Scientists Develop Test to Determine if Dogs Are Left-Pawed or Right-Pawed
Researchers at the University of Bari Aldo Moro in Italy have created the "Doginburgh Inventory," a new test to measure pawedness in dogs, published in Royal Society Open Science. The test categorizes dogs into five groups based on paw preference using four simple tasks that pet owners can replicate at home. Understanding pawedness helps researchers study how brain lateralization relates to behavior, emotions, and cognition in dogs and other species.
A new study published in Royal Society Open Science describes the "Doginburgh Inventory," a systematic test for measuring paw preference in dogs, modeled after the Edinburgh Handedness Inventory used in humans. The test involves four tasks: two manipulation tests (using a Kong toy with treats and reaching for treats under furniture) and two locomotion tests (descending stairs and stepping down a ledge). Researchers evaluated dozens of dogs and categorized them as strong left-pawed, weak left-pawed, ambilateral, weak right-pawed, or strong right-pawed. The test is designed to be easily replicated by pet owners at home, though researchers emphasize the importance of not influencing the dog's movements and paying attention to details that could skew results. Understanding pawedness in dogs can help scientists explore how brain lateralization—the preference for using one side of the brain for certain functions—relates to behavior, emotions, and cognition across species.
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How to tell if your dog is left-pawed or right-pawed, according to science
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