Why Dogs Tilt Their Heads When You Talk to Them (and 6 Other Dog Behaviors Explained)
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- čas přidán 17. 05. 2024
- In this video, we will delve into canine science and tell you why dogs tilt their head, why they cry, and why they are so indecisive, persistently asking to go out and come back in again.
Why dogs tilt their heads when you talk to them
One of the more endearing things dogs do is to tilt their heads when they listen to you. We humans think it's cute-but why do dogs do it?
Scientists have finally discovered why our best friends tilt their heads when we talk to them.
A new study published in the journal Animal Cognition found that dogs tilt their head when they process something meaningful, or when they expect to be told something important.
The adorable gesture is a signal that the dog is intently listening. Head-tilts are related to increased attention. Your dog is trying to concentrate and pay more attention to messages from its human companions.
As part of the study, the researchers observed 40 dogs during object-label knowledge tests and analyzed head-tilts while listening to humans. The scientists found that there was a strong correlation between head-tilting and following complex verbal commands. The results of this study indicate head tilting is associated with processing information and an attempt to better understand humans.
Interestingly enough, the scientists found that dog breeds that are better at learning the names of objects - such as border collies or German Shepherds - would tilt their heads more. The so-called “gifted learners” tilted their heads 41 percent more frequently during the experiments compare to other dogs.
The animals even had a favored side when titling their head, just like humans favor their left or right hand.
Dogs also have a favorite paw and even a favorite nostril. For example, most dogs are right-handed when it comes to reaching for food, walking down stairs, or retrieving toys. Tilting the head is yet another asymmetrical movement in dogs.
So, when your dog looks at you attentively while tilting their heads, they are probably trying to absorb every word.
Why dogs are so indecisive, persistently asking to go out and come back in again?
If you have a yard, you may have wondered why your dog wants to go out, and then a minute later is standing in front of the door and suddenly wants to come back in.
Dogs are curious and want to know what is happening in their territory at all times. In the wild, there are simply no doors that constantly block their way.
Your dog may want to go out for a change of pace, to go to the bathroom, or check whether everything is still in order and no intruders are hanging around in their area.
Dogs want to come in because they miss you, they are not comfortable with the weather, or they want to check what you are doing.
Dogs can be indecisive animals as well.
Remember, if you are not spending quality time with your dog, exercising, training and petting them, they may simply be asking to go in and out to entertain themselves and have something to do.
Why dogs cry
Whining is one of many forms of canine vocal communication.
The most common reason your dog may be whining is that they need or want something from you, like some food or going out for a walk. Maybe their favorite toy is stuck underneath the couch, or they want you to open a door for them. This is similar to how puppies interact with their mothers, by “asking” for something with a plaintive whimper or whine. So it’s no wonder adult dogs recruit this same vocal impulse when communicating with humans.
Sometimes dogs whine just because they are bored and no one is paying attention to them. Your dog wants someone to play with or something to occupy them.
Whining can also be your dog’s way of saying that they are anxious or scared.
Separation anxiety is another serious condition that can lead to crying. Dogs with separation anxiety who are left alone will sometimes spend their entire days barking and or whining.
Finally, whining could be an indication that your dog is in pain or some kind of physical distress.
How to Talk to Your Dog
If you’re talking to a dog, increase the pitch of your voice and use dog-related words.
A new study has shown that when we use a higher pitch when talking to our dogs, it really does help the animals to pay attention more. The research, published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society, showed that talking to dogs using dog-directed speech makes them react and attend more to their human companion than regular speech.
What is more is that talking this way creates a stronger bond between you and your pet.
On a similar note, studies using MRI scanner have shown that dogs understand a little bit more about human speech than we think.
They understand vocabulary regardless of intonation. So dogs will not only listen to the tone of your voice - but your choice of words as well. So if you say a mean thing to a dog in a friendly tone, the dog knows.
@6:10 I get the idea from my dogs that they're not afraid of the thunder, but the change in atmo pressure bothers them. A storm can be coming in and they'll get anxious before the thunder starts. I think they can sense the change and know the storm is coming, and _that's_ what gets to them.
Dogs are the best people I know.
My dog is anything but indecisive with the urge to go out. She'll go out, knock a minute to later, and when you open the door she hops away and stares at you. This means, "human, I miss you but rather than come back in, I demand you join me out here!"
That’s not the same thing
I was cleaning dishes while camping. When I turned there was a bull moose watching me. We stared at each other and he tilted his head like a dog. He walked off after a few minutes. It was an awesome experience. 😮
He was waiting for you to say something.
