• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Dog's Best Life

Dog's Best Life

The information you need to keep your dog happy, healthy, playful and loyal.

  • Top Stories
  • Blog
  • What We Do
  • About Us
  • Contact Us

Does your dog favor her left or right paw?

Posted January 7, 2017

By Nancy Cope

Woman gives her lab puppy a high five. Most dogs exhibit a paw preference and dominantly use either their right or left paw.

Have you ever wondered if your dog is right-pawed or left-pawed (i.e., a “southpaw”)? Most dogs exhibit a paw preference and dominantly use either their right or left paw, just like humans favor either their left or right hand.

What the studies say

According to the people who research such things, animals are similar to humans. The majority of animals are right-handers. A much smaller percentage are left-handers. And quite a few dogs are ambidextrous or they can use both paws equally.

In one study of 28 dogs, 57.1 percent preferred to use their right paw; 17.9 percent preferred to use their left paw, and 25 percent were ambidextrous.

There appears to be some suggestion that male dogs are a little more likely to be left-pawed than females.

Paw preference and behavior

Some researchers have speculated that there is a connection between paw preference and behavior. Findings from at least one study suggest that dogs that are ambidextrous are more likely to be reactive to noise from fireworks and thunderstorms.

This theory has been suggested as a way to screen them before training them for bomb sniffing, guide dog work, and other programs which have a high rate of failure. Animals that react to this kind of stimuli would not be good candidates for these programs if the theory is correct.

Testing your dog

You can test your own pooch and discover his paw preference in several ways:

* Put a treat under your sofa and see which paw he or she uses to try to reach it;
* Give your pet a bone and see which paw he uses to hold it when he chews on it;
* Put a piece of tape on your dog’s muzzle for a moment and see which paw he uses to try to remove it;
* See which paw your pooch normally uses when he steps forward;
* Put a Kong filled with treats in front of your pet and see which paw he uses to try to get the treats out.

These are all good ways to determine which paw your dog prefers to use. Have fun and see what you learn about your pet. And be sure to take care of your pup’s paws. After all, they put in a lot of miles.

Right brain and left brain

Other studies suggest that dogs have the same right brain-left brain reactions that humans do. Their left brain controls the right side of their body, while the right brain controls the left side of the body.

Studies have shown that they react by wagging their tails to the right when they are happy and they wag their tails to the left when they are apprehensive. (You can try this at home. Your dog should wag his tail to the right when he sees you but if he sees something that scares him, he should wag his tail to the left.) This is because with dogs (and humans) the left brain is associated with love, safety, and bonding. The right brain handles things like fear.

Does this explain why dogs or people are left or right-handed? Who knows? But it’s something else to ponder when you watch your dog.

Nancy Cope is the owner of four rescue dogs and Pampered Dog Gifts.

Save

Related Posts

  • dog pawing
    Dog behavior: Understand pawing

    Pawing is a natural and inherent way for dogs or…

  • puppy 101
    Puppy training 101: 7 tips to start your dog off right

    Raising a puppy takes a lot of work and patience.…

  • Small wet dog wrapped in a towel. Learn to avoid dog grooming mistakes.
    Dog grooming guide: Care for your pup from the top of his head to the soles of his paws

    Go beyond brushing and bathing. Use this dog grooming guide…

  • Owner applies ointment to dog's paw. Practice good paw care by using a balm or ointment to prevent your dog's paws from becoming rough or cracked.
    Keep your dog’s feet and nails healthy

    Practice good paw care by examining your dog’s feet every…

Share this post:

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Pinterest Share on Email Share on Reddit

Filed Under: Dog Fun, Home Page Tagged With: Paw

« Previous Post
Next Post »

Primary Sidebar

Follow Us

Categories

  • Adoption
  • Dog Breeds
  • Dog Facts
  • Dog Fun
  • Dog Grooming
  • Dog Health
  • Dog Inspirations
  • Dog Training
  • Dog Travel
  • Holidays
  • Home Page
  • Puppies
  • Top Stories

Featured Posts

  • puppy 101

    Puppy training 101: 7 tips to start your dog off right

  • Small brown and white dog wears a mask. Dogs and coronavirus: Canines unlikely to catch or transmit the virus to people or other animals, World Small Animal Veterinary Association says.

    Coronavirus and dogs: Can canines get COVID-19?

  • Dogs and other pets on a video conference call. Dog home alone again? If you're preparing to go back to work, get your dog ready. To prevent separation anxiety, use training, treats, and a safe space.

    Ready to go back to work? Prepare your dog to be home alone

Tags

Rottweiler Dog teeth Aggressive puppy Dog senses Ear infection Old dogs Driving Adopt a dog after a breakup Petfinder.com Dog body language Dog hair Poodle Shedding Doberman Pinscher GingerLead New Year Dog tail Boston Terrier Dog clothes Dog grief Jumping High-tech dog gadgets Dog food Pet parents Dog sleep Canine diabetes Camping Dog business Environment Golden retriever

Footer

Quick Links

  • Home
  • Top Stories
  • Blog
  • What We Do
  • About Us
  • Contact Us

Recent Posts

  • Training tips: 7 habits your dog must learn early
    Follow these training tips to help your puppy establish good behavior traits. Set a schedule and stick to it. Focus on house training. […]
  • What’s your best financial solution to meet dog expenses?
    Before adopting or buying, consider dog expenses. Do your research on the breed. Health costs will likely be your biggest expense. […]
  • Is a Pekingese the right dog for you?
    The Pekingese has a long, silky coat that forms a lion-like mane. These tiny dogs need a high-protein diet and short daily walks. […]
  • What you need to know about the benefits of dog kennels
    Using dog kennels helps boost your dog's physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Boarding your dog helps improve socialization skills. […]

Get Our Newsletter

Get more news to help keep your dog healthy delivered right to your inbox. Sign up for DogsBestLife.com's monthly newsletter.

© Copyright 2021 Dog's Best Life online magazine · All Rights Reserved · Privacy
Get Our Free Monthly Newsletter

Get more news to help keep your dog healthy delivered right to your inbox. Sign up for DogsBestLife.com's monthly newsletter.

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.OkRead more