paw preference

Paw Preference

By: Hannah Jones

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