Book 1, Question 34
Why Do Dogs Tilt Their Heads? Clues From a Curious Pup!
Dogs may tilt their heads to see and hear better, and one study suggests the tilt is linked to listening closely to something important.
When your dog tilts its head, it may be trying to see and hear better. A long muzzle can get in the way of what is straight ahead, and a tilt moves it aside for a clearer view. The tilt may also help those ears scoop up sounds from all around. The page says dogs with long muzzles, like Collies, Greyhounds and Shepherds, often tilt more. Try saying a new word and watch what your dog's ears and head do.
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Quick answers
What did scientists in Budapest find?
Dogs that were best at remembering toy names tilted their heads more often when they heard a command.
How many toy names did gifted dogs learn?
Seven gifted border collies in the study learned the names of at least ten toys.
Source: Smithsonian Magazine
From the book
Page from A Million Whys Book 1
More fun facts
- Not much research has been done on why dogs tilt their heads.
- Scientists in Budapest, Hungary, noticed head tilts while studying how well dogs learn the names of toys.
- Most dogs have trouble learning the names of even two toys.
- Seven gifted dogs in the study, all border collies, learned the names of at least ten toys.
- The dogs that were best at remembering toy names tilted their heads more often when they heard a command.
- The researchers think the head tilt may be linked to a dog listening closely and remembering something important.
Sources: Smithsonian Magazine
Questions kids ask
Do smart dogs tilt their heads more?
In one study, dogs that were great at learning toy names tilted their heads more often when they heard a command.
Has science solved the head tilt?
Not completely. There has been little research on it, and scientists are still gathering clues.