Ever use a laser pointer to entertain your dogs?

My friends dog is like that. A great toy for a JRT stuck in the house 24/7. I found my rainy day entertainment for Lillie finally. She absolutely loves watching Meerkat Manor and Big Cat Diaries. It is freaking hilarious watching her watching tv. I was gonna video tape her the other night but my batteries were dead.

I've never used the laser, but Max loves to chase lights/shadows so every now and then one of the boys will take a flashlight outside at night and let him chase the light all around the yard. They were doing that one night last summer and accidentally let the light shine on the screen.  Of course Max took a flying leap at it trying to catch the light and ripped the screen out.

Joyce

Do these pictures tell you how much Caleb loves the laser (check out his tail in the first one)?  LOL

no. chasing laser pointers can trigger a serious mental illness in some dogs. not worth risking it. there are safe ways to play with dogs indoors.

Jewlieee

I've never seen a dog so neurotic over a little laser.

Be careful with this, as a volunteer at the local humane society, we hear stories of dogs being absolutely that....."neurotic over a little laser." To the point of fixating on a ray of sunlight on the floor or a spot of sunlight on a wall ~ CONSTANTLY! And nothing the owner does will stop it. Some dogs end up on medication from the vet to break the neurosis.

I will not use a laser with my dogs for this reason. It's just not worth the risk for me. My Abbie is already a little neurotic anyway and I think she may be at slightly higher risk of becoming obsessed than Layla. Personally, I think it's a lazy way to play with a dog - I mean no offense in that. It's just my opinion. Trust me.........there are many times that I just do not feel like getting off the couch and playing with them, but I force myself to. It's been a little difficult with my recent back injury, but I manage to interact with them somehow.

I would think twice about getting them hooked on the laser, for their mental well being. JMO

 All great advice.    Playing with the laser is only one of the ways we play/interact with Caleb.  We use the laser more for entertainment, like having him do some of his tricks than for excercise.  Even in play, I use the laser as  training tool- Caleb has been taught he can't always chase after it, or the flashlight, and we use it to proof stays at class.  We have noticed he picks up on reflections and flashing lights, tho.  But, because of the training he's had, he doesn't take off chasing them.  He just watches them.  He has a definite expression on his face when he sees the laser or reflections,etc.  I've had no problems during fire drills at school when Caleb has been with me (there are flashing lights for the hearing impaired).  Caleb shows an interest in the lights, but that's it.  "Leave it" keeps him from trying to play.

mudpuppy

no. chasing laser pointers can trigger a serious mental illness in some dogs. not worth risking it. there are safe ways to play with dogs indoors.

Yup, 100% true. DH's coworker had a beautiful Doberman that became obsessed with shadows and rays of light. He would literally chase shadows for hours, couldnt focus on typical things and was unresponsive to calls by his owners. He's had to be heavily medicated for the past 2 years but its slowly getting better.

Its not worth the risk to me.

 Not any more.  We threw the darn thing away.  My setter began stalking every little bit of moving light. 

Jewlieee

It's seriously funny. I've never seen a dog so neurotic over a little laser.

It wasn't funny.  It was alarming. 

 Well geez. I never thought that it'd be mentally bad for them.

No, but we used to try to get them interested before we found out that it was dangerous. But now no not ever!!!!!!

 I guess you learn something new every day! Thank you idoggers

Yeah, we used one a few times with Sassy and she started to become quite obsessed. She'd get fixated on the reflection of jewelry or rays of sunlight on the ground, so we stopped. I learned about the dangers on this forum too.

After we introduced Trudy to the Laser,  we had a UKC obedience trial a couple weeks afterward.  She was in the middle of her "honor down" - your dog must stay in a down position on the floor with you on the side lines during another dog's heeling exercise.  Usually she flops over and gets comfortable. No problem.

The sunlight was filtering through trees outside the high windows in the building and lights were dancing on the floor near her.  She began stalking and jumping at the moving lights.  Totally entranced.  Everybody was laughing - but I wasn't. I had to pull her away. 

After a few more of this type of thing.  (In the car, on the porch), I got concerned and would not let her focus on little lights any more.  I redirect her attention and got rid of the laser so that no one else would play with it either.