New 'Doginburgh Inventory' Test Measures Paw Preference in Dogs

A novel evaluation known as the 'Doginburgh Inventory' has been created to assess paw preference in dogs, as detailed in a study released in Royal Society Open Science on June 10. This assessment, modeled after the Edinburgh Handedness Inventory for humans, comprises four tasks: two manipulation activities (interacting with a Kong toy and reaching beneath furniture) and two locomotion challenges (navigating stairs and stepping off a curb). Researchers analyzed paw usage through several trials to determine the direction and strength of laterality. Among 43 dogs evaluated, 11 exhibited a strong preference for their left paw, 3 for their right, while the remainder displayed no significant preference. Unlike humans, where approximately 90% are right-handed, dogs did not show a clear paw dominance. This tool aims to enhance understanding of brain lateralization in relation to behavior, emotions, and cognition. Previous studies indicate that left-pawed dogs may be more pessimistic, whereas ambilateral dogs tend to respond more intensely to loud noises and display heightened aggression and fear. The research was conducted by Sevim Isparta and Marcello Siniscalchi at the University of Bari Aldo Moro in Italy.