Do four tasks
Use a treat toy, a hidden treat, stairs, and a low step.
Dog paw preference
Is your dog left-pawed or right-pawed?
Do four simple at-home observations, count clear left and right paw uses, and see whether a pattern appears.
Quick version
How it works
Count clear paw uses
Skip both-paw or unclear attempts when calculating the score.
See the pattern
The calculator combines the tasks into a simple paw preference guide.
Setup
Before you start
Set up the tasks first, then count only clear single-paw attempts. Always count left and right from your dog’s perspective, not yours.
- Treats your dog likes
- A Kong or treat toy
- A low gap under furniture
- Safe stairs or skip this task
- A safe low curb or platform
- Phone video for slow review
Skip any task that feels unsafe, stressful, slippery, or frustrating for your dog.
Step 1
Do the tasks first
Try to repeat each task until you have about 10 clear attempts. Count only attempts where you can tell which front paw was used.
- If your dog uses both paws at the same time, skip that attempt.
- A phone video helps, especially for the step tasks.
- Stop if your dog gets confused, frustrated, or uncomfortable.
Give your dog a treat toy
Use a Kong or another toy filled with food that is safe for your dog. Place it in front of your dog and let them work on it. Count the first front paw that touches or holds the toy. If both paws land together, do not count that attempt.
Ask your dog to reach for a treat
Put a treat under a sofa, bed, or cabinet where the mouth cannot reach but a paw can. Stand about one meter behind your dog and let them find it. Count the first front paw used. Do not frustrate your dog. If they cannot reach it easily, stop and give an easy treat.
Ask your dog to go down stairs
Sit your dog calmly at the top step, facing down. Call them down and count the front paw that starts the movement. Skip this task if your dog is young, elderly, injured, nervous on stairs, or if stairs are not safe.
Ask your dog to step off a low platform
Use only a very low, safe step. Walk your dog straight toward the edge on a loose lead, not diagonally. Count the first front paw that touches the ground. Skip this task if your dog hesitates or if the surface is slippery.
Step 2
Count live or enter totals
Tap while you observe your dog, or enter counts afterward. Everything stays on this device.
0 of 4 tasks started · 0 clear attempts total
Best result: complete all four tasks if your dog is comfortable.
Continue with treat toyIndependent educational site inspired by a published method. Not official, veterinary, or medical advice.
Treat toy
Count the front paw your dog uses to touch or hold the toy.
More
Left paw means your dog’s left paw, not the paw on your left as you face them.
Clear attempts: 0Observed attempts: 0Both / unclear: 0
Enter counts manually
Safety note: Use food that is safe for your dog.
Task scoreNo trials yet0
Stairs
Count which front paw starts the movement down.
Skip if stairs are unsafe or your dog hesitates.
More
Left paw means your dog’s left paw, not the paw on your left as you face them.
Clear attempts: 0Observed attempts: 0Both / unclear: 0
Enter counts manually
Safety note: Skip this task if your dog is young, elderly, injured, nervous on stairs, or if stairs are not safe.
Task scoreNo trials yet0
Low step
Count which front paw touches the ground first.
Skip if your dog hesitates or the surface is slippery.
More
Left paw means your dog’s left paw, not the paw on your left as you face them.
Clear attempts: 0Observed attempts: 0Both / unclear: 0
Enter counts manually
Safety note: Use only a very low, safe step. Skip if your dog hesitates or the surface is slippery.
Task scoreNo trials yet0
Source note
Source and trust
- Inspired by the Doginburgh Inventory.
- Independent educational website.
- Source: Isparta et al., Royal Society Open Science, 2026.
- This site is not affiliated with the authors or Royal Society unless that becomes true later.
Source paper
The “Doginburgh Inventory”
From hands to paws in assessing canine motor laterality.
DOI: 10.1098/rsos.252201
Read the original paperSmall print
FAQ
Is this the official Doginburgh Inventory?
No. This is an independent, educational website inspired by the published method.
Can this diagnose anxiety, aggression, or health issues?
No. Paw preference can be relevant to research on behaviour and welfare, but this calculator is not a clinical tool.