but I was thinking about something today. There was a previous post that I had read regarding the ill effects of using a lazer light to play with dogs. Repeatedly, the issue of OCD was mentioned and it got me to thinking (I know, bad idea) about the way that all dogs are encouraged to have ball drive. If it's okay to encourage strong ball drives why wouldn't playing with a dog with a lazer be acceptable? There is just as much excitement in my dogs behavior whether I pull out a lazer or a toy/ball. Now before I get hit with a barrage of 'why are you so stupid' comments, let's just put this into perspective for a minute, I question this because my GSD is off the charts when it comes to ball drive. I can almost guarantee that if presented with a choice he would rather play ball than eat. Please don't assume that I am searching for a means in which to justify using a lazer either. I think this to be a rational and logical question (the world according to me). Does this mean that my dog has OCD about his ball? Actually, it doesn't matter if it is his ball or his tug, any toy will serve the same. Where does one differentiate the difference between drive and obsession? Also, if they are so damaging to the dogs why are they mass marketing them to be such a wonderful aide? Okay, that last one might be a 'stupid' question, after all, they do mass market crap kibble. Strike that last question

From what I understand, and I may be way off base here.

Is that when building drive with a ball the dog has the opportunity to bite/carry/tug with the toy thus giving it the release of the tension and or anxiety that might be built up while encouraging the behavior. Also when done right the dog learns that the ball comes from the handler, and the building drive is a game.

The lazer however is just a magical dot that appears on the ground randomly, the dog can never catch it, so it never really gains satisfaction. And the I don't believe the dog would really connect the lazer with the handler.

I would imagine it would be like like building drive but never ever allowing the dog to get the ball... Think what that do to dog, I know what it does to pups when they are teething, think of that but for the duration of the dog's life.. lol.

I work nights, and am about to go to bed so my thoughts may not be as clear as I like. I hope I conveyed my idea clearly lol!

Robbin -

Drive building is good but yes as Jason mentioned the drive continues to build there is no outlet of that energy and frustration for the dog because it can never catch the light.

The danger is that a dog does not single out that laser light, all lights get lumped into that category of prey items and leads to a dog that chases all lights it sees. The morning sun shining through the blinds with a streak on your forhead is no different to the dog than the little laser light. Once that obsession with the light happens its very difficult to stop it or redirect it I imagine very very much so in a high drive working dog.

Tugs and balls etc are ok for a dog to be fixated on because they don't materialize out of nowhere to torment the dog, lights on the other hand, are everywhere!

The lazer lights are just a tease for the dog, who never can come to fruition with the subject.
That being the lazer.

It causes a lot of anxiety, as the dog cannot mentally work it out, ie: making a plan of how to get it, then executing the plan with a positive and rewarding outcome.

Something that my trainer educated me on, as they are mass marketing lazers - all in the name of money.

Best Wishes and Enjoy Your Dog!

I agree with the anxiety building in the dog that has no outlet for actually being able to accomplish the task of getting the light.

Tucker has high ball drive, and light drive (for lack of a better word) and as hard as i tried to help him get rid of this amazingly frustrating habit of chasing shadow & light I can never fully get him to stop focusing on such an object. It doesn't matter if we've been outside chasing the ball for an hour or just come back from a long hike and his tongue is hanging out. If he spots a moving light on the wall or ceiling he's on it. It has to do with him being tied up before he was rescued and his only outlet was to chase shadows on the ground.

And since he can't put an end to the light moving or "capture" it, it frustrates him to no end. Whe i first got him i figured i could work through it with him, but now i've just come to live with it. Although it is alot less frequent than it used to be. I've tried everything but now i just try to re-direct. Which works...but if he spots moving sunlight on the wall or floor he will go for it. But I can get him to lie down and not chase it, but he will continually watch it. I don't want to stress him out by constantly telling him no or correct him for it.
It just something that is a part of his makeup now.

Those are all great answers. And having seen the result in dogs who did develop OCD over laser "play," I would add that it's absolutely not worth the risk.

JMO.

My parents have a dog whose previous owners thought it was funny to play with a lazer with. The dog has as a result several downright dangerous habits. besides the usual annoying one of searching for the light for hours even though the game ended.

First is chasing and attacking a flashlight beam. I don't know where I'm going exactly hence the flashlight and I have a dog jumping around in front of me batting at the light or trying to get at the light source in my hand.


Second is attacking headlight beams on cars... do I really need to explain this one.

Third is reflections... the dog is mindlessly driven to them. This could be my keys refecting off the dashboard in the car, a glint of light onto the tile in the house, her tags reflecting on the floor, or my weathervane and suddenly the search for the light continues.

Finally lights on the TV. I got a new TV which I had to put 4 feet up on the wall to keep a cocker spaniel from scratching the living hell out of it because anyone with a flashlight, lazer, or light on any TV station I am watching will cause this dog to rush headfirst into my very nice flatpanel.
I wish this dog was ball crazy because then she could catch the ball and the game would be fair but because of the frustration and the mad drive this has created it has become a neurotic obcession.

I haven't read all the answers, and I didnt even finish reading the OP.... but:

I made the lazer mistake with Cujo. I saw it was a mistake when it took him 30 minutes to stop looking for the magical dot after I had stopped playing with it. The dog cannot catch or bite a light reflection or a red dot. It is a constant build up of frustration. I find the drive for a red lazer dot to be alot more intense than the drive for a ball and it is ever increasing with no pay off.

A ball, a dog can spend 30 minutes trying to find the ball, but at the end, he will find the ball and walk away with it. There is a definite end to the game.

My Lilly will do just about anything for a ball...tremendous ball drive. She likes chasing a lazer dot too. So I did an experiment, she chased the lazer dot, until she saw the ball and then forgot the lazor. We never really play with the lazor with her and now I'm glad we don't!!! Interesting thread.

Some dogs just arent as affected by it. But when they are, it really sucks. I wouldn't chance it with any dog.