Measuring paw preferences in dogs, cats and rats: Design requirements and innovations in methodology

Sevim Isparta, Gülşen Töre-Yargın, Selina C. Wagner, Annakarina Mundorf, Bengi Cinar Kul, Goncalo Da Graça Pereira, Onur Güntürkün, Sebastian Ocklenburg, Nadja Freund, Yasemin Salgirli Demirbas

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)

Abstract

Studying behavioural lateralization in animals holds great potential for answering important questions in laterality research and clinical neuroscience. However, comparative research encounters challenges in reliability and validity, requiring new approaches and innovative designs to overcome. Although validated tests exist for some species, there is yet no standard test to compare lateralized manual behaviours between individuals, populations, and animal species. One of the main reasons is that different fine-motor abilities and postures must be considered for each species. Given that pawedness/handedness is a universal marker for behavioural lateralization across species, this article focuses on three commonly investigated species in laterality research: dogs, cats, and rats. We will present six apparatuses (two for dogs, three for cats, and one for rats) that enable an accurate assessment of paw preference. Design requirements and specifications such as zoometric fit for different body sizes and ages, reliability, robustness of the material, maintenance during and after testing, and animal welfare are extremely important when designing a new apparatus. Given that the study of behavioural lateralization yields crucial insights into animal welfare, laterality research, and clinical neuroscience, we aim to provide a solution to these challenges by presenting design requirements and innovations in methodology across species.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)246-282
Number of pages37
JournalLaterality
Volume29
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2024

Keywords

  • behavioural laterality
  • design requirements
  • methodological innovations
  • Paw preference
  • species-specific

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Measuring paw preferences in dogs, cats and rats: Design requirements and innovations in methodology'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this