Are any or all animals right or left-footed?

Question

I mean, in the sense that most humans are right handed. So, I would like to know if this is true of front and/or hind legs; which side occurs more often; does it affect the animal's ability to function in ADLs or it's learning ability.

Answer 1

My own experience says that horses are definitely handed. They flex to one side better than the other and often have difficulty taking leads equally. Most horses require schooling to get them balanced. With them as with us it is lateral only.
Dogs to not move squarely forward. Their hind tracks offset to their forehand. I've never noticed though if some cant to the right & some to the left.

Studies done looking at handedness in dogs has had variable results. Some show a bias while others do not likely due to experiment design.
Dog paw preference shows lability and sex differences
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6T2J-4K3CM1M-1&_user=10&_coverDate=09%2F30%2F2006&_rdoc=1&_fmt=&_orig=search&_sort=d&view=c&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=f13ce315ed94339137e7e741d139fe5f
Equine handedness
http://www.halfbakery.com/idea/Right-handed_20Races
The preferred lead syndrome
%20Asymmetrical%20Dexterity.pdf >
Manual Asymmetries in Motor Performance
By Digby Elliott
http://books.google.com/books?id=SThVjk39bdoC&pg=PA42&lpg=PA42&dq=handedness+in+quadrupeds&source=web&ots=tAKO4qEQyY&sig=gELiMQLuVH134lD0VdXh3hWvYQY

Answer 2

Most animals have a preference; observe a cat or dog. In most species this is 50:50 right:left, except humans. No one knows why.

Answer 3

just about veritably an opossum. Badgers, canines, foxes, coyotes, muskrat, marmots, rats, porcupine, etc. have specific claws. relatives cats, wildcats, bob-cats, lynx, etc. leave rounded pad prints on their front digits. Racoons even have claws and distictively diverse hind tracks. The opposum has no claws, skinny digits, and their hind print has one digit stating to the component. The tail mark (long skinny line) is likewise suited for their tail.