Puppy Training

[Leah]

Glad he is behaving Justin!

[fishoholic]

One thing I found that helps tire out my small dog (who has lots of energy) is a laser pointer toy. He love to chase the mysterious red dot all over the living room. He puts on quite a show for our guests and is so tired after that he behaves himself really well around them.

[my2rotties]

I have to disagree with the use of laser pointers. Some dogs develop OCD like symptoms from chasing and object and never being able to catch it. However some dogs react negatively, and some dogs do not. With breeds such as mine, I just won't do it. Here is a link...

http://ezinearticles.com/?Are-Laser-...Dog?&id=292320

Originally Posted by fishoholic

One thing I found that helps tire out my small dog (who has lots of energy) is a laser pointer toy. He love to chase the mysterious red dot all over the living room. He puts on quite a show for our guests and is so tired after that he behaves himself really well around them.

[fishoholic]

Originally Posted by my2rotties

I have to disagree with the use of laser pointers. Some dogs develop OCD like symptoms from chasing and object and never being able to catch it. However some dogs react negatively, and some dogs do not. With breeds such as mine, I just won't do it. Here is a link...

http://ezinearticles.com/?Are-Laser-...Dog?&id=292320

I don't use it all the time, probably once every 2-3 months for maybe 15-20 minutes. We mostly pull it out when we have a large number of guests visit because it's pretty funny to watch my little dog and cat go crazy over it. I do agree that if it's being used all the time problems can arise from over use. I should add that so far my dog (I say dog because my little one is the only one who chases it, the 2 big ones could care less) hasn't developed any OCD symptoms from it. We originally got it for the cats but I know Gulliver will chase it.

[my2rotties]

I wouldn't worry too much Laurie... I don't think most people are aware that it can be a negative thing to their dogs. I don't know if it is bad for cats since they are a different animal then dogs. I used to have a laser pointer, and teased my dogs to odd time too. I noticed it frustrated them to be chasing something they never could catch, and I googled it. I gave you a quick link, since I am on dial up and it take all day to do anything right now. There is a lot to be read out there aside of just that one article.

I had a friend with a Pomeranian and she used to tease her with a pointer... one day the dog dug a hole right through the carpet and under lay, as well as the couch cushions because she was still looking for the dot after the pointer was put away. My friend was all upset at her dog, until I explained everything to her. The dog had never destroyed anything before... until the laser pointer was being used constantly as a game. I am sure glad my dogs did not dig a hole to China in my furniture.

Originally Posted by fishoholic

I don't use it all the time, probably once every 2-3 months for maybe 15-20 minutes. We mostly pull it out when we have a large number of guests visit because it's pretty funny to watch my little dog and cat go crazy over it. I do agree that if it's being used all the time problems can arise from over use. I should add that so far my dog (I say dog because my little one is the only one who chases it, the 2 big ones could care less) hasn't developed any OCD symptoms from it. We originally got it for the cats but I know Gulliver will chase it.

[fishoholic]

Originally Posted by my2rotties

I wouldn't worry too much Laurie... I don't think most people are aware that it can be a negative thing to their dogs. I don't know if it is bad for cats since they are a different animal then dogs. I used to have a laser pointer, and teased my dogs to odd time too. I noticed it frustrated them to be chasing something they never could catch, and I googled it. I gave you a quick link, since I am on dial up and it take all day to do anything right now. There is a lot to be read out there aside of just that one article.

I had a friend with a Pomeranian and she used to tease her with a pointer... one day the dog dug a hole right through the carpet and under lay, as well as the couch cushions because she was still looking for the dot after the pointer was put away. My friend was all upset at her dog, until I explained everything to her. The dog had never destroyed anything before... until the laser pointer was being used constantly as a game. I am sure glad my dogs did not dig a hole to China in my furniture.

Yikes! Good to be aware of for sure.

[StirCrazy]

Originally Posted by my2rotties

I don't know if it is bad for cats since they are a different animal then dogs.

I wouldn't think so.. Cats are smart enough to realize whats going on.. took mine 5 min to figure out what the little red dot was and start ignoring it.

Steve

[GreenSpottedPuffer]

Originally Posted by StirCrazy

I wouldn't think so.. Cats are smart enough to realize whats going on.. took mine 5 min to figure out what the little red dot was and start ignoring it.

Steve

One of our cats goes nuts for the red dot. He cries and cries when it goes away