General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsPhoenix61
(16,954 posts)Thanks for posting.
oasis
(49,152 posts)kstewart33
(6,551 posts)Thanks for posting!
northoftheborder
(7,566 posts)smirkymonkey
(63,221 posts)It just melts my heart every time!
cloudbase
(5,486 posts)Laffy Kat
(16,356 posts)Because she knows I think it's cute and will give her a bite. She totally has my number.
tenorly
(2,037 posts)He knew there was something tasty inside, and how hard it was for me to say no. I miss him.
onlyadream
(2,159 posts)I wonder if it's the breed. She's a smart old girl tho.
WePurrsevere
(24,259 posts)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)In a begging position when they want something?
I've never seen this in anything but a westie. Cutest thing.
WePurrsevere
(24,259 posts)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)My dogs seem to tilt their heads when they are trying to identify a particular sound
Nitram
(22,671 posts)a sound is coming from.
rusty fender
(3,428 posts)Grown2Hate
(2,005 posts)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)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.
oldcynic
(385 posts)Nitram
(22,671 posts)They clearly study our faces as we talk.
oldcynic
(385 posts)Nitram
(22,671 posts)Grown2Hate
(2,005 posts)... also, I'm NOT stoned.
Danascot
(4,664 posts)their expression is always WTF
WePurrsevere
(24,259 posts)Our dogs, short and long muzzle alike, do it for certain sounds but as they age it's with decreasing frequency.
tblue37
(64,982 posts)jovibennett
(120 posts)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)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)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)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.
Mountain Mule
(1,002 posts)My dogs have always been able to read me like a book!
ProudProgressiveNow
(6,129 posts)Kablooie
(18,571 posts)I think there's something different going on.
True Dough
(17,095 posts)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)BUT maybe only do it, if they are planning on whacking something...
William Seger
(10,742 posts)... but they're probably not any better at it than we are.
C Moon
(12,188 posts)Then I realized that they are trying to see my mouth.
This is so great!!
Thanks for posting!!!
Qutzupalotl
(14,230 posts)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)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)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.
Maraya1969
(22,441 posts)iI