The following information has been provided to us courtesy of Veterinary Animal Behaviourist Dr Paul McGreevy.  

What you need:
* Some soft dog food - your dog's regular brand is less likely to cause a stomach upset than anything else.
* A Kong toy.
* A sheet of paper numbered from 1 to 100.
* A pencil.
* Plenty of time. This test can take up to four hours.

Method:
1. Pack the Kong™ with food and place it in front and to the centre of your dog�s paws.
2. Record the paw used to first touch the Pack the Kong at number 1 on the recording sheet.
3. Continue to record continued the paw used to touch the Pack the Kong until the dog has made 100 paw interactions classified as left paw (L) or right paw (R). 

Definitions for the way in which interactions were are classified as L or R appear below (interactions with both paws placed separately on the Pack the Kong at the same time are not counted).

Photo above:
Greyhound demonstrating classification of paw interactions with Kong.
 
4. If the dog repositioned repositions its paw or paws on the Kong, without the paw or paws completely leaving the Kong, that interaction with the apparatus is not counted or recorded. 

5. If the dog holds the Kong down with a certain paw or with both paws for longer than 10 seconds, gently remove the Kong from under the paw or paws and placed it in front and to the centre of your dog's paws.

6. Some dogs retrieve only the top layer of sausage food from the Kong. For these dogs, the Kong must be topped up with food to achieve the 100 paw interactions. Large hungry dogs empty the Kong quickly so they are the most likely to need it topping topped up.

Interpretation of the results:
Once you have recorded 100 interactions of the left or right paw with the Kong you have sufficient data to determine whether he your dog is left-pawed or right-pawed.

*  Dogs that use their left paw 64 times or more are left-pawed.
*  Those that use their right paw 64 times or more are right-pawed. 
Dogs with less than 64 uses of either paw are considered ambidextrous.

PET TALK RADIO! FEEDBACK
Let us know how you go send us feedback on whether you think you dog is left of right handed.
We'll pass the information on to Dr Paul McGreevy.

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