The majority of people use one hand better and more for most actions. Also, about 90% of the human population is the right hand dominant. About 10% to 13% of people are left-handed, and men are three times more likely than women to be left-handed. Few people can use both hands at the same skill level.
Until relatively recently, “hand dominance” was assumed to be unique to humans, but animal studies suggest that it may be a core feature of all mammals.
A wide variety of tests have been developed to determine if the pet dog shows any evidence of preferred paw use. Tasks included fixing a toy, reaching for a food treat placed in a bowl, or removing an object, such as a blanket or piece of adhesive tape, that was stuck to the animal’s body. Other indications included recording the first step taken to descend the stairs or which paw was given to the person upon request.
Findings from studies using these tasks differ to some extent, but a recent meta-analysis shows that, overall, dogs are more likely to choose paws than to use both paws with the same skill. However, it should be noted that this result is not certain.
First, studies point to differences in paw use between limb use and tasks, depending on factors such as task complexity. For example, the commonly used ‘Kong ball’ task, which requires the animal to balance a conical ball, often results in roughly equal numbers of left paws, right paws, and versatile responses. In contrast, the task of “pawing”, an exercise that includes a training and repetition component, often takes place along a certain axis of paw preference.
Several studies also point to strong gender differences in dog paw preference. Female dogs are more right-pawed, while males are more left-pawed. This sex difference is also seen in other non-human species, including the domestic cat.
While it can be a lot of fun trying to figure out whether a pet dog prefers left or right, determining an animal’s paw preferences can also be important to animal welfare. Paw preferences can provide insight into the emotions an animal is feeling.
As with humans, the left side of a dog’s brain, which controls the right side of their body, is more concerned with processing positive emotions. In contrast, the right side of a dog’s brain that controls the left side of their body focuses more on negative emotions such as fear or anxiety.
Therefore, assessing which paw a dog is using can give some insight into how that animal is feeling. For example, a dog that uses its left paw to undertake a task may experience more negative emotions than an individual using its right paw.
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