Laser pointers!

[Wolf-Kim]

We have three dogs and only our male beagle mix takes an interest in them. He gets very still with his tail straight up in the air and pounces on it, chasing it, circling it, trying to bite it on the carpet.

But, our other two dogs act as though they don't even see it. They are both female, one spayed, one soon to be spayed and I have never even seen it draw their eye. Is it a guy thing or what? Not even our two female cats act like they see it, but heaven help their be a house fly in the house!

Just curious, and no worries it is a low tech laser pointer and it stayed strictly on the walls or carpet when playing with the dogs.

-Kim

 

[consdrs]

I would be VERY careful getting a dog hooked on a laser pointer. I would hate for you to have to get rid of your dog cause it drives you and everyone else crazy. first it starts out fun to have the dog chase the little red dot on the wall or carpet. then the dog will want you to do it all the time. then they become OCD. they start to bark and carry on with ANY light on the wall or carpet. then you have to live in a dark cave like house because your dog will go nuts at every flash of light it sees. every flash of light will be a never ending game. google search laser pointers and dogs. and then be careful!!


Connie

 

[Wolf-Kim]

I understand that the laser pointer can bring out unwanted behavior, as with any other output for energy. I had a dog who was OCD over toys when I got him, it really comes down to balancing their sources of energy output. Some dogs get OCD over chickens and other live prey, some toys, I had a dog who was obsessive over me, he couldn't stand to be out of sight of me. We "fixed" most dogs we received with obsessive behaviors through training and exercize, a tired and intellectually fufilled dog is a happy dog.

Yes, playing with a laser pointer can encourage an OCD habit, but only if it is the sole source of fun and exercize for the animal. I even believe that the popular dog trainer Ceaser, the dog whisperer, addressed a dog who was OCD over a laser pointer, his solution to the problem? Exercise, he told the people that the dog needed to be taken for walks and played with more often.

The laser pointer is only used rarely in the house and it is definately not the sole purpose of fun and exercize for the dogs. Their usually regime of exercize and entertainment conclude fetch, golf, tug-o-war amongst themselves, swimming in our pond, and regular training lessons. It's all about moderation and balance.

 

[Brindlebtch]

I know a person who has an AmStaff who is OCD about laser pointers, but she doesn't get much exercise like Wolf-Kim said.