Paw Preference
Big Question
• Big Question-do dogs have a paw preference like humans? If so which paw?
• The reason why I wanted to do this experiment is because I wanted to do something with dogs.
Hypothesis
• My hypothesis is that dogs are going to prefer a paw. I think they’re going to prefer their right paw over the left paw.
• The reason I think they are going to prefer their right paw because most humans are right handed.
Facts
1. Cats mostly prefer both paws or they are ambidextrous
2. More than 50% of dogs are right handed.3. Each paw is controlled by the opposite side of
the brain.4. You can also test this with a tube and a treat.5. Most humans have a fine motor control which
means we have a favorite foot ,hand , eye , and even ear.
Step by Step procedure
• 1. Gather Materials:• Ten to fifteen dogs• Treats • Toys• 2. If the dog knows the command ‘shake” then
repeat the command. Notice which paw it uses.• 3. Record results.• 4. If the dog doesn’t know the commands use a toy
or treat. Notice which paw it uses to paw at .
Continued
• 5. Record results • 6. Repeat steps 2-5 with the other dogs.
Variable
My variable was the different age of the dogs and the different breeds.
Observations
1. I realized it might matter what hand the owner uses to teach the dog to shake.
2. Both wheaten terriers were right handed3. Most of the older dogs were right pawed.4. Only one of the dogs were both left and
righted pawed.
DataName Breed Age Paw With What
Crosby Wheaten 1 yr. Right Reaching
Todd Boxer 9 months Left Shaking
Norm Lab 13 yrs. Right Shaking
Coda Golden 3 yrs. Left Shaking
Tucker Golden 1 yr. Right Shaking
Molly Lab 9 yrs. Left Reaching
Max Lab 10 yrs. Right Reaching
Murphy Wheaten 1 yr. Right Shaking
Lucy Jack Russell 2 yrs. Left Shaking
Woody Lab 9yrs. Both Shaking
Nemo Poodle Mix 3 yrs. Right Reaching
Bee Mix 15 yrs. Left Shaking
Analysis of Data
This experiment did test my hypothesis because I found out the popular paw used by dogs. Six dogs were right, five were left, and only was ambidextrous.
Conclusion
1. My hypothesis was correct . The majority of the dogs preferred their right paw.
2. I would change this experiment by testing it with a treat and a tube.
3. Some new questions I have are:- Do cats also prefer a paw?-How long will it take to teach a dog to shake?
References
1. http://www.sciencebuddies.org/mentoring/project_ideas/MamBio_p011.shtml
2. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3596925 3. http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/animals/pets/testyou
rpet/tests/static/dog_1.shtml
4. http://www.helium.com/items/1305686-right-pawed-and-left-pawed-cats
5. http://psycnet.apa.org/index.cfm?fa=buy.optionToBuy&id=1956-00433-001&CFID=4466657&CFTOKEN=69093707