Hi all, over the last few weeks Mojo has begun chasing shadows and reflections. He did this when I first got him at 9 weeks but it soon subsided. He's comepletly focused on shadows and reflections. While many would say no big deal, it's hurting his focus during training. Hard to get any focus from him, as he's always looking for a shadow to chase. He also has to chase everything that moves, leaves, paper etc. While I understand the former is prey drive, the shadow thing is starting to wear on me. Right know his sitting in the kitchen, with the sun beaming on the floor chasing the reflection off his collar tag etc. He does this for hours on end if I let him.

So anyone have an idea as to why or a way of getting him to stop?

Thanks, Eddie

I just read about that in Cesar Millans book. The light fixation is, according to him with a particular dog he was working with, a neurosis. He spoke of that dog being fearful of people/things approaching it, but Cesar believed the light(s) and reflections were something the dog could safely "chase" away. ??? Don't know if any of this applies to your pup, but something to think about. His book is a good read if you haven't read it yet. Dog psychology. Great concept/lifestyle.

Thanks, but I think it's just a faze. I would like to help him to get over it thow. Anyone else with ideas?

You are not alone. My ESS who is high energy and drive was/is a terrible light and shadow chaser and with him it is not just a faze. In the beginning the only way I was been able to curb his light and shadow chasing and make him a dog that is livable with indoors was to wear him, out correct him for it and redirect the behavior. Walks, tracking, agility, catch, and tug o’ war anything that will drain that pent up energy. To correct him for it, I used the choke collar and leash and ever time he went for the light a good firm no as well as a correction with the collar. Then I would give him a toy to play with right away to try to distract him from going back to the light. As the weeks went by and I consistently did this, it worked. He still will semi chase lights but this only happens when I have been a bad Mommy and not taken him for a walk and drained that energy, and a verbal correction will now discontinue the light chasing, and he will go and grab one of his toys. It has been a long road but we got there, although my house now has the are battle wounds where he "ate the light. My dog definitely does not have neurosis, he has zero fear of anything or anyone, it is completely due to pent up energy and high drive, but thank goodness it hasn’t interfered with any of my training sessions with him. My advise would be to start to try to walk him more especially before the training session or play catch with him anything you can do to drain his energy. I also give him a verbal "no" when he goes after it and would distract him with something (favorite toy, or have him look at you) redirect the behavior. You’ll get there, and remember a happy dog is a wore out dog.

 Quote: dee dee strand

... the only way I was been able to curb his light and shadow chasing and make him a dog that is livable with indoors was to wear him out, correct him for it and redirect the behavior. Walks, tracking, agility, catch, and tug o’ war anything that will drain that pent up energy. To correct him for it, I used the choke collar and leash and ever time he went for the light a good firm no as well as a correction with the collar. Then I would give him a toy to play with right away to try to distract him from going back to the light. As the weeks went by and I consistently did this, it worked. He still will semi chase lights but this only happens when I have been a bad Mommy and not taken him for a walk and drained that energy, and a verbal correction will now discontinue the light chasing, and he will go and grab one of his toys. It has been a long road but we got there, although my house now has the are battle wounds where he "ate the light. My dog definitely does not have neurosis, he has zero fear of anything or anyone, it is completely due to pent up energy and high drive, but thank goodness it hasn’t interfered with any of my training sessions with him. My advise would be to start to try to walk him more especially before the training session or play catch with him anything you can do to drain his energy. I also give him a verbal "no" when he goes after it and would distract him with something (favorite toy, or have him look at you) redirect the behavior. You’ll get there, and remember a happy dog is a wore out dog.

I agree 100% with this. I worked with a dog last year who had a similar obsession, and it was a long, tough job.

Correct for this, re-direct, tire the dog mentally and physically, don't feed the obsession in any way, teach him to attend to you ....

Yes. Everything Dee Dee is saying is what we did.

And what the O.P. said about "hours on end" ... I would strongly urge you not to let that happen, because letting the obsession harden into a compulsion will make it harder and harder to deal with.

JMO.

Like Dee Dee said, both of my Rotts will do this when bored. Rox with lights, Quinn with shadows.

Rox is a little bit crazier about it because my ex thought it was funny. He would purposely play with flashlights, lasers, and watch faces in the light to make her run in circles and bark at it. With him gone, she now will do it for attention.

Quinn just like to dig and scratch at the shadows on the ground when really bored (great nail file ;-)) It was handy to teach him to dig on command, and conversely to teach him to stop on command also.

I just have to realize that it is my lack of stimulation and then do something about it. With Quinn it means get him moving, if only in circles a full attention at heal (before it was the training of such), for Rox maybe doing some tricks in rapid order or play tug, or a walk if I have time. To me it means that they really want to do something mentally stimulating; what a great time to train!!!

This issue does co-inside with working too much and not enough play time for him. I forgot to mention he is 5 1/2 months right now.

Thanks to you all for the great advice.

Eddie

 Quote: JessicaKromer

He would purposely play with flashlights, lasers, and watch faces in the light to make her run in circles and bark at it. ...

Old Earth Dog Bob Scott posted last year about this, saying that this is a very bad thing to start.

I agree 100% -- especially now that I have seen it up close and personal in a dog I was working with.

Jessica, I betcha long walks with the dog will help a lot, combined with your brief and frequent training sessions.

JMO.

Yep! That was kinda my point. By allowing it (even asking for it :mad it got worse. That is only one of the reasons he is gone. We won't even discuss the other reasons...

It has taken two years to condition her to not look at the ceiling to find a light to bark at. It was the most annoying thing and could not be good for her.

Now when she does it, I know I am not stimulating her enough. My fault not hers. Like I said, rapid-fire tricks, a game of tug, or a good walk.

I guess what I wanted to say was that by not stopping it (asking for it) for a year, it took two to stop it. And even then, she will revert when bored.

Distract, distract, distract, but while you are at it, use it as a time to teach your pup something, he is almost begging for it . At 5 months, light bite/tug work is mentally/physically tiring. Positive training some basic commands. A quick game of soccer.

 Quote: jessicakromer

Yep! That was kinda my point. By allowing it (even asking for it :mad it got worse. That is only one of the reasons he is gone. We won't even discuss the other reasons...

It has taken two years to condition her to not look at the ceiling to find a light to bark at. It was the most annoying thing and could not be good for her.

Now when she does it, I know I am not stimulating her enough. My fault not hers. Like I said, rapid-fire tricks, a game of tug, or a good walk.

I guess what I wanted to say was that by not stopping it (asking for it) for a year, it took two to stop it. And even then, she will revert when bored.

Distract, distract, distract, but while you are at it, use it as a time to teach your pup something, he is almost begging for it . At 5 months, light bite/tug work is mentally/physically tiring. Positive training some basic commands. A quick game of soccer.

Good job, Jessica!

If you convince someone that "by not stopping it .... for a year, it took two to stop it," then you've done a good thing. Sounds like you are completely on top of it, too, with minimizing it.