Have you noticed your pet dog tilting his head to one side when he hears something? Many people really find this behavior quite amusing. Although head tilting in dogs is not fully understood by animal behaviorists, many believe that it may be an attempt to make sense of what they are hearing. Some experts also believe that a dog cocks his head in anticipation that what is being said could lead to something exciting, like a romp in the yard or a visit to the dog park. Head-tilting may also indicate the ability of dogs to understand and comprehend some words and tones of the human voice. They could be trying to focus in an effort to pick out a word or tone of voice that may indicate his favorite activity.

A dog’s ears have movable flaps that help them trace the source of a sound. Even the slightest change in the position of the head and eventually the ears, enables the dog to pick out information that can help the dog figure out the distance of the source. Ask your veterinarian Moore, OK if you have any questions or concerns about your pet’s behavior.