Flashlight play

[5weeniesmom]

Lets see how playful your pup is. I have four doxies and only one loves this past tme of the flashlight. He will run his self crazy in circles doing laps and barking at the ceiling. Just curious on your answers. :thanx:

[fuzzybunn]

Lucy likes to play flashlight with her friend Hunter, a 4 year old black lab. He is my in law's dog. She gets to play with him every day while we are at work. He really LOVES the flashlight game. He will chase the light anywhere! Lucy chases the light sometimes, but is usually more interested in what Hunter is doing and chasing him.. It is funny to watch.

[oscarforevermom]

I personally would not do that with my pups. I watched an episode of the Dog Whisperer that showed a dog that learned to chase a laser beam light around the floor.

The dog became obsessed with it and his whole life turned into a search to catch that light. It nearly drove him and his owner crazy. They had to call the behaviorist in to undue the damage and cure him. This obsession might not happen with all dogs - but I would be so afraid to take a chance. :yikes:

I give my boys other safe toys to play with and chew on.

[5weeniesmom]

That may be the case with some dogs but mine does this just every once in awhile and he stops chasing after it when he gets done, so u know the game is over. That is why I love doxies attitudes! He is not obssessed and does not look for it when it is not being done. However thanks for your view and information on this. I know the Dog Whisperer(Cesar) works miracles.:thanx:

[fuzzybunn]

Hunter will stare at the flashlight when he wants to play, but I wouldn't say he is obsessed with it. He does love to chase it though. And Lucy loves to chase him.

[Jenn]

I have one of those laser pens and charlie just sits there and looks at me with that look of "I'm not stupid ma". Now, my BF's jack russell and his sister's cocker chase it til they pretty much pass out and will sit and beg for it at his dresser. They chase it over furniture and up the walls. It's actually quiet entertaining. Maybe my baby just has more sense.:D

[Me&DappledDuo]

Definitely not something I'd do with our dogs, either. Dogs (and cats) aren't good candidates for this kind of play, regardless of the fact that there are "laser toys" marketed for them. Both species tend towards having relatively high prey drives that fuel the "hunt"- but when there's no reward at the end ( a "catch"), it can bring on a host of mental issues, OCD included.

This isn't something that develops overnight- so even dogs and cats currently okay with the play may show signs of problems after awhile- chasing shadows or invisible "bugs", their tail, bouncing on beams of sunlight, excessive grooming. If you chose to use flashlights or lasers in play- please halt their use when these symptoms are present. A reference with some good articles on OCD in pets: Here (http://www.deafdogs.org/resources/otherlinks.php#ocd)

We do have some excellent "fetch" players, though! Don't let anyone tell you it's not a dachsie thing. There's nothing Dutch likes to play more! ;)

[5weeniesmom]

I am glad I brought this subject up. I have learned something new that never would have occured to me about dogs getting OCD. Thanks for all the views and info on the dangers of this. I continue to learn every day!:thanx:

[fuzzybunn]

Those were interesting articles. I never would have known this either. My mother-in-law plays "light" with Hunter several times daily. I will have to pass this info along to her..

[Dachshund Mama]

I won't play it with him, but it has been tried & he does like it. I have just heard it is not good for the dog, so I won't do it or allow it done anymore.

[Suzanne R]

I, too, have heard it can cause dogs all sorts of problems, so I haven't even tried it with either of mine. They had enough problems to overcome before they got to rescue - they sure don't need more!

[jzutis]

I rarely play the lazer game with Rudy anymore after some other members called it to my attention how bad it can be for them (OCD). What I find interesting about it is that on the rare occasion that I do pull out the lazer for Rudy to chase Penny gets very agitated with Rudy and stops him from playing. Maybe she knows that his behaviour is off when he is trying to chase it and she is trying to correct him...????:nono::um::chin::confused: