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Dog paw preference shows lability and sex differences.
Fay Poyser1, Christine Caldwell, Matthew Cobb
1Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, United Kingdom.
Behavioural Processes
|July 4, 2006
Summary
This study found no consistent paw preference in dogs. While male dogs showed a brief left-paw tendency with new tasks, this canine paw lateralisation appears unstable and context-dependent.
Area of Science:
- Ethology
- Animal Behaviour
- Comparative Psychology
Background:
- Paw preference, or lateralisation, is a common trait in many species.
- Previous research suggested sex-based paw preferences in domestic dogs.
- Understanding canine lateralisation provides insights into brain function and evolution.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate paw preferences in domestic dogs using multiple behavioural tests.
- To determine if a population-wide or sub-population tendency for paw preference exists.
- To examine potential sex differences in paw preference and its stability.
Main Methods:
- Three distinct behavioural tests were employed to assess paw use.
- Frequency, duration, and latency of paw usage were systematically recorded.
- Data were analyzed to identify population-level and sex-specific paw preferences.
Main Results:
- No overall population tendency for right- or left-paw preference was detected across tests.
- A sub-population of strongly "handed" dogs could not be identified.
- Male dogs exhibited a transient preference for left-paw use on initial presentations of one test, which diminished with repetition.
Conclusions:
- Behavioural lateralisation in dogs appears to be highly labile and context-dependent.
- Initial left-paw bias in males suggests a potential link to novel stimuli processing.
- Findings indicate that canine paw preference may be influenced by brain hemispheric activity in response to new environments or tasks.