Laser pointers may initially seem like a great way to exercise your dog. Unfortunately, they can cause serious problems for their future. We’ve all seen the videos of dogs (and cats) chasing that elusive red dot. You may have even done it with your pup. While we’re providing a few minutes of entertainment, they meet with an enormous amount of frustration. They can never be successful.
Why are laser pointers unhealthy?
After playing like this, dogs can easily become obsessed over lights, reflections, and even shadows. This type of OCD behavior is based on their frustration. It also seems to change the neurology of the brain. Dogs become obsessed over reflections. They may chase everything from your watch on the wall or light shining through glass doors. They are constantly on the lookout for anything that is similarly reflective.
The constant watchfulness becomes a neurotic and obsessive behavior, and a very unhappy way of being. I have also found that it is difficult, if not impossible, to reverse. Something gets switched on in the brain and becomes perpetual.
High-energy dogs and dogs with high prey drive are more susceptible to this condition. However, it can happen in all dogs. I once performed a home consultation with five dogs in the household. The family had been using a laser pointer as an outlet for perceived exercise for the entire pack. Four of the five dogs were suffering from the syndrome.
Laser Pointer Alternatives
Instead of relying on artificial stimulation by using a toy made for humans as an outlet for exercise, try walking, running, and hiking to both mentally and physically exercise your dog. You might enjoy it too. High-energy dogs will especially benefit from the great outdoors and the natural stimulation and relaxation that comes with it.
While there has not been an official or medical study done on this type of syndrome in dogs, I have years of experience telling me that there is almost always an adverse effect after prolonged use of the laser pointer. If you’re curious to hear other perspectives, Google “laser pointer syndrome in dogs” and read through many of the other observations and opinions of other professionals.
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William
Thanks so much!
Hello!
So I came across one in the supermarket and obliviously thought It’d be a good way for my two pit bulls to play since recently they’ve been inside most of the day due to rain and unfamiliar faces. I played with them for about five to ten minutes before researching this and now I’m terrified I’ve traumatized them. I wish I would’ve searched it up before I even bought it. Do you think this short term exposure to it will cause neurological damage to them in the future?
Omg my dog obsses about the laser light n looks 4 ut even we r not playing i new she was bugging off it thans so much 4 the info
Found out the hard way with out corgi/kerr mix. He absolutely went crazy after a few days of playing with this. Agitated, anxious, barking all night, looking at every ones hands to see if they had the light! Took about a week for him to calm down and not search for it. Never using one again, can’t believe their isn’t more info out there on this topic, thanks for sharing.
You’re very welcome Ronda, thank you for your reply. It can become a quite serious behavioral issue!
I have a dog that, before hearing how bad these things are, had been played with one for a while. Is there a way to reverse, what I think are extreme, problems from being exposed to a laser light. She has everything mentioned here and after months of not using one, has not changed her desire to chase any flash of light.
Hello Dianne, the only solution to this problem is consistently interrupting her behavior when she is chasing flashes of lights. It can be very difficult to reverse this problem, but with continuous interruption of her fixation, things will begin to get easier and the constant light chasing will subside.
HI Diane, assuming this link works here is a video of a spaniel with similar obsessions to lights. It can be a long slog but can be done.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=gfQ2qu53N7Q
For the games/concepts training used check out Absolute Dogs or Recallers (as mentioned in the vid). They have games that teach the dogs concepts that will work in these situations. Like diverting focus tk you from a distraction (light). But be prepared for a long slog…
Is there any treatment?
My 6 year old son found a laser light on a Nerf gun and played with our 11 month old German Shepherd puppy using it. The session went on for about 20 minutes while I took a shower and started a load of laundry. It has been 3 days and she is still chasing every shadow, pacing, and panting. I had taken away the laser toys (past sessions when she was younger would cause a few hours of distressed behavior), but I missed this one. Gosh I hope she will relax soon! For now we are redirecting with a tennis ball or chew, walks, and massage/cuddles. My son fully understands now and we won’t be repeating this mistake.
Hi Carla, we’re very pleased that you came across this information and now understand the behavior a bit better. Redirecting and interrupting the behavior is indeed the best way to help reverse it. Things will get easier, just be consistent and keep the laser pointers away! Thanks for your reply!
Nice Post. Thanks!
Thanks for stopping by!
I have a one and a half year old shih-tzu and i have a laser pointer for my cat. i thought it would be good for her as she is a high energy dog and now she’s walking around the living room looking for the laser. what do i do to help her behavior? will she ever stop looking for it?
Guilty here also. But my tactics to end my dog Reds behavior I think both worked but not the way I thought it would.
