Is Your Dog Left-Pawed or Right-Pawed?
What Science Says

Just as humans are mostly right-handed, dogs show a preference for using one paw over the other. This trait, called pawedness or laterality, is linked to how each side of the brain controls behavior. Researchers have now developed the "Doginburgh Inventory": a four-test tool that gives a more complete and reliable picture of your dog's paw preference than any single observation could offer.

What Is Canine Pawedness?

For a long time, handedness was considered a uniquely human trait. Research over the past few decades has changed that picture. Many animals, dogs included, reliably favor one paw over the other for specific activities. The prevailing explanation is brain lateralization: the idea that the two hemispheres of the brain handle different functions, and that which hemisphere dominates influences which limb a dog reaches with first.

Unlike humans, where roughly 90% are right-handed, dogs split far more evenly between left-pawed, right-pawed, and ambilateral (no strong preference). Some research finds a slight population-level lean toward right-paw preference, but the split is much closer to even.

The Doginburgh Inventory: How It Works

Researchers drew inspiration from the Edinburgh Handedness Inventory, a standard questionnaire used to assess human handedness, and adapted it for dogs. The result is the Doginburgh Inventory: a four-test protocol combining two manipulation tests and two locomotion tests, giving a more accurate composite picture than any single measure could provide. All four tests are designed to be replicable at home.

Manipulation Tests

• Kong Toy Test: A Kong toy is filled with treats and placed on the floor. Researchers record which paw the dog uses to hold the toy steady while working to get the treats out.
• Food-Reaching Test: A treat is slid just out of reach under a low piece of furniture. The paw the dog extends to retrieve it is recorded.

Locomotion Tests

• Stair Test: The dog sits at the top of a staircase. Researchers note which paw moves first when the dog steps down.
• Walking Step Test: During a leashed walk, the dog encounters a single downward step or curb. The first paw to move is recorded.

By combining results across all four tasks, the inventory classifies dogs into one of five categories: strong left-pawed, weak left-pawed, ambilateral, weak right-pawed, or strong right-pawed.

Paw Preference Is Task-Dependent

One of the more notable findings from the research is that a dog's preferred paw is not always the same across activities. A dog might reach with its left paw to grab a treat from under furniture but use its right paw to steady a Kong toy. This task-dependence is exactly why the Doginburgh Inventory uses multiple tests: a single observation can mislead.

This mirrors findings in other species. Fish, birds, and primates all show limb preferences that can shift depending on what the animal is doing. Laterality appears to be a feature of how vertebrate brains divide cognitive labor, not a fixed switch.

Why Paw Preference Matters

The practical implications go beyond trivia. Research cited by Scientific American and Smithsonian Magazine suggests links between laterality and behavior:

• Left-pawed dogs may show more pessimistic responses in ambiguous or novel situations
• Dogs with weaker or no paw preference may react more strongly to startling or stressful stimuli
• Laterality assessments are being explored as a potential screening tool for working and service dog programs

As The Conversation notes, understanding a dog's cognitive and emotional tendencies through laterality could help owners and trainers tailor their approach. A more reactive dog might benefit from a calmer training environment, while a dog being screened for guide work could be assessed for the emotional stability that a strong paw preference sometimes correlates with.

How to Test Your Dog at Home

Both manipulation tests from the Doginburgh Inventory are designed to be owner-replicable with no special equipment. Here is how to run them:

1. Place a Kong or similar food-dispensing toy on a hard floor. Fill it with a high-value treat your dog can smell but not easily access.
2. Let your dog approach and work at the toy. Record which paw contacts the toy first to stabilize it. Write L or R.
3. Repeat 10 times across multiple short sessions for consistency.
4. Run the food-reaching test: slide a small treat under the edge of a sofa or low shelf and note which paw your dog extends to retrieve it.
5. Tally your results. 7 to 10 uses on one side = strong preference. 5 to 6 = weak preference. An even split = ambilateral.

For the most accurate picture per the Doginburgh research, also observe your dog on stairs and curbs to add the locomotion component. Tracking your dog's health at home is always more useful when you know how your individual dog thinks and responds.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I tell if my dog is left-pawed or right-pawed?

Use the manipulation tests from the Doginburgh Inventory at home. Place a treat-filled Kong on the floor and record which paw your dog uses to stabilize it. Then slide a treat under low furniture and note which paw reaches for it. Run each test 10 times and tally the results. The paw used 7 or more times is likely dominant. For a fuller assessment, also observe which paw your dog places first when stepping down stairs or off a curb.

What does it mean if my dog uses both paws equally?

Dogs that show no clear preference are classified as ambilateral. Research suggests ambilateral dogs may respond more strongly to stressful stimuli compared to dogs with a strong paw preference. Individual variation is considerable, and a lack of paw preference alone doesn't indicate a problem.

Are most dogs right-pawed or left-pawed?

Studies show dogs split far more evenly between left-pawed, right-pawed, and ambilateral than humans do. Some research finds a slight population-level lean toward right-paw preference, but the distribution is nothing like the roughly 90% right-hand dominance seen in humans. Individual dogs vary considerably.

Does paw preference affect a dog's behavior or personality?

Research suggests links between laterality and emotional tendencies. Some studies indicate left-pawed dogs may show more pessimistic responses in ambiguous situations, while dogs with weaker paw preferences may be more reactive to startling stimuli. These are population-level patterns, not fixed rules for any individual dog. If you're working on training, see our guide on how activity level affects your dog's daily needs for another angle on understanding your pet.

Sources

How to tell if your dog is left-pawed or right-pawed, according to science, Scientific American.  ·  Is your dog a lefty? New 'Doginburgh' test captures paw preference, Phys.org.  ·  Dogs May Favor a Paw but Which One They Use May Depend on the Task, Discover Magazine.  ·  Are dogs left- or right-handed? What the science says, The Conversation.  ·  Is Your Dog Right-Pawed or Left-Pawed? Here's How to Figure It Out, Smithsonian Magazine.