The Real Reason Your Dog Tilts Its Head When You Speak

Few dog behaviours are as instantly recognisable as the head tilt. Say a familiar word, make an unusual sound or ask your dog a question and suddenly its head moves to one side, its ears become alert and its eyes seem to focus on you. It looks adorable, but there may be more happening than simple curiosity. Scientists have begun studying this behaviour more closely, and research suggests that head tilting may sometimes be connected with attention and the processing of meaningful sounds. That does not mean every head tilt has the same explanation, but it offers an intriguing glimpse into how dogs respond to human communication.