I decided to overload Red with millions of dots everywhere. I used a Christmas decoration later projector in our furnished basement and left it on for extended periods of time.
I hoped he would grow tired of the lights.
This is what happened.
With my home security camera I could see Red lounging comfortably on the couch with millions of red lights all over swirling around. As I come down the stairs he jumps up and starts acting like he has them under control. Alert and supervising them. It was funny.
I would recommend never introducing laser pointers to your dogs.
so did he grow tired of them eventually?? we mounted frames around the house with a laser and my dog won’t stop searching for it now. i’m thinking of just setting the laser down for a while and seeing if he gets desensitized. do you think this will work?
So what about other prey dogs chase and never catch? Like birds. Is that driving them nuts too?
Dogs catch birds all the time. And a dot of light versus an actual creature with smells and substance that they can SEE fly away versus a red dot that seems to magically appear and disappear with no notice…they can’t smell it, or hear it, I’m sure has a lot to do with the issues caused by laser lights
.
Exactly, I think there needs to be an educated study on it. My dogs have played with it for years, Brittany’s are high energy dogs. They like it, but not obsessed about it.
What is bad for one, does not make it for all. Not all dogs are going to react this way.
Before condemning it entirely, I think it should have more research, from an expert.
I’d sure like to some well-designed research backing this up.
Dan, thank you, never, ever saw this with any of my dogs….. reading all the statements and I’m still thinking hell. Most my life never experienced anything like this
Glad to read your post! My dog loves it more than chasing a ball. He’s not obsessed and enjoys all his toys. Common sense says not to point in eyes! Some times people just need to relax and not over analyze so much
I rescued an ESS who experienced this type of “play”. He was so reactive to light that when shadows of trees waved in the wind and across the ground he went ballistic. The sight of a cell phone sent him off (I suspect that’s what was used to laser him.) My vet quickly determined what was going on and agreed with this article-terrible for dogs. It took time (a couple of years) but he did relax somewhat. He never beat the OCD completely. Else he was a perfect dog. Moral of the story: don’t use lasers on dogs, if you get a dog who was exposed to this, give him time. Adjust so glare and refracted light are minimal.
Touche. Great arguments. Keep up the good work.
Interesting article. I have not found this to be a problem with my dog in anyway. She actually knows the word, where the light is located and we play for about a minute or so, then I hang it back up on the key holder and we are done. She doesn’t chase or look for other lights at all. I will certainly now keep this in mind, and watchful for issues but I also suspect that the fact my dog gets long walks off-lead in the park everyday that she is getting the exercise needed to not get neurotic about the laser.
My dog was unfortunately exposed to laser light by a neighbor and now he is showing symptoms especially in the living room . Which medicine works best to calm him down,I have a 10 month old male, German Shepard/ boxer/ beagle mix.
my dog is obsessed with her shadow this happened after 1 time its sad but we love her and she still hunts like crazy !!!
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Hello, I have been using a laser pointer with my dog for many many months now, she loves it and it gives her the exercise she needs. She knows that the only time she is allowed to play is after dinner time for a little. She knows the light comes from the little pointer because she looks at and knows where I keep it. Around dinner time each night she walks over to the cabinet and stares at it. After an hour or so of chasing it, we lay in bed and watch TV and she is totally calm again. I have never seen her chase any other light or reflection. She is not anxious or barks for no reason. I do not believe this negatively affects all dogs.
I am researching a connection between laser pointers and seizures in dogs.
A neighbor’s German Shepherd has begun to have seizures and I know there is a connection between flashing lights and epilepsy. The vet recommended the owner change flea meds which they did. But the seizures have not stopped. The neighbor exercises the dog using the laser. If anyone has info, please send it to my email address. Thanks!
Well I’ve joined the ranks of the “End the laser” tribe. Ater only a week of playing with the laser my dog will sit on the floor staring at me waiting for the red dot. Normally it’s only at night when we’re in bedroom watching the TV. This started when we noticed him chasing the reflections off a mantle clock when the late afternoon sun came thru our bedroom window. Time to wean him off it before the obsession gets worse.
Question: Why do they sell these in pet stores? Is it not just as bad for cats?
My American bulldog has most definitely got this. He’s obsessed w/lasers,shadows & reflections. He will sit & bug me & whine & bark & will start shaking until he gets his way. That’s the first thing he wants from the time he gets up. He’s redogulous.@!!! Hes got an addiction. Do they have a doggie rehab for this?I take him to work w/me alot and he still bugs me. Nothing I’ve tried works. He needs help
I wish I had googled this before using a laser pointer. I have a Labradoodle puppy and she’s so high energy that I believed this to be helpful in tiring her out. Unfortunately, like many others on this blog, she’s become obsessed with it. I now know better and hope that this hasn’t done any lasting damage.
