them see. With the exception of flat-faced dogs (e.g., pugs, shih tzus and bulldogs), a dog’s snout gets in the way of them being able to see us clearly. Once they’ve tilted their head, they get a clear view of your facial expressions and can hear your words more easily. Try it! Make a fist with your hand and hold it up to your nose. How well can you see it in front of you? Now tilt your head and notice the difference!
  3. Curiosity. When a dog hears a new sound or something unusual, they may tilt their head to assess it. This explains why puppies frequently tilt their heads—they encounter a lot of new sounds!
  4. Attention and focus. Just like people nod during a conversation, dogs may tilt their heads to show you that they're interested in what you’re saying. Some dogs may tilt their heads more often, encouraging the conversation to keep going.
  5. Reinforced behavior. When dogs tilt their heads, we may smile, laugh, give them a pat, speak in a kind tone and tell them, “You’re a good girl/boy.” So another reason that dogs tilt their heads is because we teach them to do it by providing positive reinforcement!

Learn more about what makes dogs great companions with our Know Your Pet article library! >>