How do I train the dog to fetch laser pointer marked items

[lexNVY]

A crack head is to crack as my dog (Venus, black lab mix) is to a ball, she can never get enough of fetch even when she is exhausted and can barely stand she will try to get it, a lot of times she looses sight of the ball and can"t find it so i thought of using a laser pointer, exited i point it near her and she had 0 reaction to it, so

How can i get my dog to go to the laser dot. or even better retrieve things that I'm pointing at with the laser.

[Saeleofu]

1. Teach the dog to retrieve on cue.
2. Teach the dog that the laser is what indicates the object to retrieve.

You really have to have a solid retrieve first. I don't know how well it would work with just casual fetch, unless she's also crazy about the laser, in which case you could just have her chase the laser until it gets to the ball.

[JessLough]

Why are you trying to make your dog play fetch after she's had enough and is tired?

[Romy]

Originally Posted by JessLough

Why are you trying to make your dog play fetch after she's had enough and is tired?

I didn't read it as they were trying to train her to keep fetching when exhausted. Just that's how much she loves fetch (Charlie was the same way). And that sometimes she loses the ball while they're playing, and they want to know how to train her to target the laser so they can point the ball out to her.

[Doberluv]

I'm not a fan of laser pointers....some dogs seem to develop OCD if they're used a lot. I would try to get the dog better at finding the ball by using his very keen sense of smell...something more developed in dogs than their sight and typically more useful to dogs. You might try rubbing some enticing and strong aroma on the ball....perhaps from some smoked meat or other smelly, tasty thing.

Start throwing the ball a shorter distance, then perhaps behind something where he can't see it but where it's very near by. Then a further distance, but not hidden so well. Then increase the degree of difficulty little by little. When he gets more proficient at using his nose, you can rub less and less scent on the ball.

So, in other words, start out making it easier for him to find the ball and gradually increase the challenge. Give him a big reward when he finds it and brings it to you. If throwing the ball again is more reinforcing to him than a piece of steak or cheese, then throw the ball again. But throw it immediately.

[Saeleofu]

I'm not a fan of laser pointers....some dogs seem to develop OCD if they're used a lot.

Laser-directed retrieves, done properly, should NOT cause any sort of problem. It's a very common tool in service dogs.

I do let Gavroche chase the laser on occasion, and he loves it, but he's not a nut about it - I don't let him go at it for hours on end, but I do let him do 2 or 3 minutes every couple of weeks. Logan ignores it completely.

[milos_mommy]

Originally Posted by Saeleofu

Laser-directed retrieves, done properly, should NOT cause any sort of problem. It's a very common tool in service dogs.

This dog does NOT sound like a good candidate for this. Service dogs are stable temperament dogs with self-control and a controllable drive....it sounds like this dog has OCD issues if she is so ball obsessed she'll continue playing even when she's exhausted.

Laser pointers can cause severe mental health problems in dogs, including OCD, anxiety, panic attacks, and psychosis. This isn't a problem for dogs who are calm and don't have anxious or obsessive tendencies, but a dog who does have these tendencies can be set off by laser pointers or being encouraged to chase light.

I would instead try a glow in the dark or light up ball that doesn't cast much of a reflection, or try scenting the ball with a dab of essential oil or something so she can sniff it out.