# Does your pet know Left from Right? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 21, 2024, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-your-pet-know-left-from-right/999150 "2024-03-21T16:07:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2024, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-your-pet-know-left-from-right/999150/1 "2024-03-21T16:07:42Z")
Our dog Kizzy continues to amaze me. My gf continues to work with her in agility training. One evening a week they go to a class. Kizzy has won enough ribbons in the novice class, that she is now competing in the next step up. One of the difficult things is for the handler to continually be in a perfect spot to direct the next hazard. In order to do this better, my gf wants to use more voice commands and less visual (pointing) directions. This requires the dog to understand “left” and “right”. So they are working on it and I am impressed! My gf throws the Jolly Ball for Kizzy and Kizzy has to fetch and quickly return it. She shouts “left”, then throws it to the left. She shouts “right” and throws it that way. After a month of doing this daily Kizzy is anticipating and moving left or right correctly before the ball is thrown! Meanwhile, Simi continues doing nose-work training. Each evening my gf hides the scent disc somewhere while Simi sits patiently. Then she tells Simi to “find it” and he runs around the house sniffing the air until he finds the disc which contains a q-tip head with a drop of scent on it. Once he “finds it” he has to keep his nose right on the spot while he is treated repeatedly. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2024, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-your-pet-know-left-from-right/999150/2 "2024-03-21T16:22:04Z")
Dogs are really smart. But oxen and horses can learn gee and haw: voice commands for left and right. So I suspect the ability’s fairly widespread. ---
**Author:** ![Zyada](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zyada/32/3028_2.png) [@Zyada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zyada)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2024, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-your-pet-know-left-from-right/999150/3 "2024-03-21T16:26:37Z")
Meanwhile, _I_ don’t know my right from my left. I’d just confuse the poor cats if I tried to do that ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2024, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-your-pet-know-left-from-right/999150/4 "2024-03-21T16:39:55Z")
> [@thorny\_locust](#): > > oxen and horses can learn gee and haw: voice commands for left and right. Yes, of course! My gf has horses and yet I often forget how smart they are. The last time I rode my gf suggested I ride Gracie, her mare. Well, Gracie was in heat, and when I went to brush her to get her ready for the saddle, she made a funny sound that really cracked my gf up. She finally explained to me that was the sound she makes when my gf washes her udder. When she is in heat she finds that part of grooming “pleasurable”. I was kinda squicked out, so my gf took care of that. When riding our horses will bear left or right in response to the rider’s leaning in that direction. It’s nice to be able to let go of the reins and steer with your body as you hold branches away from you, squeezing through the woods. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2024, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-your-pet-know-left-from-right/999150/5 "2024-03-21T16:42:09Z")
> [@Zyada](#): > > I’d just confuse the poor cats if I tried to do that A member of the dog training club brought her cat in one day (in a carrier). She put her cat’s harness on, then walked it through the agility course. The cat did the tunnel and the table, but refused the weave poles and the jumps. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2024, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-your-pet-know-left-from-right/999150/6 "2024-03-21T16:44:05Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > When riding our horses will bear left or right in response to the rider’s leaning in that direction. Yup; but that doesn’t require them to have any concept of what “right” and “left” are; only of “move in the direction the weight’s shifting into”. “Gee” and “haw” requires some concept of left and right; otherwise the words couldn’t carry any meaning. (I’d guess they’re originally taught with the aid of reins; but AIUI the point of having a voice command is that once it’s learned only the voice is necessary.) ---
**Author:** ![Chisquirrel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6bbea6/32.png) [@Chisquirrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chisquirrel)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2024, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-your-pet-know-left-from-right/999150/7 "2024-03-21T16:55:35Z")
Definitely taught my pup directions. It makes walks much easier when I can tell her which way we’re turning (or not) at each intersection. She usually walks ten feet or so ahead of me, to allow time for sniff stops. She also knows that curbs or traction bumps at intersections means to stop, sit, and wait for release. She’s trying to teach the rest of the dogs in the family (will just walk in front of them and stop), but only one of them possesses enough simultaneously firing brain cells to put two and two together and get four. They all go by the “I’d rather be pretty than smart. I can fake being smart,” mantra. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2024, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-your-pet-know-left-from-right/999150/8 "2024-03-21T17:03:18Z")
