Explain · analogy · Like I'm five version
Why dogs tilt their heads in terms of a customer who did not quite catch your name
Why do dogs tilt their heads when you talk to them just like a customer who did not quite catch your name?
When you tell your dog you are going for a walk, they tilt their head to try to hear you better. This is exactly what happens when a customer looks at you with a puzzled face after you tell them your name is Simon. They are moving their ears to find the sound and tilting their head to make sure they did not miss the most important part of the sentence.
Just like the customer, your dog is trying to match your words to pictures in their head. The customer is hoping you said a normal name like Dave, while your dog is desperately hoping you said the word walk or treat. If you keep talking without giving them a reward, both the dog and the customer will eventually look away and start thinking about their lunch.
Your dog tilts their head to see your mouth move more clearly while they listen to your tone of voice. They want to know if you are happy or grumpy, much like the customer who is watching your face to see if they need to be polite or if they can ask to speak to your manager. They both want to be sure they understand the plan before they decide to wag their tail or ask for a refund.
Where the analogy breaks downThe dog is genuinely delighted to hear you speak, whereas the customer would usually prefer you to stop talking immediately.