First-stepsping Test as a measure of motor laterality in dogs (Canis familiaris)

Motor laterality in potential guide dogs (n = 113) was determined using two methods: the Kong (TM) Test (the current benchmark test) and our innovation, a First-stepping Test. Kong (TM) studies record paw use during foraging from a rubber cylinder. However, motivation to feed varies markedly among clogs and breeds, and the test comprises 50 observations which for a single dog can take up to 4 hours to collect. The First-stepping Test bypasses hunger, and simply records the first foot advanced after standing with both forelegs level. In contrast to the Kong (TM) Test, it allows 50 observations to be gathered in 20 minutes. The findings of the current study indicate that lateralized behavior in the domestic clog is strongly task-dependent. The First-stepping Test revealed more significant paw preferences (PPs) than the Kong (TM) Test (76.1% vs. 52.2%). A significant right population bias (P = 0.036) was revealed using this novel test, whereas there was no bias in the direction of laterality observed using the Kong (TM) Test (P = 0.30). Instead, there was a significant population bias for the category of ambidextrous PP using the Kong (TM) (P = 0.005). Strength of laterality (regardless of direction) was significantly high in the First-stepping Test (P < 0.001), but only weak PPs were observed for the Kong (TM) Test (P = 0.65). Measures of laterality from the First-stepping Test were not influenced by dog factors, whereas age, breed, and sex of the dog were significantly associated with several laterality measures during the Kong (TM) Test. The occurrence of using both paws simultaneously to either hold the Kong (TM), or to step-off by means of jumping. was associated with a decrease in lateral strength for both tests. The First-stepping Test was repeatable, and the intraobserver (kappa = 0.988) and interobserver (kappa = 0.975) reliabilities were high. It offers a simple, quick and, when compared with the Kong (TM) Test, a more discriminative method of determining PP that is less influenced by clog factors. (C) 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.