Why Do Dogs Tilt Their Heads?

Is there anything cuter than a dog tilting their head from side to side? This adorable behaviour has the power to melt the heart of just about anyone – but why do dogs do it? Check out our guide and find out the story behind this common canine habit.

If you’re lucky enough to have a canine companion in your life, it’s likely you’ve encountered the heart-melting head tilt. You may be telling them that it’s time to go for walkies, and they start cocking their head from side to side, and you think to yourself, “why do dogs tilt their heads? Are they listening to what I’m saying?”.

At Purina, we’re just as curious about your pooch’s behaviour as you are, and that’s why we’ve taken a look into the reasons why dogs do this. Keep reading to find out more!

Why do dogs tilt their heads?

Experts can’t actually come up with a definitive reason why dogs tilt their heads. They’ve suggested a number of possible answers, including:

Adjusting their field of vision

The reason why your dog head tilts could also be to do with their vision. Stanley Coren, Ph.D., believes that a dog’s muzzle may obstruct their view, so they tilt their head from side to side to look at things better. In his pilot study, he discovered that dogs with longer muzzles such as greyhounds were more likely to tilt their heads than flatter faced breeds like pugs. However, he also found that more than half of the flat-faced breeds also tilted their heads, so there’s still much to learn here.

It’s a learned behaviour

There’s a high chance that when your dog tilts their head, this loveable behaviour will be met with positive encouragement such as a cutesy voice, a fuss and possibly even a snack too. This means your dog essentially discovers that tilting their head wins them affection. Our canine friends are people-pleasers after all, and once they’ve learned you like something, they’re more likely to keep doing it!

What if my dog’s tilting their head a lot without a clear reason?

If there’s no auditory or visual cue present and your dog seems to be tilting their head a lot, it’s a good idea to schedule an appointment with your vet as it may be a sign of a health issue.

Some dogs experiencing ear infections may tilt their head more often to try and relieve pain, and a consistent head tilt could also be a sign of vestibular syndrome (a condition where dogs lose their normal sense of balance, a bit like vertigo). 

According to Nicholas Dodman, a veterinary behaviourist, vestibular syndrome manifests differently to standard head cocking – your dog will keep one ear to the ground on a regular basis and may lean to one side, almost like a boat listing in the water. This condition can cause other symptoms such as disorientation and nausea, and it’s always worth getting your pet checked out by your vet to deal with any concerns.

That’s our guide to why dogs tilt their heads! Want to find out more about your canine companion’s behaviours? Discover the reason behind your dog staring at you, next.