When dogs first enter rescue shelters, they face a sudden change in environment that often results in heightened stress. Researchers have explored whether laterality—a dog’s natural paw preference—might provide insights into their coping abilities. Barnard et al. (2018) investigated this by studying 41 newly admitted dogs in a rescue shelter.
Across the first week after admission, the team measured cortisol levels and conducted detailed behavioral observations. Paw preference was tested using a food-retrieval task. The findings revealed that dogs with a left-paw bias displayed significantly more stress-related behaviors, including frequent state changes, vocalizations, and lower body posture. These behaviors indicate heightened emotional reactivity and reduced welfare adaptation.
These results align with previous studies suggesting that left-limb biased animals are more vulnerable to stress. In contrast, right-pawed or ambidextrous dogs showed fewer signs of distress, pointing to laterality as a potential welfare assessment tool. Identifying at-risk dogs upon shelter entry could allow staff to tailor enrichment, training, and support to better manage stress and improve outcomes for vulnerable individuals.
Overall, paw preference testing may provide a simple yet effective method to identify dogs at greater risk of reduced welfare in kennel environments, supporting targeted interventions in shelter care.
Source: Barnard, S., Wells, D., & Hepper, P. (2018). Laterality as a Predictor of Coping Strategies in Dogs Entering a Rescue Shelter. Symmetry, 10, 538.
