So we have had Molly 2 and a half weeks and have tried a variety of toys with her. She like Nylabones well enough, but ignores everything else. We did find that she LOVES laser pointers! She will chase that stupid red dot all over the house for as long as you are willing to shine it. Anybody else have a cat trapped in their boxer's body?
If you "want" to create a neurotic dog that will start to bark and chase shadows and have other behavioral problems then go ahead and keep doing that.
Cats have no issue with it, you turn it off and cats says oh it's gone, oh well. A dog will say...where did it go and start to hunt for it! And some...won't stop hunting!
How would you feel if you incessantly chased something that you could never catch? I think it might make you feel a little bit loopy! Throw the laser pointer in the trash. Play fetch with her. Play hide and seek with treats. Anything other than the laser.
Tucker got to the place where I couldn't even use chap stick so we tossed the pointer.
Sometimes he sees the reflection of my watch and gets interested. I ask him if he wants to chase the light and he runs to the shade in the carport. I use the watch to reflect the light for a few passes before telling him "No more light".
He seems to know that I have the light, I make the light and I make the light quit.
Dave, it must be something with dogs named Tucker. Ours has OCD behaviors, and when he sees a light reflection of any kind on the walls or ceiling, he starts climbing all over the furniture trying to catch it. Our 80-lb boxer thinks he's as agile as a cat (he's not) and that it doesn't hurt when he climbs on you (it does).
So we have stopped with the laser thanks to the input here and research on-line. Thinking of getting a flirt pole for the chasing instinct. Anybody have experience with their boxer and flirt poles?
How old is your dog? If she's a puppy, I'd avoid flirt poles until she's mature - around 2 years old. You don't want to stress her joints with such vigorous chasing in circles. After she's mature, it probably wouldn't hurt her, as long as you didn't overdo it. The following video even warns about this. https://vimeo.com/26279876
I have not heard of a flirt pole. But I am trying to train my boxer not to chase things, walking down the road if she sees a squirrel or fox she would dart across the road without a thought, thankfully she is always on the lead on the road and I just end up with a sore arm.
If she sees something in the corner of her eye she has gone and I don't like it at all. Too dangerous, and not good for my nerves. I throw a ball for her to retrieve but I am even wondering if that is encouraging the "chasing anything that moves" urge.
I use one once in a while. My backyard has trees and a garden that interfere with the amount of space needed for me to be able to stand still and move it in a circular motion...so i end up running back and forth. My dog likes it and it is good for a few minutes of play after a morning walk to tire her out. I do not think it makes her want to chase things any more than normal but we do not use it regularly. The video above shows it can be a fun way to reinforce training commands too.
I never paid much attention to them myself?? But lot's of folks on the GSDForum, use them. Of course those may be the same folks that have a dog that won't settle down in the house ... no "off switch."
I don't know??
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