A recent study from Italy indicates that approximately 80% of dogs exhibit a preference for using one front paw over the other. This phenomenon is referred to as "left pawness" or "right pawness."
Key Findings
- The study reports that around 80% of dogs demonstrate a preference for one front paw over the other.
- This paw preference is observed when dogs perform actions such as reaching for objects, manipulating toys, or stepping down stairs or curbs.
- The phenomenon is analogous to handedness in humans and is believed to relate to brain lateralization.
Expert Insight
Dog behavior specialist Sarah Rutten discussed the findings on 3AW Breakfast. Rutten noted that the research from Italy supports earlier claims regarding paw preference in dogs.