Laser Pointer Play

[Richard Crowe]

Our Holly loves to play chasing a red laser spot. We do this at night before we go to bed so Holly gets a little exercise before retiring.

We ensure that the laser spot does not ever shne into her eyes. She really loves the chase and calmly waits for her red spot each night when she goes out into the yard to potty.

I have recently been told that a dog can become neurotic from chasing a laser spot. Is there any problem with five minutes or so of laser play?

[Tamara & Giada]

Yes, it actually is a neurosis...but it only would become a problem if the dog could not/would not be able to brake the concentration and would be obsessed! I learned this from a dog show on Animal Planet. I always thought it was cute that my dog would do this. She loves any light, shadow, or reflection. My Shih-tzu does this, and is a bit obsessed, but has not interfered with her life, and can brake her consentration if I talk to her. My doodle has no interest I say let her do it it is good exercise--mentally as well as physiacally:)

[Tante & Jordan & now Annie!]

Payton my Pointer mix is neurotic over the Laser pointer. We did not know, so we would play at night to wear him out when he was a puppy. I would have him "run" the stairs, and the house.
Now if you say razor, teaser, blazer, or anything that could be Laser, Payton will so hunting for the light.
So much so that he will "attack" anything in his way. Like Jordan or the cats. It is like Crack for him. His pupils get big, he drools, shakes.
If you click the button that turns it on he will go "crazy".Even if he cant see it. If he sees where you put he will try to get it. His behavior is sad really because he can not help it. He will over after flash lights also.
So we have a No laser pointer house now.
I did originally buy it as a cat toy. I am sure the kitty's miss playing with it and Jordan has never seen it.

[Louise and Toby]

This is an interesting conversation going on here! Our dog, Toby, also enjoys chasing the laser light but it stays in a drawer most of the time. But he has another behavior that is close to an obsession - chasing bird shadows on the ground. He get very intent on this and will do it for a long time if not interrupted. I hope it's not neurotic behavior because it's hard to put those in the drawer!! I will have to see if he can break his concentration easily - my guess is that he can't. So just what does a person do to help their dog over this if it is really neurotic and some sort of problem?

[Adina P]

My opinion is that you use the bird shadow as a distraction (once he's pretty solid on other distractions) during some obedience training. He can NOT chase a shadow and heel at the same time. He'll have to choose and if the training is set up right he'll want to choose heeling. He can't sit stay and chase a shadow either. So I think if the training is set up right, he'll end up choosing to obey and grow in his reliability because he's able to surmount the terrible bird shadow temptation. That's been my answer to most things. If Rosco is heeling or holding a sit stay he can't pull on leash, he can't pull toward another person or dog, he can't do a lot of things because the two are logically and physically incompatible. Do enough training around difficult distractions (starting with easier ones and working up) and I think for most dogs it gives them a newfound sense of control, confidence and they realize that they will survive even if they don't give in to every temptation or distraction.

[Louise and Toby]

VERY good answer Adina! Thanks! Most of our training has been done inside. This will be a good thing to work on. Too bad it's so darn hot right now though!

[Adina P]

Yeah...my dogs are getting NO walks in this weather.

Some places to train on -leash:

Home Depot and Lowes--some of them allow dogs in...so either walk in like you know what you're doing and ask forgiveness later or ask permission and most likely you can take Toby in there. Or just work outside the store near the entrance--as far as needed to get good results 80% of the time. Then another day work closer.

Pet Smart/PetCo--again you'll have to guage the distance needed for most success and another day work closer to the hard distractions.

Parks

Duck Ponds

Find out about local Kennel Clubs or Obedience clubs and see if you can stop by when they practice training or handling and work Toby a distance from the others.

Front of grocery stores, department stores

On the outside of a dog park if there is a place to work in the area.

On your front lawn.

Down the street.

Downtown

The list is endless and the distractions you can find are endless. The best is when you can determine the distraction or PLANT it there so it doesn't catch you by surprise.

[Louise and Toby]

Good answer! We are gearing up to work on the Good Citizen certification and would need to do it for that as well. It'll be an effort since we have to drive a ways to get anywhere since we sort of live in country. We have to be ready to follow through once we start too. The pay off is really great however!! Have you done that with any of your "kids"?

[Adina P]

Rosco has his CGC and is a Delta registered Therapy dog. The other two I consider more Clark's dogs as far as who is responsible for their training. I think either could pass CGC with a little work. Cass is our off-leash reliable dog, but having spent so much time off leash she pulls when on leash (unless on a walk) -- it's like she's in denial. Leash what leash? I'm an off leash dog!