Laterality and performance of agility-trained dogs

Area of Science:

• Animal Behaviour
• Canine Cognition
• Veterinary Behavioural Medicine

Background:

• Lateralised behaviour, or paw preference, is common in dogs (Canis familiaris).
• Visual stimuli presented to specific hemifields can influence motor responses in dogs.
• Owner presence is a significant factor in canine task performance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the correlation between paw preference and agility performance in dogs.
• To examine the impact of owner positioning within a dog's visual hemifield on agility performance.
• To explore the relationship between temperament, trainability, paw preference, and performance.

Main Methods:

• Assessed paw preference for a food object in 19 agility-trained dogs.
• Measured performance on agility obstacles (jumps, A-frame, weave poles).
• Recorded owner position relative to the dog's left and right visual hemifields.
• Utilized an owner-rated temperament questionnaire.

Main Results:

• Dogs exhibited longer latencies to complete agility obstacles when the owner was positioned in their left visual hemifield compared to the right.
• This effect was significantly correlated with the dog's trainability.
• The strength of the dog's paw preference also showed a significant link to this performance difference.

Conclusions:

• Owner location within a dog's visual field influences canine agility performance.
• Trainability and paw preference are key factors modulating the effect of owner visual field positioning.
• Understanding visual processing and lateralisation can inform training and improve canine performance in applied settings.