Abstract

Overview

It was previously observed that dogs have a unique turning preference when choosing between two snack dishes placed in various directions around them. This study investigates whether such preferences are influenced by the Earth's magnetic field.

Findings

• Experiments conducted indoors, using magnetic coils to modify the magnetic field, confirmed the presence of a "pull of the north".
• This effect was consistent across different setups, independent of any outdoor visual cues.
• The analysis highlighted a "repulsion of the south," with dogs displaying a lesser preference for south-oriented dishes.
• No correlation was found between turning preference and paw motoric laterality (Kong test).

Conclusion

The findings suggest that the dominance of one eye over the other might guide the dogs' turning behavior, while the magnetic perception possibly aligned based on the radical-pair mechanism, might conflict when opposite cues are received from both eyes. This confirms the significant influence of electromagnetic fields on biological behaviors and entails potential health risks due to continuous exposure to altered magnetic fields.