What’s your angle, pupper? A new study offers hints on the canine head tilt

Previous studies had suggested the tilt was an attempt to hear better. New findings show it has more to do with who’s talking, and the words themselves.

The canine head-tilt seems designed to make humans go “Aww”. It combines vulnerability, affection and a desire to understand or be understood.

What prompts it? Previous research suggested that dogs tilt their heads in an attempt to hear better. But a fresh study examined the direction of the tilts and found that the location of the speaker did not affect how the head moved, suggesting that the action isn’t meant to help the canine pick up sound better.

What the