Laser pointer pen for Dogs?

When I do my first phone consultation, I always ask my (hopefully soon to be) clients, what it is their dogs like doing for fun with their humans. This always felt like an important question to me, as it revealed a lot about the relationship between the dogs and their owners. Over time however, I came to realise just how important that question really was, as unexpectedly I began to hear from more and more dog owners, sharing that their dogs loved playing with the laser pointer pen. Something I might have never known had I not asked that question.

”So what?” you might be thinking to yourselves right now. Well, sadly a quick google search will show you that the news isn’t good. I’ve met a few dogs now who display symptoms of the appropriately named “Laser pointer syndrome” (LPS). In a nutshell, dogs who’ve spent enough time playing with a laser pointer, will display more erratic, restless demeanour, often obsessively chasing reflections, shadows or imaginary specks of movement, finding it hard to relax. They spend all their energy and focus on chasing this ‘prey’, with never any closure. Never a win; a catch. Imagine how frustrating that might be over time?

There are to my knowledge no quick solutions, although complete removal of the laser pointer can be all that’s needed if you caught the problem early enough. For others, introducing an element of play through redirection away from the triggers, can help too. I’ve even heard of some people convincingly directing the pointer towards a small red object that could somewhat mimic the laser dot. Not sure how convinced the dogs might be, but it is worth a shot. It would at least provide closure to the chase sequence.

I’ll keep asking my prospective clients that same question, in the hope that I can make a difference in their dogs’ lives by simply telling them to avoid the laser pen. There are so many other, more rewarding games to play with your furry friends! Leave the laser pointer to cats.. it seems they’re immune? Or maybe they’re just generally erratic anyway… hehe.