Exploring Paw Preference in Dogs
Italian researchers at the University of Bari Aldo Moro have introduced a standardized tool called the 'Doginburgh Inventory' to assess paw preference in dogs. The name is a playful nod to the Edinburgh Handedness Inventory, a questionnaire used to identify dominant hand use in humans. The study involved 47 household dogs, with 43 completing enough trials for meaningful analysis.
The 'Doginburgh Inventory' consists of four practical tasks:
- holding a toy,
- reaching a paw under furniture to get food,
- stepping down from a low set of stairs,
- stepping off a platform while walking.
Study results revealed that one in five dogs was ambilateral, meaning they showed no clear preference between left and right paws. Meanwhile, a third of the dogs displayed a strong preference for either their left or right paw.
Overall, the dog group leaned slightly toward left-paw use, especially among males, indicating a subtle trend in lateralization. As Marcello Siniscalchi explained,
“when we talk about laterality, we refer to two aspects”The first is direction: whether an animal is left-, right-, or ambilateral. But, he added,
“there is another important aspect—strength: how pronounced this preference is”. This matters because research suggests both parameters can influence physiology, immune response, and behavior in dogs.
Practical Value of the 'Doginburgh Inventory'
Ultimately, the new 'Doginburgh Inventory' not only deepens our understanding of canine laterality but also offers practical benefits for dog care and training.
Studying paw preference can help veterinarians and pet owners better grasp their dogs' behavioral traits. Knowing which paw is dominant may inform training methods, rehabilitation strategies, and overall care approaches. The tool's importance also lies in its potential to guide future research on how laterality affects animal health and well-being, opening fresh avenues for scientific exploration in this field.