I love it when my dog tilts her head when I’m talking to her. It’s the cutest thing. Do all dogs do this? Does it mean Muggles is really listening to me?

The head tilt is darn cute, isn’t it? It’s almost irresistible, at least at my house. Simone, my Pomeranian, works it for all it’s worth because she has figured out that tilting her head will get her a lot of positive attention.

While the head tilt isn’t an inherently manipulative canine maneuver, it may become so with time because dogs learn, as Simone did, that their owners will coo and pet them whenever they tilt their heads side to side. The move is guaranteed to make even people who profess to not like dogs go “awww.”

Wrapping us around their little paws aside, the primary reason our furry friends tilt their heads in a move that seems quizzical and attentive is so they can hear us better. Veterinarian Meredith Stepita, of the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists, says in an article at Vetstreet.com that when dogs tilt their heads, they’re usually trying to figure out the exact location of a sound. By repositioning their heads - and therefore their ears - they can pinpoint minute differences in sound.

Dogs also understand tone of voice and learn that certain words or sounds have specific meanings.

When you say “walk,” for example, your dog knows that means she’s going somewhere. Cocking her head at the word indicates that she’s concentrating on a sound that tells her something fun is about to happen. You can see this illustrated in a YouTube video (tinyurl.com/lp7a99) of four pugs head-tilting in unison to a variety of words spoken by their owner. It’s obvious that their owner’s words have meaning for them.

The head tilt isn’t associated with specific breeds of dogs, Stepita says. Nor is it related to the type of ears - floppy or pricked - or age or intelligence. But she says that dogs with socialization problems may not tilt their heads when people speak.

You wrote recently that corn isn’t bad for dogs. I think you should point out that corncobs can be dangerous.

You’re right. While experts say that corn itself isn’t a health issue, reversing decades of thought to the contrary, a corncob can be choking hazard. Cobs aren’t chew toys, although dogs love to chew on them.

Some dogs merely chew on the cobs while others actually eat them, which can pose problems, according to vetmedicine.about.com. Pieces of cob can lodge in the intestines, causing a blockage that could be fatal. If you think your dog has eaten a cob, call your veterinarian immediately and be alert for signs of intestinal blockage: not eating, lethargy, throwing up or dry heaves, soreness in the stomach area and diarrhea.

When it comes to cobs, it’s best to keep them well away from dogs. When you put them in the trash, make sure the container is secure. As you know, dogs can be persistent and creative pilferers.

Do you have a question about pets? We’ll get you an answer from an authority. Send your question to Rhonda Owen, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, P.O. Box 2221, Little Rock, Ark. 72203 or e-mail [email protected]

Family, Pages 32 on 08/21/2013