Shichon Siblings' Head Tilts While Listening To Mom's 'Daily Agenda' Are Too Cute
Pretty much every dog owner has stories galore (and photos, and videos) about their darling doggo's weird sleeping positions, cute cuddles, emotional puppy-dog eyes, and dramatic zoomies. Head tilts are also one of the sweetest and funniest dog behaviors, as evidenced by a TikTok video that's been viewed more than 42,000 times. A pair of petite pooches named Cooper and Cody sit on a bed and listen to their mom explain everything that will happen that day, including some changes to their normal routine. The two Shichons (a cross between a Shih Tzu and a Bichon Frise) tilt their heads in the cutest way while their owner talks to them.
@debbie_1020 Too early for Cooper! He's not impressed at this change of routine 😂 #dailybrief🐶 #shichons #dogmom #shichonsoftiktok
"Anyone else fully brief your pups on the daily agenda" is written across the video with a dog emoji. "Yes! totally did that today [because] I left for [work] later than usual ... I changed the routine!" one viewer wrote. Another commented, "I talk to my dogs like they're human all the time."
Viewers couldn't get enough of the precious pair's behavior. "The head tilting and expressions are hilarious," one commented, and another observed, "Head tilts are perfection."
Why do dogs tilt their heads so adorably?
A lot of study has gone into the possible physical reasons for head tilts in dogs and other animals. Dogs know when you're talking to them, and they try to understand what's being communicated. Some experts think that head tilts may improve hearing by moving a dog's ears into a better position, or improve vision by helping a dog see around its muzzle, or perhaps both. However, further research is still ongoing.
Although it's uncertain whether or not dogs know when they're being cute, beyond debate is the fact that clever canines have learned how to manipulate us after living with humans for thousands of years. If a dog learns that cocking its head to the side leads to rewards such as attention, praise, petting, treats, or a walk, then this positive reinforcement will encourage the dog to keep doing cute head tilts.
After coexisting with humans for so long, dogs do appear to know what we're thinking and saying. As one viewer commented on the TikTok video, "I really truly believe that when you talk to your dogs honestly and earnestly like this that they understand your intention/message."