Dogs are wonderful creatures. Give one your friendship and tge reward is yours.
A dog’s love is unconditional, 🐕🐕❤❤
Dogs know us better than we know them.
I thought my dogs tilted their heads because of curiosity.🤣
Because it's cute. They are working you for food and shelter. Makes life easier for them. I tried it, but had to go back to work on Monday while the dog hung out and slept.
Our favorite dog of all we've had was named Nigel. He was always on the "wrong side of the door" so my husband started calling him "wrong side of the door George". He's been gone for almost 13 years and we still miss him.
My "Magnum" a GSD has been gone 16 years and I still have a sticker on my car's back window of a GSD with angel wings and text saying "Magnum never forgotten".
Don't know what I'll do when she passes away. Might do a little bit of traveling and after that I might get a rescue dog.
My old dog can no longer hold her pee. She paces back and forth in the house and moans and groans to let me know she wants to go outside. So I let her out, at 1 AM, 3AM, 6AM. My dog has trained me well
Maybe UTI. Take to the Vet.
She’s just getting old enjoy time with your dog
Can you not install a doggy door?
I think it's more logical to say that dogs go in/out constantly because they want unfettered access to whatever they want. I've had a few dogs that would beg to go out and wanted to come back in the second I shut the door. Not minutes later, as soon as the door shut. Leave the door open and they'd stay in or out for lengths at a time.
Great video , really informative.. well done 👍
This video is so amazing I'm just sitting here with my princess sassy laughing and giving her love this is so her all the things she does thank you
Great video. Very informative. Also cute. I love dogs. 🥰
Thank you. Very interesting & helpful.
Enjoyed this information 🙏🏾
When my Great Danes what something special they intentionally get the sweetest look on their faces and extend their right paw. 😊😊
Jaw-dropping Facts, I just love listening to your videos!!!
Very helpful info for dog owners.
Dogs are awesome!!❤
❤I noticed some of we humans do it, too. If we're training on specific details at work, this process is the same concept as the canine. The only difference is that we take notes to prevent forgetting.
I tilt my head often when I'm paying extra attention to something.
Nice video. Thank you ✌️
I always thought that the head tilt was extreme concentration.
It is not indecisiveness to me. In fact, I behaved just like a dog when I was a kid and have constrains to where I can go as imposed by adults. I also desire to go out, but only to satisfy curiosity, and then come back in again (not because I miss my family, but because it is just less comfortable outside, or the outside overwhelms me, or I am done doing my mental mapping of territory lol). And do that repeatedly if I can as I get bored in one location for too long.
But as I grow older, I can stay in one place for ages because I know I can leave any time, and as long as I have something meaningful to do.
Same for a dog. They want to wonder around unobstructed, explore and find stimulants, and conduct their territorial patrol and surveillance at any time they like.
I used to think dogs tilted their heads when they were confused…
Me too...
Ye that's more likely! I assume like me your dogs have only ever tilted their head when your are making odd noises or talking in a weird tone. Half this video is nonsense.
No… PEOPLE do that! 🤣
i watched something that dogs tilted there heads to look at your left side of your face to read our emotions and our left side is of our emotions
Same…
i love this make more
That dog is standing waiting to come back in because it’s on a balcony ………😂
I love dogs.
My dog always tilt his head when I ask him wanna go out or want to eat? 😂
My cat says " Who cares "
Head tilting is more complicated than what is described in this video. I have a dog that is VERY food motivated, and he tilts his head back and forth whenever he is watching someone eat. His head tilting is an indication that he is watching for any indication that he's going to get a bite. My guess is that the head tilting is related to an anticipation of reward. In the case of toys or going outside, the dog is paying attention for key words that they recognize. For my food-motivated dog, he is anticipating visual notice of actions that means he's going to get a treat.
Great
That was a great video. I thinking of getting a dog, just can't make my mind up what breed. This was a video. Thanks
My cat wants to go out, and then she wants to come back in as well. She is protecting her territory, AND she loves to be the center of attention. All 4 of my cats listen to me, and obey. They don't obey like my dog does, but they are cats.😅
Great information. Thank you. Dogs are truly beautiful beings, like many (if not all) fellow animals.
A poodle attacked me on my skate board Sunday after noon. I kicked it in the head. F that dog
awww d best dog head tilter😂😂😂
2 of my 3 dogs tilt their heads for just 2 words, doggie walk. The other will literally talk to me when I come home, she will growl or speak on command and it wasn't that and it isn't a whine, judging from the tail wag I think she is telling me she is glad I am home. It is a good test group, they are siblings, very well behaved and my kiddos for 10yrs.
