TeaMost people use one hand or the other for most things – and almost 90% of the human population This is the right hand. Some 10% to 13% of humans are left-handed, with men three times more likely to be left-handed than women, although a small number are ambidextrous.
Until relatively recently, it was believed that “cordiality” was unique to humans, but animal studies suggest that “sociality” may be a fundamental characteristic of all mammals. It is less clear how this is displayed in animals and whether it is similar in humans.
a wide range of tests It was developed in an attempt to determine whether the domestic dog exhibits any evidence of preferred paw use. Tasks include immobilizing a toy, reaching for a food treat placed inside a container, or removing an object—such as a blanket or piece of sticky tape—from the animal’s body.
Other indicators include recording the first step taken to walk down or a paw given to an individual upon request.
Findings from studies using these tasks vary somewhat, although a recent meta-analysis concluded that, overall, dogs are more likely Being paw-preferred (what we call hermaphrodite when talking about humans) than unisexual—or displaying no preferred paw.
But, unlike in humans, paw preference appears to be roughly evenly divided. Handedness in dogs is therefore specific to the individual, not to the population.
importantly, Studies point to differences In paw use between tasks, with limb use depends on factors such as task complexity. For example, the commonly used “Kong Ball” The task, which required the animal to stabilize a conical ball, typically elicited approximately equal numbers of left-paw, right-paw, and ambivalent responses.
In contrast, the “give a paw” task, an exercise that includes a component of training and repetition, generated significantly more paw-preferential, than ambidextrous, responses.
several studies Canines point to strong sex differences in paw preference. Female dogs are more likely to be right-pawed, while males are more likely to be left-pawed. This gender difference has been found in other non-human species, including Pet Cat,
Why male and female animals should differ in the use of their claws is still unclear, although explanations include hormonal factors and differences in brain anatomy.
animal welfare link
While it can be a lot of fun trying to figure out whether a pet dog is a lefty or a righty, it can also be important to establish the animal’s side preferences. animal welfare approach, This is because paw preferences can give us insight into the emotions an animal is feeling.
Like humans, the left side of a dog’s brain — which controls the right side of its body — is more concerned with processing positive emotions. In contrast, the right side of the dog’s brain — which controls the left side of the body — focuses more on negative emotions such as fear or anxiety.
By assessing which paw a dog is using we can therefore get an idea of how that animal is feeling. A dog who uses his left paw to perform a task, for example, may experience more negative emotions than one who employs his right paw.
Studies have recently explored the relationship between paw preference and emotional reactivity in dogs. Our Research pointed to left-pawed dogs being more “pessimistic” (in this case being slower to reach an empty food bowl placed in an ambiguous location) on a cognitive bias task than right-pawed or ambidextrous animals ).
Meanwhile, dogs with weak paw preference have been shown to react more strongly Recorded sounds of thunder and fireworks compared to animals with stronger paw preferences.
we have also found evidence In line with a link between canine paw preferences and personality, ambivalent dogs tend to score higher for signs of aggression and fearfulness than animals with strong paw preferences.
This can have an impact on animal training. In fact, there is some evidence that the paw preference test may be a useful predictor of which dogs become successful guide dogs,
Paw preferences can also be assessed to identify vulnerable individuals in stressful situations. For example, dogs with left paws have been found display more signs of stress Compared to animals with right paws in rescue homes.
At this stage, it would be unwise to rely solely on the paw preference test as a measure of animal welfare risk. However, it has the potential to be a useful tool, particularly if considered alongside other welfare tests or employed in conjunction with other measures of asymmetry, such as tail wag, sniffing behavior And hair direction,
For example, dogs typically wag their tails to the left (suggesting more positive emotions) when they see their owners, but to the right (suggesting more negative emotions) when they see someone. unknown dominant dog, Further work in this area will not only help develop our understanding of canine cognition, but allow us to better care for and appreciate man’s best friend.
Deborah Wells, Reader, School of Psychology, Queen’s University Belfast
This article is republished from conversation Under Creative Commons Licence. read the original article,
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