Beware of Laser Pointers

YouTube has many videos featuring dogs and cats diving head first for a stationary red dot. While it may seem like an innocent game at first, it can become a nightmare quickly. Laser pointer games are actually bad for dogs.

Why Dogs Chase Lasers

At first, well meaning dog owners purchase laser pointers as a fun game for rainy days. They turn on the red light and flash the dot on the floor. Most dogs probably don’t notice at first, so owners begin moving the dot from side to side, which eventually catches their dog’s attention. Dogs are excellent movement spotters evident by the fact they notice a fleeing squirrel from 500 yards away. Similarly, a moving red dot piques your dog’s interest. The game is on! Soon, this innocent game of chasing the red dot turns into an obsession.

This fact may seem alarming and some readers may shrug off possible outcomes when playing with laser pointers, but I’m here to tell you I see negative outcomes from laser pointer games every day. Prevention is better than finding a cure. There are so many other dog games, so let’s put down the laser pointer and play games fun for everyone. 🙂

The Problem With Laser Pointers

When playing a laser pointer dog game, we never tell our dogs the game is about to start. We randomly turn on the laser pointer to start the game. Dogs are unaware the red dot comes from the laser pointer, so dogs will sit and watch floors and walls for hours, waiting for the infamous red dot to appear. Some dog owners assume their dog is asking to play the laser pointer game again and reward this staring behavior with a laser pointer game session. As a result, dogs have learned to stare blankly at floors and walls for hours because the red dot will eventually appear. Hopefully, you’re now understanding how laser pointer games can be problematic for dogs.

Worst Cases I’ve Seen

Dog Eats in Darkness

Some dogs that have played only a few sessions of laser pointing games begin obsessing over all moving lights, such as the reflection of car headlights on your home. Once, I had a consult with a dog that learned to stare into lights–I mean directly at light bulbs, especially when turned on. He refused to go potty, eat or drink. He was waiting for the light to move.

When probing further about this quirky issue, his owner mentioned light chasing had gone on for years and now her dog stares at lights turned on, waiting for them to move. And yes, they played laser pointer games with him as a puppy. Now, she must turn all lights off, close curtains and blinds, and feed her dog in darkness, so he’ll eat and drink.

Dog Starts Chasing Shadows

Another consultation was with a small mixed breed that would chase car headlights flashing inside his home. He sat by the front window waiting for the next chase. His owners purchased blackout curtains, which helped until he started shadow chasing. Shadow chasing is an obsessive compulsive behavior seen in many different types of dogs, including mixed and toy breeds. This dangerous obsession can quickly consume your dog’s entire life, as he would rather chase shadows than eat or drink.

Finding Help

Please don’t play laser pointer games with your dogs. If you’re currently playing this game, I highly advise you stop immediately. I think playing with your dog is fabulous and should happen every day just not with lights.

If your dog is currently obsessed with shadow/light chasing or staring, please don’t ever punish him. It will only make the obsession worse. Instead, find super yummy treats to redirect your dog from focusing on shadows or lights. Teach your dog “touch” or “look at me” in a safe environment first, then ask your dog to touch your hand or look at you instead of chasing or watching lights or shadows.

Now, some dogs just can’t stop the game. In this case, I highly recommend seeking professional help and going straight to the experts. Many experienced dog trainers can advise you on how to positively redirect your dog when he notices lights or shadows, so it’s best to start there. If your dog is ignoring any attempts, even when working with a qualified dog trainer, then it’s best to contact a veterinary behaviorist.

The best remedy is prevention, so share with fellow dog owners. Laser pointer games are terrible for dogs.