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Title: Dog study gives paws for thought
Source:
CNN
URL Source: http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/asiap ... ex.html?section=cnn_topstories
Published: Sep 4, 2006
Author: CNN
Post Date: 2006-09-04 11:10:47 by Zipporah
Keywords: None
Views: 162
Comments: 8
CANBERRA, Australia (AP) -- Fifteen percent of boxers are southpaws -- the dogs, not fighters -- according to the findings of an Australian study. Scientists at the University of Sydney who are conducting a three-year study into what makes a successful working dog have examined whether being left-pawed, right-pawed or ambidextrous indicates an animal's suitability for a career in law enforcement or as a guide dog for the blind. The study builds on recent research at Australia's University of New England that found a dog without a preference to use a left or right front paw, a trait known as laterality, is more likely to be upset by fireworks and thunderstorms. "Half the dogs that are selected for guide dog training don't make it and we're trying to reduce that failure rate because it is far from cheap," Paul McGreevy, an animal behavior expert at University of Sydney's Faculty of Veterinary Science, said Sunday. "Trainers appreciate that laterality could affect a dog's progress and even its success in training," he added. His research team, studying 270 dogs attempting to steady their food containers, concluded that 15 percent are left pawed, the same proportion right pawed and the rest showed no preference. There were no differences between the sample breeds: boxers, pugs, whippets and greyhounds. This surprised McGreevy, whose previous studies have found profound differences between such breeds, including that flat-faced dogs have eyesight more similar to humans than the long snout varieties. "We expected to find some evidence of breed differences in dogs because they've been bred for different jobs," McGreevy said. Science knows less about a dog's hind leg. "I'm unaware of any preference to cock one leg or the other, but everybody asks," McGreevy said.
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#1. To: Zipporah (#0)
The study builds on recent research at Australia's University of New England that found a dog without a preference to use a left or right front paw, a trait known as laterality, is more likely to be upset by fireworks and thunderstorms. How can you tell?
"If there’s another 9/11 or a major war in the Middle-East involving a U.S. attack on Iran, I have no doubt that there will be, the day after or within days an equivalent of a Reichstag fire decree that will involve massive detentions in this country." - Daniel Ellsberg Author, Pentagon Papers LOL!!!!!!! Hilarious!
My pug is right-pawed. This I know because when he whines and tries to jump in my lap, he always uses his right paw. As for the food containers, he doesn't steady it. He stomps through it and usually falls face-first into it as he tries to swallow his food whole.
"Benjamin Franklin was shown the new American constitution, and he said, 'I don't like it, but I will vote for it because we need something right now. But this constitution in time will fail, as all such efforts do. And it will fail because of the corruption of the people, in a general sense.' And that is what it has come to now, exactly as Franklin predicted." -- Gore Vidal
Does that mean hes right or left brained?? :P
~ O M G ~
He barely has a brain. He once stayed with a friend, who subjected him to a "dog IQ test," which consists of throwing a blanket over a dog and seeing how long it takes for him to get out. A smart dog can get out in several seconds. It took mine ten minutes, which pretty much means a human being is 600 times smarter than him.
"Benjamin Franklin was shown the new American constitution, and he said, 'I don't like it, but I will vote for it because we need something right now. But this constitution in time will fail, as all such efforts do. And it will fail because of the corruption of the people, in a general sense.' And that is what it has come to now, exactly as Franklin predicted." -- Gore Vidal
Uh depends of course on the human.. ;P
There are people with IQs of 1, like my dog?
"Benjamin Franklin was shown the new American constitution, and he said, 'I don't like it, but I will vote for it because we need something right now. But this constitution in time will fail, as all such efforts do. And it will fail because of the corruption of the people, in a general sense.' And that is what it has come to now, exactly as Franklin predicted." -- Gore Vidal
Next question?
Scientists at the University of Sydney who are conducting a three-year study into what makes a successful working dog have examined whether being left-pawed, right-pawed or ambidextrous indicates an animal's suitability for a career in law enforcement or as a guide dog for the blind.
#2. To: robin (#1)
#3. To: Zipporah (#2)
His research team, studying 270 dogs attempting to steady their food containers,
#4. To: YertleTurtle (#3)
As for the food containers, he doesn't steady it. He stomps through it and usually falls face-first into it as he tries to swallow his food whole.
#5. To: Zipporah (#4)
Does that mean hes right or left brained?? :P
#6. To: YertleTurtle (#5)
#7. To: Zipporah (#6)
Uh depends of course on the human.. ;P
#8. To: YertleTurtle (#7)
There are people with IQs of 1, like my dog?
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