Pogre Audioholic Slumlord Jul 29, 2016 16,146 0 113 56 Mesa, Arizona Sep 2, 2017 #1 I know a few of us have laser pointers we use for speaker alignment, I do. I discovered my dog just absolutely loves to chase it around, so I've played with her a couple of times and let her chase it around. Then I started noticing that she would keep looking up at the ceiling and started reacting to random reflections (sunlight bouncing of a watch face, phone or tablet) long after I would put it away. I haven't had it out for over 2 weeks and she still looks intently up at the ceiling when I open the console in my chair or if she sees a flash. This is starting to freak me out a little bit so I googled. Turns out that the laser pointer game can create severe mental problems for your pooch! "The movement of a laser pointer triggers a dog's prey drive, which means they want to chase it. It's an unending game with no closure for the dog since they can't ever catch that beam of light, like they can when chasing a toy or food. Many dogs continue looking for the light beam after the laser pointer has been put away; this is confusing for your dog because the prey has simply disappeared. This can create obsessive compulsive behaviors like frantically looking around for the light, staring at the last location they saw the light, and becoming reactive to flashes of light (such as your watch face catching the sunlight and reflecting on the wall, or the glare of your tablet screen on the floor). Dogs that exhibit behavioral issues are frustrated, confused, and anxious." Yeah, I had no idea and I love my dog to death. Fortunately I haven't played the pointer game much so she's not exhibiting any major issues like this poor dog. As soon as she started acting a little different I stopped using it. It was when I saw her look up at the ceiling today that I decided to Google it. I'm sure I'm not the only one who loves their dog and I wanted to pass this along. I would be absolutely gutted if my dog went off the deep end and we had to give her up. Last edited: Sep 3, 2017
I know a few of us have laser pointers we use for speaker alignment, I do. I discovered my dog just absolutely loves to chase it around, so I've played with her a couple of times and let her chase it around. Then I started noticing that she would keep looking up at the ceiling and started reacting to random reflections (sunlight bouncing of a watch face, phone or tablet) long after I would put it away. I haven't had it out for over 2 weeks and she still looks intently up at the ceiling when I open the console in my chair or if she sees a flash. This is starting to freak me out a little bit so I googled. Turns out that the laser pointer game can create severe mental problems for your pooch! "The movement of a laser pointer triggers a dog's prey drive, which means they want to chase it. It's an unending game with no closure for the dog since they can't ever catch that beam of light, like they can when chasing a toy or food. Many dogs continue looking for the light beam after the laser pointer has been put away; this is confusing for your dog because the prey has simply disappeared. This can create obsessive compulsive behaviors like frantically looking around for the light, staring at the last location they saw the light, and becoming reactive to flashes of light (such as your watch face catching the sunlight and reflecting on the wall, or the glare of your tablet screen on the floor). Dogs that exhibit behavioral issues are frustrated, confused, and anxious." Yeah, I had no idea and I love my dog to death. Fortunately I haven't played the pointer game much so she's not exhibiting any major issues like this poor dog. As soon as she started acting a little different I stopped using it. It was when I saw her look up at the ceiling today that I decided to Google it. I'm sure I'm not the only one who loves their dog and I wanted to pass this along. I would be absolutely gutted if my dog went off the deep end and we had to give her up.
lovinthehd Audioholic Jedi Sep 11, 2012 44,861 0 113 Oakridge, OR Sep 2, 2017 #2 A friend of mine had a dog fascinated by the reflection of the watch thing, played with her several times out in the parking lot of his business after he showed me....wonder now if that was an issue for that dog now that I've seen this, will have to ask.
A friend of mine had a dog fascinated by the reflection of the watch thing, played with her several times out in the parking lot of his business after he showed me....wonder now if that was an issue for that dog now that I've seen this, will have to ask.
jinjuku Moderator Apr 6, 2007 7,665 0 113 Louisville, KY Sep 2, 2017 #3 Just swing by the pet store for some feeder mice. That should sort it all out. Reactions: Pogre
Pogre Audioholic Slumlord Jul 29, 2016 16,146 0 113 56 Mesa, Arizona Sep 2, 2017 #4 jinjuku said: Just swing by the pet store for some feeder mice. That should sort it all out. Click to expand... That's actually a suggestion. Well, a treat or something. You get your dog to follow the beam to the treat (or feeder mouse, tho that's kinda gross), then they can feel like they "caught" something. Reactions: lovinthehd
jinjuku said: Just swing by the pet store for some feeder mice. That should sort it all out. Click to expand... That's actually a suggestion. Well, a treat or something. You get your dog to follow the beam to the treat (or feeder mouse, tho that's kinda gross), then they can feel like they "caught" something.
S shadyJ Speaker of the House Staff member Oct 16, 2006 12,053 0 113 Sep 2, 2017 #5 I suppose then that this isn't the healthiest entertainment for dogs either... Reactions: KEW, Pogre and lovinthehd
Pogre Audioholic Slumlord Jul 29, 2016 16,146 0 113 56 Mesa, Arizona Sep 2, 2017 #6 shadyJ said: I suppose then that this isn't the healthiest entertainment for dogs either... Click to expand... I... don't know... It's kind of along the same lines only you're not triggering their chase (prey) instinct.
shadyJ said: I suppose then that this isn't the healthiest entertainment for dogs either... Click to expand... I... don't know... It's kind of along the same lines only you're not triggering their chase (prey) instinct.
lovinthehd Audioholic Jedi Sep 11, 2012 44,861 0 113 Oakridge, OR Sep 2, 2017 #7 If you do the laser thing with a cat, it would just be normal, right? Reactions: KEW, TheWarrior and Pogre
TheWarrior Audioholic Ninja Sep 22, 2011 3,337 0 113 GA Sep 3, 2017 #8 lovinthehd said: If you do the laser thing with a cat, it would just be normal, right? Click to expand... Dogs will keep searching for the light, cats will know you're still an a@##@$% Reactions: Pogre, NINaudio and KEW
lovinthehd said: If you do the laser thing with a cat, it would just be normal, right? Click to expand... Dogs will keep searching for the light, cats will know you're still an a@##@$%
M MrBoat Audioholic Ninja Nov 13, 2016 3,616 0 113 64 Tampa, FL. Sep 3, 2017 #9 My prey instinct was piqued in the later part of the 1970's by chasing teenaged girls. After having caught one and keeping her for a few years too many, I too, now stare up at the ceiling a lot. Reactions: agarwalro, ParadigmDawg, KEW and 2 others
My prey instinct was piqued in the later part of the 1970's by chasing teenaged girls. After having caught one and keeping her for a few years too many, I too, now stare up at the ceiling a lot.
panteragstk Audioholic Warlord Aug 14, 2012 8,258 0 113 New Braunfels, TX Sep 4, 2017 #10 My 8 month old son stares at the ceiling fan when it's off hoping it will somehow magically move. Is that the same thing?
My 8 month old son stares at the ceiling fan when it's off hoping it will somehow magically move. Is that the same thing?
Pogre Audioholic Slumlord Jul 29, 2016 16,146 0 113 56 Mesa, Arizona Sep 4, 2017 #11 Only if it triggers his prey instinct.
panteragstk Audioholic Warlord Aug 14, 2012 8,258 0 113 New Braunfels, TX Sep 4, 2017 #12 Well, he does try to eat everything. Reactions: TheWarrior
