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This is why dogs tilt their heads. (Original Post) Cattledog Apr 2017 OP
Very cool! Phoenix61 Apr 2017 #1
We learn something new every day. oasis Apr 2017 #2
For we dog owners, this is very good to know. kstewart33 Apr 2017 #3
Very interesting. Makes sense. Thanks. northoftheborder Apr 2017 #4
I find the doggie head tilt one of the cutest things ever! smirkymonkey Apr 2017 #5
Because they can. cloudbase Apr 2017 #6
My dog does it when I'm eating something. Laffy Kat Apr 2017 #7
My basset did whenever he heard the cellophane crinkle. tenorly Apr 2017 #8
My Westie never tilts.. onlyadream Apr 2017 #9
It's not the breed. We have a Westie pup... WePurrsevere Apr 2017 #31
Does your westie clap their paws onlyadream Apr 2017 #35
Yes, our late Corgi did it too but... WePurrsevere Apr 2017 #36
Not always true IMO rusty fender Apr 2017 #10
I believe dogs more often prick up their ears and turn their heads to identify the direction... Nitram Apr 2017 #15
Also that rusty fender Apr 2017 #18
RIGHT! My dog Trot, whom I've had for 14 yrs now, ONLY ever Grown2Hate Apr 2017 #28
IME... WePurrsevere Apr 2017 #32
fascinating...wonder if cats do something similiar. Don't say cats don't care! oldcynic Apr 2017 #11
Cata's don't need to because their muzzle does not extend as far. Nitram Apr 2017 #12
duh...where is my brain. oldcynic Apr 2017 #13
Right there behind your muzzle... Nitram Apr 2017 #14
That was the cutest exchange I've ever seen on DU... Grown2Hate Apr 2017 #29
And when they look at us as we talk Danascot Apr 2017 #20
Some of our cats do it too but it's for certain sounds. WePurrsevere Apr 2017 #33
K&R for such cuties in the video. nt tblue37 Apr 2017 #16
Maybe...I have been a certified veterinary technician for 15 years jovibennett Apr 2017 #17
I'm not disagreeing but my French/English Bulldog's face is REALLY flat nolabear Apr 2017 #19
Seems a little sketchy. sl8 Apr 2017 #21
It may be partially face BUT... WePurrsevere Apr 2017 #34
Pretty darn cute - Thanks! Mountain Mule Apr 2017 #22
K&R nt ProudProgressiveNow Apr 2017 #23
Then why do they tilt their head at unusual sounds? Kablooie Apr 2017 #24
What a coincidence True Dough Apr 2017 #25
I guess Cats don't do that, their muzzles are not that long yuiyoshida Apr 2017 #26
Dogs try HARD to understand us William Seger Apr 2017 #27
I was thinking, "But they turn their head when I make a noise with my mouth..." C Moon Apr 2017 #30
It seems to be a universal sign for quizzical. Qutzupalotl Apr 2017 #37
Yes, I have done the same thing with squirrels and chipmunks KelleyKramer Apr 2017 #40
Why do humans tilt their heads? Cartoonist Apr 2017 #38
Mine don't tilt their heads. I think it's because they don't give a shit what I am saying Maraya1969 Apr 2017 #39

Laffy Kat

(16,356 posts)
7. My dog does it when I'm eating something.
Sat Apr 29, 2017, 03:13 PM
Apr 2017

Because she knows I think it's cute and will give her a bite. She totally has my number.

tenorly

(2,037 posts)
8. My basset did whenever he heard the cellophane crinkle.
Sat Apr 29, 2017, 03:31 PM
Apr 2017

He knew there was something tasty inside, and how hard it was for me to say no. I miss him.

WePurrsevere

(24,259 posts)
31. It's not the breed. We have a Westie pup...
Sun Apr 30, 2017, 05:53 AM
Apr 2017

and she's an adorable head tilter. Our late beloved Westie family member from years ago was too when young as is my eldest daughter's Westie family member (sister to our pup).

All of our dogs, a variety of rescue mutts & 1 purebred, do it or used to once in a while but especially if I make certain high pitch odd noises. Our oldest, a lab/golden mix, is now over 12 and no longer does it so it may partially be that with age and experience most stop.

onlyadream

(2,159 posts)
35. Does your westie clap their paws
Sun Apr 30, 2017, 10:10 AM
Apr 2017

In a begging position when they want something?
I've never seen this in anything but a westie. Cutest thing.

WePurrsevere

(24,259 posts)
36. Yes, our late Corgi did it too but...
Sun Apr 30, 2017, 10:51 AM
Apr 2017

He's the only other one we've had that did so. He did it on his own as a pup, much like our Westie, and learned the command 'do cute' from our calling what he did 'doing cute'.

Anathema, the Westie pup, is still learning but she's super smart. I've never known a stupid Westie though.

 

rusty fender

(3,428 posts)
10. Not always true IMO
Sat Apr 29, 2017, 04:02 PM
Apr 2017

My dogs seem to tilt their heads when they are trying to identify a particular sound

Nitram

(22,671 posts)
15. I believe dogs more often prick up their ears and turn their heads to identify the direction...
Sat Apr 29, 2017, 04:34 PM
Apr 2017

a sound is coming from.

Grown2Hate

(2,005 posts)
28. RIGHT! My dog Trot, whom I've had for 14 yrs now, ONLY ever
Sun Apr 30, 2017, 03:31 AM
Apr 2017

did that when I would introduce a new sound, something that he'd NEVER heard before.

