They are especially good with children and can be trained to do many tasks.
Many people who own Golden Retrievers say that they are the best pets money can buy.
Why Do Golden Retrievers Tilt Their Heads?
Golden retrievers often tilt their heads when they hear your voice or see you approaching.
They also tilt their heads when they want to make eye contact with you.
It’s not just a coincidence that this gesture occurs at the same time as the other dog behaviors that have been mentioned, it’s actually an important part of a golden’s communication system.
They use head tilts to ask questions, get attention, and show their understanding of human language.
When your golden retriever tilts his head, he’s asking you if he can play or if he wants to go outside.
He’s also communicating that he’s interested in what you’re saying, which is why you should pay close attention to the tone of your voice.
If you respond by nodding yes or shaking your head, then your golden will know that you approve of his request to play.
If you nod no or shake your head, then your golden will understand that you don’t want him to come inside.
As you continue talking, your golden will start to follow your commands.
Once he knows what you mean, he’ll stop tilting his head and start looking up at you instead.
You should always remember to give your dog verbal praise whenever he does anything good.
The better he gets at following your commands, the more likely he will be to do so without being prompted.
And remember, a happy dog is a well-behaved dog.
Now let’s find out how you can use head tilts to teach your golden retriever new tricks.
The Benefits of Head Tilt
There are many benefits to head tilt, including the following:
Helping your dog to hear better.
Giving your dog an opportunity to look around and see more things than he would otherwise.
Providing your dog with a way to focus on an object that it’s interested in.
Reinforcing to your dog that you’re happy and pleased with something he’s looking at.
Alerting your dog to the fact that there’s food or other items nearby that he can smell.
Offering your dog the ability to take in information about his environment and surroundings.
Teaching your dog how to use the ‘yes’ command.
Helping your dog to learn new commands and behaviors.
Offering your dog an opportunity to relax and enjoy some quiet time alone.
Easing your dog into learning new behaviors by starting small.
Making sure your dog doesn’t run away when it sees you coming towards him.
The Disadvantages of Head Tilt
Dogs tilt their heads when they want to show you that they’re listening or are curious about something you’re saying.
But there’s a downside to this behavior, too.
Dogs usually tilt their heads up when they’re looking at you.
When your dog does that, he can’t see out of the corners of his eyes, which means he can only focus on one thing at a time.
This can cause problems if you need your dog to do anything else while you’re speaking to him, like going outside, eating food, or playing fetch.
If your dog isn’t paying attention, it could lead to accidents or even injury.
Here are some things to consider before you encourage your dog to tilt his head up.
1. It Can Be Dangerous
If you have a dog who tilts her head to look at you but doesn’t have good vision, she may not realize that an object is coming toward her until it’s too late.
This could result in serious injuries, such as broken bones or torn ligaments.
A dog who tilts her head down to look at you might also injure herself by falling over.
She could bump into furniture or trip over objects in her path.
And remember, no matter how much you love your dog, you should never let her get hurt because you didn’t pay attention to her.
2. You May Not Know Which Way Your Dog Is Tilting Her Head
When your dog tilts her head upward, she may appear to be looking at you, but she may actually be looking elsewhere.
And when she tilts her head downward, she may be facing away from you, but again, she may be looking somewhere else.
So it’s important to know whether your dog is tilting her head up or down so you can make sure your dog is safe and focused on what you’re doing at all times.
3. Tilting His Head Up Can Make It Harder for Him to See You
If your dog tilts his head up, he’ll probably be able to see you better than if he were looking straight ahead.
But if you’re talking to him while he’s tilted his head up, he won’t be able to see everything happening around him.
He won’t be able to watch where you’re walking or see other people approaching from behind or in front of him.
For example, imagine if you’re holding a treat and you want to give it to your dog.
If he tilts his head up, he’ll have trouble seeing you, so he won’t be able to grab the treat right away.
Instead, he’ll have to turn his head completely around to see what you’re doing.
That takes time and causes distractions for both of you.
But if your dog tilts his head down instead, he’ll be able to see you clearly.
So if he needs to turn his head to see what you’re doing, he won’t have to move far or risk losing sight of you altogether.
He Might Become Overwhelmed By What’s Happening Around Him
Imagine that you’re driving your car and someone starts honking at you.
Now imagine that you’re driving and your dog tilts his head up to look at you.
He’ll be distracted by the noises around you and by the movement of your car.
He might miss an opportunity to cross the street safely.
If your dog tilts his head down, however, he won’t be distracted by any of those things.
He’ll be able to concentrate on watching the road and will be able to react more quickly to whatever happens.
The Final Say
So, why does your dog tilt his or her head when they hear you speak?
Is it just a playful gesture that has no real meaning behind it?
In this article I’ll explain the origins of head tilts, and how they can help your relationship with your dog.
1. What’s Going On Underneath Your Dog’s Head? Have you ever noticed that your dog seems more alert when he or she is looking at you, rather than looking away?
There are two reasons for this.
The first reason is because your dog knows that you will notice if he or she looks away from you, so he or she doesn’t bother to look away.
The second reason is that when your dog looks directly at you, his or her brain sends the message “I’m interested in what you’re saying.”
This is what gives rise to the idea that your dog might be listening to you.
2. How Do You Know When Your Dog Tilts His Head? If your dog tilts his or her head when you talk, there are some things you should know about it before you start talking to him or her.
It’s a sign of interest.
When your dog tilts his or her head, this means that he or she is paying attention to what you say.
Hi, my name is Megan Turner and I have worked in a dog’s shelter for four years now. It is truly my dream job, and I see hundreds of dogs every month being united with new owners to give them a loving forever home.
Unfortunately, handicapped dogs are much more likely to be ignored when a family is picking out their new pet. Handicapped pets need more care than non-handicapped pets, so it is understandable why they are often harder to rehome.
