Italian scientists create test to reveal whether a dog is right- or left-pawed

Italian scientists published a new test in June 2026 called the Doginburgh Inventory, which helps more reliably determine whether a dog prefers its right or left paw. The test can be conducted at home using simple materials. Unlike humans, right-pawed dogs do not have a clear majority among dogs.

Italian scientists published new research in June 2026 offering a more reliable method for determining canine paw preference, or what is known as pawedness. The test is named the Doginburgh Inventory, a reference to the Edinburgh Handedness Inventory, a well-known questionnaire used to assess handedness in humans.

Scientists have long known that some dogs prefer to use their left front paw while others favour their right. However, existing tests had not been sufficiently reliable, as different studies applied different methodologies. The new scale allows for more consistent and comparable results, though the researchers acknowledged that further investigation is needed.

How to conduct the test at home

To conduct the test, you need a toy your dog enjoys, which researchers used a cone-shaped Kong toy that can be filled with treats. The dog should be standing, sitting, or lying down, and the toy is placed in front of it with the wide opening facing the dog. The dog is then allowed to access the treats, and you observe which paw it uses to touch the toy first.

In the second task, find a narrow horizontal space in your home where the dog's muzzle cannot fit but a paw can-such as under a sofa, bed, or cabinet. A treat is placed far enough away that the dog cannot reach it with its tongue. The owner then stands at least a metre behind the dog and allows the animal to search for the treat on its own. Observe which paw the dog uses first to try to reach the treat.

Stairs and a step-two more tasks

In the third task, the dog is placed on the upper step of a staircase facing downwards and called down. You observe which paw it uses to step down first. The study used two people: one places the dog upstairs and the other calls from below. It is important that the person holding the dog alternates standing on either the dog's left or right side to avoid influencing its behaviour.

The fourth task uses a step or other single-step elevation. The dog is brought to the edge of the step straight on, not diagonally, and you observe which paw goes down first. Here too, the handler should alternate between the dog's two sides.

What the results show

Since the Doginburgh Inventory has only recently been developed, there is no convenient web calculator yet. To calculate the results, for each task you record how many times the dog used its right paw and how many times its left paw, then calculate a preference index.

According to the scientists, research shows that unlike humans, right-pawed dogs do not have a clear majority among dogs. Additionally, many dogs do not show any clear paw preference at all.