More often than not, dogs only want to go in or out if you’re going with them.
It’s so cute
My dog takes 7 seconds to process what I’m saying and then he will talk back
And to think, I was just making squeaky noises with my mouth to see my dog tilt his head.
Rex:
“No way I gotta hear this!”
Me:
“I’m a potato”
Great video! I really enjoyed it! Also felt proud when I realised that I do most of the positive behaviours, like talking to my dogs. In a way we developed our own typ of sign language. Not to advanced but I see that the more we understand each other the more my dogs want to communicate
My lil Doggo understands me better then most human beings. He’s a smart one.
I think it’s cute, too!🥰
One of the remedies for going in and out could be use of a puzzle feeder.
As for my dog, he's not like a normal furry friend! My dog isn't scared of thunder, but does get nervous around other dogs, however he's now been tempered around my parents dogs and actually acts a whole lot better around other dogs these days! I also know for a fact, because of my dog that baby talking to dogs is nonsense, and I'll explain by saying while tone is important one should just talk normally to his/her dog! Basically treat your dog like a dog with normal speech and this will greatly impact your bond with your dog! My dog lives at my parents, so when I come over he tends to sense me near and starts getting excited in anticipation! I still raised him for the first 3 years of his life, so he and I have bonded very well over my keeping him safe from my kids who would follow and torment him as a puppy! I had to teach my children how to properly interact with dogs without being annoying of obsessive!
In any case, the vast majority of this information is common sense that one can learn merely by observing your dog and teching your dogs by redirecting their attention when you don't want them doing certain things!
It makes sense about the lighting and static electricity. My dog didn’t like loud noises. Thunder unnerved him but fireworks, once he realized what they were, were tolerable to him.
Your lucky - or rather, your dog was. When I was young, we had a dog who literally trembled all throughout the 4th of July. As he aged, the years were kind to him in that his hearing diminished and he could no longer hear every firecracker within 1/2 mile, and he no longer trembled.
My dog loves to watch the fireworks once I got her Dog Safety Ear Muffs. Me being a veteran not so much, as I adrenaline dump and end up the one shaking and unnerved.
Not only do dogs rub their heads against us but so do horses. My friend and I were talking among our horses and her horse comes up behind me and starts rubbing his face on my behind. I turn and lean against the barn wall, keep visiting, but begin rubbing Apache’s face. My horse loves her face scratched, too. Maybe Apache wanted attention or to be part of the conversation. Horses not only talk by making noises but with body language, too.
My large dog loves his horse and rode with me when he was a puppy. We were out riding with some friends and some range cattle burst from the brush crossing the dirt road we on. A friends mount was getting upset next to me and my mare was like, “what’s the matter, should I be worried?” Pretty soon, Max shot out from behind his horse and while nipping at the cows heals, chased them off, started to come back to me the chased more cows off that had just come out from the scrub. They were scaring his horse. Max is half German Shepherd (actually a shepherd type of breed) and half Australian Shepherd. It’s in his genes to “herd” and protect and he did and does a great job.
Some people nod their heads down when trying to listen and focus on complex things being said.
I wonder if certain body movement is done to prop up or prioritize certain senses.
In the case of some people tilting their heads down, so there is less visual distraction and focus in on hearing.
Dogs need another dog for companionship while you are at work for 10 hours and sleeping for 8 hours...get two....its just as easy as one after you get a system going kn
Head tilts work for adult ADD too. It’s not as effective as Ritalin but helps significantly.
Answer me this. Why sometimes do some dogs lick their chops and then yawn after being told something negative? Like when they're being told "no" or being scolded. I think it's an uncontrollable "contemptuous" reaction (behavior) related to them not liking what you are telling them.
2:26❤
I want to know why they bring back the ball but then don't want to give it to you.
I believe dogs are not color blind, my sons beagle knows the difference in his colors of his toys. I may be wrong but I believe dogs have more abilities than we humans think.
Of course you're right!
Get a doggy 🚪 door. My dog loved it .
I was told they tilt to see around their snout!
Cute duck 71
Heck, I do the same thing.
Poor babies! I can't imagine having static electricity going through me during thunderstorms.
For long eared dogs, it can also be a way to hear you better.
My pups don’t whine unless they don’t feel good.
