Researchers have debated human right brain/left brain theory for years. New research has looked into whether lateralisation of brain function affects dogs.
The study involved 19 dogs and trainers. The study subjects went through a series of tests, firstly paw preference tests whilst offering food followed by agility tests, using A-frames, jumps and weave poles. Throughout the tests, the dogs received trainer stimuli from both the right and left sides.
Trainers also completed questionnaires giving more information about the dog’s temperament. Results showed a correlation between paw preference and agility. Dogs with stronger paw preferences seemed more predisposed to training, less distracted and had greater agility.
When trainers presented on the left, dogs were more agitated, emotional, and performances deteriorated. A dog’s left visual field stimulates the right brain hemisphere.
Overall the results revealed that behavioural lateralisation correlates with
performance of agility-trained dogs. These results support previous evidence that lateralisation in dogs can directly affect visually guided motor
responses.
The results have practical implications for personnel involved in
the selection of dogs trained specifically for agility competitions and for the
development of new training techniques.
You can read the full article on this research here.
Read my previous blogs about paw preference in dogs:
