Playing with laser pointers - what's the verdict?

[SamL]

My dog has extremely high prey drive which I have been working to break, so I do not play with him and laser pointers... however, I know people who do who are seeking advice (chocolate lab owner).

I have heard varying opinions on the subject of these devices. Some have suggested that the dog can go completely obsessive and start chasing any light that moves, like reflections or even shadows, while others seem to have no problems at all.

Obviously every dog is unique. Is there any reason why a laser pointer cannot be used as a toy (the danger of beaming the dog in the eyes is a good reason, I suppose) if the dog is otherwise docile and well-mannered, or is this something that is not recommended under any circumstances?

[Judi W]

Two things. It runs the risk of causing a compulsive dog as far as light flashing and if it should accidentally land on the dog's eye it can cause permanent damage. I see too many dogs that loose all concentration when a judge's (or someone's) lucite clipboard, or watch crystal or belt buckle or..... starts causing a reflection to flash around. Toss a tennis ball, it is safer all around.

[Brooke&Ryan]

Originally Posted by Judi W

Two things. It runs the risk of causing a compulsive dog as far as light flashing and if it should accidentally land on the dog's eye it can cause permanent damage. I see too many dogs that loose all concentration when a judge's (or someone's) lucite clipboard, or watch crystal or belt buckle or..... starts causing a reflection to flash around. Toss a tennis ball, it is safer all around.

We actually had a dog like that in our trick class. The dog had become obsessive with any sort of reflection & it was turning into a nightmarish situation for the owners.

We've never tried the laser pointer for that very reason with Julius. I'm sure that he would love it & could possibly become a bit obsessed with it. IMO, it's just a lazy way of tiring out a dog. That's just my opinion though. Why not just take the dog out for a hike, do a bit of OB, go for a walk downtown, play fetch in the backyard, etc? Those, IMO, are much more constructive activites & would be so much more satisfying for the dog than chasing a beam of light around the floor.


Brooke

[Patty1231]

Don't care for the idea, myself. Too much wasted time that could be better spent bonding with your dog in constructive activities.

[Bastianboy]

I totally can see how a dog can become obsessive over it (and know one lab that shouldn't even have one in her house as she'll sit there staring at it on the table). I also see where it can be great fun when you're on your death bed with the flu and the dog wants to play. I personally think that any dog that's going to go crazy over it or any other flashy light is going to do it regardless of whether you use it as a toy or not. All dogs I have ever had would chase the watch reflection or a flashlight. We didn't do it as a toy back then, but whenever they would catch a glimpse they'd go after it. I think if used reasonably (and stopped if the dog becomes overly obsessive) it's great fun.

[shybird]

Not a good idea. My Ex played with Moose with a laser light and now he chases any light. I have had my head stomped on while using the flashlight to find something under the sofa. He whines and carries on if my glasses cast a reflection or if the pots I cook in do. It is not nice to live with a dog that has become obsessed with chasing lights.

[Luvs]

Originally Posted by SamL

My dog has extremely high prey drive which I have been working to break, so I do not play with him and laser pointers

I have a question about this comment. Is it usually dogs with high prey drive that are interested in the laser pointers? Akasha has VERY high prey drive and she could care less about laser pointers, flashlights, ect. Keil on the other hand goes bonkers for the flashlight and he has a really low prey drive. We used to play with him with the flashlight, before I found this site and learned how much damage it could do. Keil was already starting to become totally fascinated about lights, ect. He was starting to chase his own shadow We quickly stopped playing with him with this type of stuff and he did eventually forget about it.

I just found the op statement interesting since at my house it is the complete opposite. I was just wondering if it is the higher prey drive dogs that are more into these things and Akasha is abnormal. Ok, I guess already know that she is some what abnormal

[Mavides]

I have a dog that goes psycho for shiny things...but he has only seen a laser light twice in his life and he was nutzy for reflections before that. However, I had a dog in the past that would play with the laser and have a ball with it and that never transfered over to other shiny spots. I am sure I could be wrong...but I think it has more to do with the dog in the first place than how much laser light they play with (nevertheless, I do NOT play with the laser light with Legend, my shiny freak). :)

[Brooke&Ryan]

My question is, why would anyone even want to take a chance & play with the laser light if an obsession with reflections could result?

When Ryan was away last year & I was in bed with the flu, I pulled out my dog trick book & taught Julius some new tricks while laying in bed. I also would throw a ball from bed and Julius would bring it back.

I just don't see why you would even want to chance this sort of behavior in a dog. I saw it first-hand in the dog in our tricks class & it wasn't pretty.

[rottielover2004]

I have to say that as a change in routine for the older dog, we play 2 mins outside in the snow with the lazer. have been doing this now for 1 1/2 years. She has never had any obsession, or craziness. Maybe I am just lucky. We are extremely careful where the pointer goes, always 5 feet ahead

[SOX_H8r]

There was an episode dealing with this obsession on The Dog Whisperer. It wasn't pretty to watch. The poor dog was in a constant frantic state, chasing any light source.

Leave the laser pointer in your pocket and toss around a ball with your pet!

[poohbearsmom]

My stepson had a laser pointer that he'd use to play with Pooh a few years back, while rather entertaining at first, this quickly turned into a compulsive behavior, as Judi stated.
The laser pointer was quickly 86'd, as she became obsessive about shadows, flashlight beams, or any change of lighting. Not good.
Stepson was directed to play other stimulating mind games, like 'find the cookies' he planted all over the yard. This gave her an outlet for her hunting drive, and amused Stepson quite adequately, giving them something positive to do together.

The compulsive behavior extinguished itself for the most part, rather quickly, however, to this day, if she sees a flashlight, or even a pen which resembles a laser light, she will whine and bark at it until it's out of sight.

[MonteRiehl]

Howdy all,
Isn't playing with laserpointers a "CAT" thing? I used to play with an old girlfriends' cat's with laserpointers. They would literaly run up the side of the walls to get the "dot".
Now I can easily envision the furniture damage a rottie would do chasing that dot the same way.

Cats get compulsive about chasing the dot. Rotties, I imagine, would be even more compulsive. Not sure that would be an activity for me and mine. I can't afford the broken couches and tables.

regards Monte

[PuppyLove]

It can be a bad deal all around. This behavior can quickly evolve into OCD for the dog, where any reflection (i.e., light reflecting off of your watch onto the wall/floor, headlights shining into your home or on the street while you are walking them). Flashlights, laser pointers, anything like that, can quickly become an ugly, ugly thing for your dog.

Sure, some dogs are fine with it.

I have just seen dogs that are have become so obsessive, so consumed when ever they see any light or reflection that they are rendered completely insane (using the term figuratively, of course). I know one couple that ended up replacing a crystal chandelier because their border collie would chase and dig at the floor and just run herself into exhaustion over the prisms the reflected light cast over the entire room.

This OCD behavior with light reflection has also been linked to other issues, i.e., propensity for aggressive behavior, etc in certain studies.

[HerculesMomma]

My one cousins dog does have (my novice opinion) OCD when it comes to lights, flashes and shadows. No way would I encourage a laser pointer after seeing the effects her dog has when it comes to flashes of light etc. It makes it extremely hard for the dog to concentrate on anything but flashes of light.

I played with the flash light with Hercules in the beginning when I realized he was "into it". But then quickly realized what a bad idea it was when he nearly knocked me over in the kitchen trying to "catch" the reflection off of the top of the plastic treat box. That and the vet came into the room one time with a little flashlight to look into his ears. I still wonder if that didn't aggravate him to growl at the vet.

Nope, just can't see how it could be a good idea for the dog!