# Why Do Dogs Cock Their Heads When You Talk to Them? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 21, 2009, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-dogs-cock-their-heads-when-you-talk-to-them/497238 "2009-05-21T21:15:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Apocalypso](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@Apocalypso](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apocalypso)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2009, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-dogs-cock-their-heads-when-you-talk-to-them/497238/41 "2009-05-24T16:16:27Z")
Their brains roll out of the socket, and they have to tip it back in. ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2009, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-dogs-cock-their-heads-when-you-talk-to-them/497238/42 "2009-05-24T23:29:23Z")
Every dog I’ve owned tilted his or her head. Poodles, Pugs, Bulldogs, Boston Terriers, and Sheperd/Collie Mix. I always thought it was sort of rudimentary sonar. The dog is trying to get a fix on the location of the sound. ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2009, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-dogs-cock-their-heads-when-you-talk-to-them/497238/43 "2009-05-25T04:22:56Z")
I’ve always called that head-tilt the _“Rorp?!”_ I think I got it from Scooby Doo. But it’s perfect. I even say it in real life, when I’m confused or someone just said something incomprehensible. It’s fun to use in chat, too. ETA: Or maybe the Jetsons? _Rorp?!_ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-dogs-cock-their-heads-when-you-talk-to-them/497238.md?page=2)