Have you ever noticed that when playing with your dog, they often use the same paw first to catch a ball or “shake hands” with you? This isn’t just a random habit. Behind it lies an interesting story about the brain, hormones, genetics, and personality. Let’s explore 5 scientific reasons why dogs have a preferred paw.
1. Brain structure and hemisphere specialization
Just like humans, a dog’s brain is divided into two hemispheres, each with its own job. The left hemisphere controls logical actions and movements on the right side of the body, while the right hemisphere handles emotions and movements on the left side.
So, if your dog is left-pawed, it means their right hemisphere is more dominant. This is an interesting detail in neuroscience when studying paw preference in animals.
2. Gender and hormones
Animal behavior studies show that male dogs are more likely to be left-pawed, while female dogs tend to be right-pawed. This difference is believed to be caused by hormones—especially testosterone and estrogen—during development.
This also explains why, if you own multiple dogs, you might notice the “left-pawed team” is often the boys, while the “right-pawed team” is mostly the girls.
3. Genetics and breed
Breed can also play a role in determining paw preference. Working breeds such as Border Collies, Australian Shepherds, or Labrador Retrievers often show a clear dominant paw. This comes from their body structure and a long history of selective breeding for specific tasks.
In other words, part of your dog’s “paw preference” may already be written in their genes.
4. Habits and training
If you often train your dog to use one paw for shaking hands, catching a ball, or opening a door, over time, that paw can become their dominant one. Daily repetition and training can make your dog favor one side.
This means the way you play and train your dog can directly affect which paw they prefer.
5. Personality and reactions
Some studies suggest that left-pawed dogs tend to react more emotionally in stressful situations, while right-pawed dogs stay calmer and handle things more logically.
Knowing this can help you adjust your training and care to better suit your dog’s personality.
How to check your dog’s paw preference
- Toy test: Place their favorite toy in front of them and see which paw they use first.
- Food bowl test: Watch which paw they use to hold or move the bowl while eating.
- Step test: See which paw they place first when going up stairs.
💡 Tip: Repeat at least 30 times at different times of day for accurate results.
Conclusion
Whether your dog is left-pawed or right-pawed isn’t just a fun fact—it can also give you useful insights for training and care. With a few simple tests, you can find out if your furry friend is on “Team Left” or “Team Right.”
