PAW PREFERENCE - 5 minutes Is your dog right- or left-handed?
It's likely that your dog is either right- or left-handed. In the wild it makes sense to have a paw preference, because in emergencies, one side of the body will take the lead. Why left or right are dominant is open to debate, but in some species it has some amazing consequences.
What do I need?
A plastic or cardboard tube that is wide enough for your dog to reach into with its paw, but not with its head
A pet treat or toy
The walkthrough below describes the stages of the test:
Step 1: Put the treat near the end of the tube and hold the tube directly in front of your dog.
Step 2: Encourage your dog to get the treat.
Step 3: Do this twice more. If your dog isn't pawing for the treat, place the treat under a sofa, just within reach, and try it again. What does your dog do?
Results:
A - Dog uses left paw most of the time
B - Dog uses right paw most of the time
C - Difficult to tell
If option A - Your dog appears to be left-handed. Left-handedness in humans is often associated with creativity and a natural musical ability. Maybe your dog has hidden talents as well!
If option B - Your dog appears to be right-handed. Right-handedness in humans is often associated with language ability and a logical mind. There is some evidence that right-handed animals can be better at remembering and using words, so maybe your dog understands more of your conversation than you had thought!
If option C - It could be that your dog has no preference; in other words, it could be ambidextrous. In some animals this has been shown to be unhelpful. It's often good to have a dominant hand to lead the way.