Unfortunately I am guilty of this as well. My Golden Lab is now OBSESSED with the laser pointer. At night she barks nonstop to play with it. Shes even destroyed the cabinet door trying to get to it!
How can we stop this behavior?
I am currently in this same situation.. I used a laser pointer for about 3 mins 4 months ago and it has now progressed into Frankie (my spointer) hunting whenever he is not eating, sleeping, or walking. its got really bad over the past 3 days. lots that i have read in that time is about the frustration of not catching the light? so… I’ve just bought some hard rubber light up balls for dogs from amazon.. they will be delivered tomorrow and hopefully give him a light to chase and catch? Ill see what happens and repost on here as if it works for me, it may well help others.
Any luck with the light up balls?
My Shih Tzu has played the laser for years. He does not like to take a walk outside, he would only walk a block and wants to come back. So, I got him a laser to chase inside the house everyday for 15 – 20 minutes. In the first few years, while he chases the laser I would throw small treats on the floor and then shine it on the treat. Now I don’t even give him treats but after 15 – 20 minutes I know he’s tired and I stop. I praise him and tell him he’s a good boy. I show him the laser, I take the battery out and put it back on the table. And he goes to lay somewhere to rest. He does gets anxious the next day because he expects to play with it once a day and he knows where the laser is. He acts the same way when its time for his dental treat. He likes routine. Meal in the morning, cookie in the afternoon, laser in the early evening, then his meal again, then dental treat and then his supplement before bed time. However, he must chase the laser for 15 minutes, if I stop too early and he isn’t tired and still has energy then he will bark and wants to continue. My Bichon Frise couldn’t care less about the laser. She chews toys while my Shih Tzu runs around chasing the laser. It works for my dog because I can end it and he knows he is done for the day and play again the next day.
Harvey, my dogs are the same way. They know their routine and they know when play time is over. I also have a Pekingese dog who does not chase it. She could care less. I can see how it might cause erratic behavior in some dogs, but not necessarily in all dogs. I am right there with you.
My dog is a Beagle / Spaniel and she goes absolutely crazy to play the laser pointer. I’d say she would certainly be borderline obsessive as she could play for 8 hours straight if I let her and she whines when we stop playing. I find if I say ok it’s bye bye time for the laser and hang it up , she knows it’s quit time. I typically play for another 15 minutes with her using one of her stuffy toys and she seems satisfied with that. She has never exhibited chasing her shadow or other lights , nor has done any excessive barking etc. She gets such joy out of it and it’s great exercise during the winter months as she can’t handle being out in the – 30 to – 40 temps for too long. Don’t get me wrong she goes crazy when we play with the laser and absolutely loves the play, but interestingly she loses total interest in the laser if my wife or one of the kids try to play it with her and she immediately comes to me wanting me to take over the game. I am torn as she loves it so much , I don’t have the heart to quit playing it with her now.
My Chihuahua played with the laser pointer until she was 15 1/2 years old. She never had an OCD problem because of it. It was only brought out once in a while and we would call it the bug. When we were outside I would Tell her to get the bug and she would have fun sniffing ants! I wouldn’t do it with a high energy dog as I could see it may cause psychotic behavior?
Not all dogs go bonkers. I have a very high energy Fox Terrier Besnji mix age 4. We play ball, tug o war, dog play dates, go on long walks, go to the dog park, swim in the lake and doggy day care.
She takes a 20 minute power nap and is ready to go again. Once it was raining for a few days and I was looking for a way to tire her without exhausting me. I bought a lazer and it’s absolutely her favorite toy. She chases it in the house and I place toys on the floor and she pounces on them or at night she chases it through our dog park jumping through tubes for 5 to 10 minutes and she gets lots of energy and it tires her out for a bit. Sometimes I work long hours and this has been a god send. I have never seen her chase any type of light or shadows in the 3 years we have been playing lazer. I do her lazer 5 to 10 minutes before bed and she will sleep until 9 am the next day. We keep the lazer in a drawer and she knows the word lazer, when I put it away and say “No More” she is fine, she loves to snuggle or chew her bully stick.
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Absolutely!
We do play occasionally using the laser with our Goldador. Time is limited to about five minutes and never more than once every two weeks. Also, I always end the session with the laser dot “running” up a tree in the yard. My thought is, it is no different than the squirrels she chases and never catches. Now, when the dot goes up the tree, she stops and returns to me…game over.
I used a laser pointer for TWO days before noticing my dog’s obsessive behavior!!! To this day, she alerts on reflections from metal or glass. As stated in the article, she is a high energy dog and extremely prey-driven (especially birds).