Tilting the head is not just a Siberian husky thing. It’s not a breed-related behavior, and you can see many dogs tilting their head. No matter what breeds they are. And they look so adorable when they are tilting their heads slightly to the side. Head-tilting in dogs is usually a sign of intelligence and empathy. Still, there are some medical reasons why a dog tilts his head, and I’ll cover those too in this article. But let’s see why your Siberian husky tilt his head.
Why does my Siberian husky tilt his head when I’m talking to him?
Does your Siberian husky tilt his head? As I mentioned earlier, there are many reasons why your dog may tilt his head. If you praise this behavior, you can easily teach him to tilt his head while you’re taking a photo with him. Striking a pose like a model! But, let’s see why dogs tilt their heads.
Your Siberian husky tilts his head to hear you better
Sometimes your Siberian husky tilts his head when you’re talking to him because he wants to hear you better. When your dog is tilting his head, he tries to understand what you’re saying or what that noise is and from where it comes. Make some unusual sounds in front of him and he might tilt his head. He tries to understand what’s happening with you and what are those weird sounds.
Your Siberian husky can also tilt his head if he hears a word that has a meaning for him. He wants to be sure that he understands it. If you always use the same words for walks, treats, or even foods name, your dog might tilt his head to hear you better. He doesn’t want to miss the occasion to get some treats or go for a walk.
Squeaky toys, talking in a high-pitched voice, or making random silly noises can make your Siberian husky tilt his head. Your dog tries to understand from where the high pitch noise comes. His hearing is different from your hearing. Dogs can hear an incredible range of frequencies. Usually, dogs can hear sounds from 40 Hz up to 65,000 Hz. Some dogs may even hear lower or higher frequencies. This is way more than humans. Humans can only hear sounds ranging from 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz. Even if dogs can hear a wider range of frequencies, they may tilt their heads to locate the source of the sounds.
Dogs tilt their head to see you better
Dogs that have a pronounced muzzle may tilt their head to see you better. Their muzzle might interfere with their view. Still, your dog doesn’t have to tilt his head every time he wants to see you. He sees you even if he doesn’t tilt his head. But he might want to tilt his head to read your expression better.
Dog head tilting and medical reasons
You don’t have to worry immediately if your dog is tilting his head. I mentioned earlier a few reasons why your dog may tilt his head, especially when he reacts at you or at the sounds you or some objects may produce. Still, there are some medical reasons why your dog can tilt his head. Your dog may tilt his head if he has a problem that affects his middle or inner ear. He might have an infection or a foreign body in his ear canal. Make an appointment with your dog’s veterinarian if this is the case. You can’t always be able to detect such an infection by simply looking in your dog’s ear. Regular checkups are always welcomed even if your dog if feeling ok.
Your Siberian husky can tilt his head at a cue
Your Siberian husky can tilt his head at a cue if you praise and reward this behavior. That is why your dog may tilt his head if you ask him “Are you ready for a walk?”. Your dog tilts his head because he wants to read your facial expression and to hear you better. He recognizes the word but he wants to be sure. And after that, you reward him with a treat or with a walk. Your dog may recognize some words that you frequently use also. Try these with your dog and see at what words he responds. Try to use the same tone and facial expression that you normally use while you’re saying those words.
But let’s go back to training your dog to tilt his head. If you praise your dog and reward him when he’s tilting his head, he will learn pretty fast. Your dog is smart, so if he gets that tasty treat, he will tilt his head and respond at your cue.
Final thoughts on why your Siberian husky tilts his head
Spending time with your dog is always a great idea. Talking with him, letting him read your facial expressions, and learning new tricks will help you bond with your dog. Your dog will enjoy all that attention. Making your dog tilt his head while you’re taking a photo of him is fun. Even if he doesn’t tilt his head, your dog will still look perfect don’t worry.
If you suspect that may be some medical reasons why your dog tilts his head, such as ear infection or a foreign body in his ear canal, go to your dog’s vet and see what is wrong.
I hope you like this article. Share it with your friends and let your dog to bark or howl about it to his buddies.
Want to learn more about the Siberian husky behavior? Take a look at Why is my Siberian husky is eating grass?