Slowly, over the years, I wasn't able to do it anymore. He's, quite frankly, heard every possible type of weird sound out of my mouth. No matter how clever I try to be.

Therefore, no more head tilt.

WePurrsevere

(24,259 posts)
32. IME...
Sun Apr 30, 2017, 06:08 AM
Apr 2017

although it's faces to a degree too I'm sure, it seems to be odd sounds, mostly us making certain sounds, that trigger the cute heard tilt.

I've always put it down to them trying to get a read on our emotions and if we're okay. It seems to happen most often in the younger ones. Our older dogs don't do it as much so I figure they probably know us better.

Nitram

(22,671 posts)
12. Cata's don't need to because their muzzle does not extend as far.
Sat Apr 29, 2017, 04:26 PM
Apr 2017

They clearly study our faces as we talk.

WePurrsevere

(24,259 posts)
33. Some of our cats do it too but it's for certain sounds.
Sun Apr 30, 2017, 06:12 AM
Apr 2017

Our dogs, short and long muzzle alike, do it for certain sounds but as they age it's with decreasing frequency.

jovibennett

(120 posts)
17. Maybe...I have been a certified veterinary technician for 15 years
Sat Apr 29, 2017, 04:40 PM
Apr 2017

and i have noticed that they tip their head to certain words. Example: I will lay on the floor nose to nose with my Coton de Tulear and he will tilt his head to words he likes to hear: walk, treats, ride, play and his favorite find the cat. And its also in the way I say those words. I notice that my voice tends to go up on that certain word. If I am standing up and saying the same words he may or may not tip his head. I think its more in the words we say that they recognize and like to hear, it also happens in the clinic with dogs we are treating...certain words tend to get the head to tilt even when they don't feel good. But maybe its their long noses which would not explain brachycephalic dogs. But what ever the reason it is adorable and I love when they do it. My cats could give a crap what I saw to them. They only talk to me in the middle of the night

nolabear

(41,915 posts)
19. I'm not disagreeing but my French/English Bulldog's face is REALLY flat
Sat Apr 29, 2017, 07:03 PM
Apr 2017

and she tilts hers. Someday I suppose I'll learn to post a photo but the girl doesn't have a muzzle. She has a face. She's adorable.

I always thought it was a bit of echolocation. Honing in on the sound. But I could certainly be wrong.

sl8

(13,584 posts)
21. Seems a little sketchy.
Sat Apr 29, 2017, 08:32 PM
Apr 2017

I don't see any sources or citations. The twitter account seems to be associated with these folks:
http://www.viralspark.net

I'm guessing that the part about muzzles interfering with eyelines comes from Stanley Coren's article in Psychology Today:
https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/canine-corner/201312/why-do-some-dogs-tilt-their-heads-when-we-talk-them

It's interesting, but it's still just one hypothesis. A quick Google search reveals a plethora of hypotheses.

WePurrsevere

(24,259 posts)
34. It may be partially face BUT...
Sun Apr 30, 2017, 06:19 AM
Apr 2017

we've fostered and had numerous dogs over the years plus Ii worked as a vet assistant years ago and IME it's mostly sound (including word) based.

The one thing I agree with is that most dogs truly try to understand us just as they will often show concern when we're not well or upset. Actually I think some other domestic animals like cats, horses, etc do too for whatever reason whether selfless or selfish.

True Dough

(17,095 posts)
25. What a coincidence
Sun Apr 30, 2017, 01:59 AM
Apr 2017

Our big ol' English mastiff/German shepherd mix doesn't do much head tilting. But today a friend of mine posted the video below on Facebook. I played it while Duke was lying on the floor not to far away, facing me. He immediately started tilting his head as he listened. He did it several times. I got a real kick out of watching his reaction.

yuiyoshida

(41,763 posts)
26. I guess Cats don't do that, their muzzles are not that long
Sun Apr 30, 2017, 02:10 AM
Apr 2017

BUT maybe only do it, if they are planning on whacking something...

C Moon

(12,188 posts)
30. I was thinking, "But they turn their head when I make a noise with my mouth..."
Sun Apr 30, 2017, 03:45 AM
Apr 2017

Then I realized that they are trying to see my mouth.
This is so great!!
Thanks for posting!!!

Qutzupalotl

(14,230 posts)
37. It seems to be a universal sign for quizzical.
Sun Apr 30, 2017, 01:07 PM
Apr 2017

I've used that movement to pacify wild animals like deer. When animals see unfamiliar humans looking at them with our close-set predator eyes, they will often freak out. But if you simply tilt your head like in the video, the animal will sense that you are simply curious about it and not a threat, and will usually resume its normal activities.

KelleyKramer

(8,851 posts)
40. Yes, I have done the same thing with squirrels and chipmunks
Sun Apr 30, 2017, 07:39 PM
Apr 2017

And you are right, it does seem to work.

And also when standing near them, do not face them square on, turn slightly to the side, they take that as less threatening


Cartoonist

(7,298 posts)
38. Why do humans tilt their heads?
Sun Apr 30, 2017, 01:11 PM
Apr 2017

I think it's a questioning gesture. I don't buy the muzzle theory. Nature wouldn't handicap itself. Besides, it would be just as effective to lower the snoot.

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