Hell, my dog barely knows Up from Down ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2024, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-your-pet-know-left-from-right/999150/9 "2024-03-21T17:04:33Z")
Right from Wrong? ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2024, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-your-pet-know-left-from-right/999150/10 "2024-03-21T17:08:29Z")
He knows he shouldn’t poop in the house, so yeah, he knows some of that. He still tries to attack any other dog that gets near him though. ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2024, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-your-pet-know-left-from-right/999150/11 "2024-03-21T17:08:38Z")
One of our dachshunds (Luc) would really go to town sniffing trees while we were out walking. But he’d get himself on the opposite side of the tree and try to continue going in that direction…which would make his leash get caught on the tree. So, I taught him “around.” I’d just say “around” in a commanding voice, and he’d back up and go around the tree on my side. Very convenient. Though when he saw a squirrel, all his brains went 100% to: Squirrel! SQUIRREL!!! ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2024, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-your-pet-know-left-from-right/999150/12 "2024-03-21T18:46:19Z")
Bayliss knows right paw, left paw. Mainly because he’s had a toenail and part of a toe on his right paw amputated. He uses talking buttons and always uses the left paw to push the button. So he’s left handed. IMO. I just asked him was he left pawed. He pushed “ouch paw” and then “treat” Clearly a drama queen too. ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2024, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-your-pet-know-left-from-right/999150/13 "2024-03-21T20:36:47Z")
> [@thorny\_locust](#): > > I’d guess they’re originally taught with the aid of reins; but AIUI the point of having a voice command is that once it’s learned only the voice is necessary. Isn’t this how people know left from right? Its taught to them, becasue no one is born knowing left from right. ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2024, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-your-pet-know-left-from-right/999150/14 "2024-03-21T20:41:15Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > When riding our horses will bear left or right in response to the rider’s leaning in that direction. Yes, horses are great at picking up shifts in the rider’s body. My late horse Nick could tell the difference between my turning my head to look at something to one side versus shifting my upper body slightly to turn. Didn’t need to touch the reins. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2024, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-your-pet-know-left-from-right/999150/15 "2024-03-21T21:42:37Z")
> [@Si\_Amigo](#): > > Isn’t this how people know left from right? Its taught to them, becasue no one is born knowing left from right People also need to be taught how to read; but to the best of my knowledge you can’t teach a horse or a steer that. The brain has to be capable of learning the meaning; and the meaning of “left” and “right” is kind of tricky, because the direction indicated changes every time you turn around. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2024, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-your-pet-know-left-from-right/999150/16 "2024-03-21T22:04:21Z")
I learned by looking at my feet. My teacher put tape on our shoes and wrote right and left. I still look at my feet. Sense of direction doesn’t come naturally to me. Or telling time on a clock with hands. I also write with either hand. (Ambi was a learned thing, tho’) ---
**Author:** ![Chisquirrel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6bbea6/32.png) [@Chisquirrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chisquirrel)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2024, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-your-pet-know-left-from-right/999150/17 "2024-03-21T22:14:24Z")
Thought: define left, and not as !right. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2024, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-your-pet-know-left-from-right/999150/18 "2024-03-21T22:17:44Z")
Yes. Jackson heals on the right, Lani on the left. We paid a professional trainer though. They called it a Border Collie sandwich. And sometimes, they do just kinda say 'f it. But we don’t really work with them much. They don’t need to ever heal where we live. When we are in the city, they go on a leash. The activity is a bit much for them. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2024, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-your-pet-know-left-from-right/999150/19 "2024-03-21T22:40:56Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > They don’t need to ever heal where we live. I’m glad your area is low on injuries! (But I think you mean “heel”.) – nitpicking Thorny ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2024, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-your-pet-know-left-from-right/999150/20 "2024-03-21T22:43:18Z")
Yeah, you did! 😊 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-your-pet-know-left-from-right/999150.md?page=2)