Talking to your dog in a higher voice is great for normal interaction. However, when I’m spending “cuddle time” with my girl, I speak softly and talk to her like I’m sharing a secret. She pays such close attention because she knows I’m talking to her and her only. ❤️
That’s a good point, you’re right! No canid exists in nature with floppy ears, they all have standing ears, for better hearing and ear health. Floppy eared dogs were bred, and are much more prone to ear infections due to the closed environment. People don’t realize that ear cropping is often done with purpose to breeds that are prone to ear infections. Great Danes and Dobermans are good examples!
I appreciate the science here, but these answers are all pretty much what I figured out just having a dog.
it's not only dogs, people tilt their head when i talk to them too...
Because they’re so cute
I've got one dog that shakes, pants, and hides during thunderstorms, and another one that barks at the thunder like she's going to attack it, if she could figure out what it is.
My dog is so chill he will just relax in the bathroom with his brother
And that’s why doggy doors where created 😂
I love it when you Americans say 'going to the bathroom'. In this case meaning the dog wants a dump on the lawn.
Most dogs that I've owned usually tilt their heads if they hear a strange sound and the are trying to make out what it is. They've never tilted their heads when I speak to them
Early! first I think, 23 seconds after they posted
Fu**
We had a Rottweiler who didn't like to be shut in his bedroom at night, he liked to patrol the house he had about 4 different sleeping spots, if he was shut in he'd keep striking the door until you opened it.
Awwww,he wanted to protect everyone😢
I thought they just liked the feel of the marbles rolling around.
With this lnfo in the future we may be able to actually understand when they bark??
I wish my dog would tilt his head every time I talk to him.🤣
Tilt yours at him/her.
Once, a raccoon tilted his head and basically shrugged at me. Weird...
My Dae Dae knows exactly what im saying no matter the tone.
My dog is deaf and blind. She does tilt her head, so proving it's nothing to do with listening.
How do you know this? Did you ask them why they do those things?
I thought it was because my dog thought I lost my mind...
Lol 😂
I don't think not winning about chronic pain is counter intuitive to humans.
If that were true id be winning all day myself.
Iv lived with chronic pain for the majority of my life but no one but my closest friends would ever know.
I know many people in similar situations and none of them would topically moan about their pain there are some examples where pain not linked to their chronic pain would cause them to announce it, this is often I find because sometimes it can be difficult to process new pain sensations.
But as an example, my chronic pain is very similar to having a broken bone, so if I broke a bone I often would have denial that the bone is broken, even if I could not physically move the injured part. (this is often the only way I know that something is broken because I would not have a full motion with say a particular limb.)
Long story short a Dog with have much less understanding than we do as Humans and so if they have chronic pain of some kind it's easy to assume that they believe this is just a normal part of life and possibly every dog also has the same thing.
that's funny, my wife tilts her head.
Trying to understand something was my guess for tilting their heads. That’s basically obvious; and we didn’t need scientists for that one.
My dog "Hank" tilts his head when I talk to him. He'll respond with a bark or a whine also!
lol no I caught a dog stalking me. I turned around and looked at him and then he got Low tilted his head side to side.
But what about the "human is acting weird" tilt? When we were kids, my sister and I would love to get our dog to tilt her head by moving oddly or making bizarre noises. I doubt she was trying to get "instructions" from that
😂
I have 1 dogs who tilts his head and three that don't..
Can’t say I’ve ever seen a right handed dog 😅
Do dogs do head tilting with other dogs and no humans are present? It's probably a stupid question but curious and don't know.
Another sign that a dog is in pain is that it will lick its lips a lot.
They tilt their heads to signify WTF!?
So basically my dog rarely listens to me lol
I have 3 dogs and 1 of the dogs moves it's paw in a peting way telling me to pet her
Their not indecisive about going out, when they do that, they want you to go with them.
Thats an easy one ,they listen to us then tilt there heads in disbelief what we are saying.
Why dose my beagle try to walk between my feet even after we both have been hurt by it ??
They tilt their heads the same exact reason we tilt our heads when we can’t figure out something. Only difference is our tilts are on new things and never ever on the same thing that caused us to tilt in the first place...
For the amount of revenue them two un skippable averts got you this best be true!!😂
👍🙏👍
This is not the reason. Dogs have excellent hearing and they have two ears meaning stereoscopic hearing. They tilt their head to shift the ear's axis so they can locate the source of the sound in 3D. When the head is horizontal they get one data point, head tilted a second and the source of the sound the third allowing them to triangulate the position of the source. It is a built in hunting behaviour that gets triggered when they think something is important. Science has known this for centuries