Mojo and the Laser Pointer Idea

[mojozen]

So, I meant to post this a week or so ago when it actually happened but I forgot.

As some of you may recall, I have asthma and I have a dog. My asthma isn't allowing me to properly exercise my dog outside this winter so he's been putting on more weight than he should. I looked around for alternate ideas to exercise him and one of the ideas mentioned in another forum was by laser pointer.

I forget who it was now, but someone here told me not to do it because it could lead to OCD behavior in the long run. I decided to give it a try anyway but with that caution in mind.

A friend loaned us his laser pointer and the first night we fired it up, Mojo went nuts for the little red dot for about a minute, then he figured out it was coming from the doo-hickie in my hand and tried to attack my hand to get at the doo-hickie instead.

Okay. Stop. Settle him down... try another night.

The next night we tried it, it took Mojo less than 30 seconds to remember where the light came from and again he stopped chasing the dot and instead tried to get at my hand. Then he lost interest completely and went back to chewing on his rawhide.

Since that second night, if I turn on the laser pointer Mojo gives it a glance then goes back to whatever it is he is doing, and/or tries to entice me to play a game of tug with him instead.

I've given up. Mojo wins.

 

[puppyluv2004]

What a smart dog !

 

[BullyLover]

LOL...that is funny....My Jesse would chase lasers or a flashlight for hours....it was a riot.....I think she knew it was coming from me but didn't care.

 

[mojozen]

What a smart dog !

He can be. Nyah... he is. Plus very patient and loving. I'm lucky to have him!

 

[mojozen]

LOL...that is funny....My Jesse would chase lasers or a flashlight for hours....it was a riot.....I think she knew it was coming from me but didn't care.

I thought he would like it... but... he seemed to be saying that he'd much rather play tug than chase a red dot on the floor. I was also thinking about getting him one of those cat toys - the ones with the feather on the string on a stick to see if i could rev up his prey drive that way... but I haven't yet.

I have a bad idea he will want to play tug with it instead and that would probably be bad for the feather!

 

[smkie]

some posters have said it is a bad idea..Vic and i do this each night and seem to have no problem at all so i believe it depends on the dog..but would still watch carefully. i have terrible arthritis and the winter months hurt me to no end..i do not have a fence tho Vic does play at moms yard each day. We need this exercise to fill is energy letout need.

 

[mojozen]

some posters have said it is a bad idea..Vic and i do this each night and seem to have no problem at all so i believe it depends on the dog..but would still watch carefully. i have terrible arthritis and the winter months hurt me to no end..i do not have a fence tho Vic does play at moms yard each day. We need this exercise to fill is energy letout need.

Personally i think it's a good idea if like all things you don't over do it. I wouldn't let a little kid play with Mojo in such a manner, but i figured 15 minutes a few nights a week wouldn't be a bad thing. However, Mojo isn't interested in it, so thus I shall be seeking out other games for us to play...

 

[smkie]

that is what i think too..mom got me the two flashlights that you shake up..the big one last longer.but the little one is about time perfect for a good play session. 5 -10 minutes no more..Just enough to get him panting and a little tired.

 

[Mindy Miller]

That's too cute! The whole laser pointer dog thing makes me nervous after seeing the obsessed dog on the Dog Whisperer..

 

[smkie]

do you think it is possible the dog is obsessive tendency in the first place? i dind't see it so i don't know

 

[mojozen]

do you think it is possible the dog is obsessive tendency in the first place? i dind't see it so i don't know

smkie - mojo can get a bit obsessed with pacing and chasing his tail. When he's super excited about going outside he will trot in circles around my kitchen until he gets to go outside. But he also uses that circling as a way to get me off my butt and do something too... so it may be more of a conditioner for me than it is an obsessive tendacy. But he also STILL chases his tail when he's bored... just like a little puppy... he will chase it for about a minute at a time until he either catches just the tip of it (he doesn't bite down hard) or else I distract him with something else.

personally i thnk it's possible for it to go both ways - either dogs already have the tendacy to be obsessive, or they can be induced to it. Shelter dogs seem to have more obsessive tendacies due to being kenneled for long periods of times... who's to say which came first?

 

[smkie]

Victor paces too when he wants to go out..hasnt tail chased yet..one thing about Victor he never ever calls wolf..if he is pacing to the door he is dead serious that he has to go. Sally Mary's sister paced out of nerves..when she was unsure or frightened the pacing could make your brains rattle in your head and nothing would stop her except putting her on a leash putting her in down and resting one foot on top of her.
i think shelter dogs and some poor unfortunate backyard kenneled are just cage crazy. I have witnessed that alot..especially spinning and leaping..

 

[RobHedrick]

I always recommend a treadmill for exercising indoors (always supervised of course). But if you don't have one / or can't afford one, you could always play ball (if you have the space), because the ball will keep their mind active just like a laser pointer, without the side effects of possible OSD.

If neither one of those suggestions work for you, you could always find a neighbor kid to walk him for you or something..

 

[mojozen]

I always recommend a treadmill for exercising indoors (always supervised of course). But if you don't have one / or can't afford one, you could always play ball (if you have the space), because the ball will keep their mind active just like a laser pointer, without the side effects of possible OSD.

If neither one of those suggestions work for you, you could always find a neighbor kid to walk him for you or something..

My pooch isn't ball obsessed. HE'd rather play tug than anything else. He will play fetch but he does it with the end goal of playing tug.

In my neighborhood I personally wouldn't trust any of my neighbor kids to come BACK with my dog. He's a pit mix, and more than a few of the neighborhood kids (and adults) have expressed interest in buying him from me... despite the fact he's neutered, has terrible hips, and is dog friendly.

This is why i have been looking for things to do indoors... i am keeping my eyes out for a treadmill at the resale shops or in the classfieds for cheap. Right now I can't afford to have a dog walker in... I am looking forward to spring when the cold stops aggravating my breathing!!!

 

[Mindy Miller]

do you think it is possible the dog is obsessive tendency in the first place? i dind't see it so i don't know

I'm positive he had obsessive tendencies (the one on the dog whisperer). The laser pointer was only one of his problems. I don't think laser pointers are bad, just depends on the dog, like everything else.

If you can't exercise your dog, it's a good alternative. Entertaining also.