Crazy shadow biting

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biowicks

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My 5 month old Olive is positively crazy about shadows, hers or my foot or a tree moving in the wind. She is also crazy about lights; she chases the flashlight (which is OK I guess) but if the sun shines off my watch and makes light spots ANYWHERE (ceiling, floor, cabinets, cats) she has to bite it. It is bordering on OCD behavior. My angel Cookie also chased lights and shadows, but nothing like this. She's been doing it since about 9 or 10 weeks old. When I take her outside to potty, if the sun is out she can't think about anything but chasing her own shadow. She has lots of fun and gets lots of exercise, but I'm wondering if this is 'normal' weird sheltie behavior. Help!
 
Very common....I to have stopped with the lasers with Indy because it made him so insane. Though I wish I could use them again for Bacca, just to get him revved up.

Indy, I swear, as eyes out of the back of his head. He can sense movement outside even before it comes in front of the window. I think he hears the grass move or sees a shadow....I don't know what. All to say, that extra-stimulus is not something he needs.

For your situation, sometimes, you do need to use a flashlight, and yes the sun will shine in a odd way. I suggest doing some conditioning training. This basicly involves putting your dog in these situations, and using praise and rewards, getting them into a settled position. Verbal cues should be introduced so as you condition, they associate whatever word (e.g. Settle) with a sit/down position.

Of course, this is theory for me. I'm still trying with limited success. But maybe these tips will help you.
 
And here I thought that only Jack Russells and cats were prone to this behaviour. I'll have to tell Rose that her Jack has OCD - you should see her with water!
 
I thought I remember something about dogs that chase lasers were more prone to seizures. Am I crazy....or did someone else remember this from somewhere.
 
danisgoat said:
I thought I remember something about dogs that chase lasers were more prone to seizures. Am I crazy....or did someone else remember this from somewhere.
Click to expand...

Yes some evidense is out there that focal seizures play a role in OCD behaviors like fly biting and shadow chasing, excessive licking etc. I had one patient a Beagle who would be fine and then would go into a trance and start fly biting and then he would come out of it and be fine again. We put him on Pehnobarb and it went away. There is evidense in humans that OCD disorders can be associated with epilepsy but it is uncommon.

Dr. Nicholas Dodman has found a genetic link to OCD behaviors such as flank sucking in dobermans.
 
Leo does that. I tried to put it on cue and it made it worse. The only thing is to counter condition it and never let it happen.
 
Maggie had this as a puppy the fly biting, shadow and light chasing, was on pheno for short time and it went away but we always were careful if we had to use a flashlight around her.
 
Shelby does this too. She chases the reflection of pots ond pans on the ceiling. If we tell her "enough" she will stop but it takes all she has to not carry on. I never understood why but know I am thinking she must be OCD? I will have to ask the vet next time.
 
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