Title: Why Dogs Tilt Their Heads | VCA Animal Hospital
Headings: Why Dogs Tilt Their Heads
Why Dogs Tilt Their Heads
By Ryan Llera, BSc, DVM; Lynn Buzhardt, DVM
Why do dogs cock their heads when they hear a strange sound?
How does head-tilting help with hearing?
Why does my dog tilt his head when I am directly in front of him?
Does the head tilt help with communication in any other ways?
Do we encourage this behavior?
When does the head tilt mean a medical problem?
Ear Canal Tumors
Vestibular Disease in Dogs

Content: They tilt their heads to work around their interfering muzzles and improve their visual perspective. That cute head tilt actually broadens the range of vision and allows a dog to more clearly see a person’s face. Seeing our facial expressions improves communication. It stands to reason that dogs with flatter faces like Bulldogs and Boston Terriers may tilt their heads less since their short noses do not get in the way as much as long muzzles. That cute head tilt may therefore be a result of physical conformation (structural arrangement of the facial and ear bones). Do we encourage this behavior? There are several factors involved in the canine head tilt and it is human nature to respond to the “cuteness” of the head tilt with positive reinforcement. When dogs cock their heads, we give them a good pat, speak in a kind tone, and smile. So, another reason that dogs cock their heads is because we teach them to do it by providing positive reinforcement. Our response to the head tilt encourages repetition, so the more we gush over the cute canine head tilt, the more we get to enjoy it!