How to stop my dog from obsessively chasing lights and reflections?

It's pretty widely accepted that dogs can develop obsessive-compulsive disorders associated with lights, but it's not so recognized in cats. However, I'd say that it sounds like your cat may have developed something like this. Some suggestions I've seen with dogs that have worked is to sort of interrupt the OC cycle by offering a food reward to sort of break the fascination with the lights. Be careful not to offer too many treats as this can lead to obesity, but you can certainly just use her regular food in this game. Also try to limit exposure to light sources, and certainly don't contribute to the obsession with laser pointers. Try to find other games she might be interested in, such as ball-chasing or perhaps those toys that have a ball that goes around a track around a circle that the cat can bat at.

I'm sorry to hear that Shanti is having these issues! Compulsive behavior disorders in dogs can often be successfully treated, but they generally require medication as well as a detailed behavior modification plan in order to make much headway - so I would strongly recommend getting in touch with a veterinary behaviorist who can evaluate Shanti in person and help you put together a plan to address these issues. You can search for one in your area here: www.dacvb.org

Yes, this is a thing. It is mainly provoked when the light moves or reflections change as this can stimulate a game of chase for them to catch i. There is no real way to prevent this other than try to discourage the behavior

I would try to find other toys to help peek his interest in playing in other ways like a kong, stuffed toys, tennis balls, etc. You can also start teaching him tricks to help him have a "job". You could also hire a trainer to help teach you how to teach him different things. I would also think about getting him on something for anxiety. You could try a calming collar like sentry or adaptil and a calming chew like composure or the prescription formula composure pro. If these don't help, I would talk to your vet about start him on a anti-anxiety medicine like fluoxetine or trazadone. I hope this helps and he stops doing this soon!

Dogs can develop obsessive compulsive behavior just like humans can and this may be the issue with Rex. Less common would be a neurological abnormality or pain in the leg. OCD is a complex behavior and there is not one simple treatment. I recommend to read books about behavior disorders in dogs as that will give you more insight. I also recommend to make an appointment with your veterinarian who will check Rex over for any pain or neurological disorders. To aid with the behavior, the doctor may prescribe medication but it is unlikely to help in its own. These dogs need daily hard exercise, a job to do and then diversion when they start to exhibit the behavior. A trainer may be the best person to contact after the vet to teach you diversion techniques. i hope you find this helpful and please feel free to post any additional questions.

You have described an obsessive compulsive disorder (aka: stereotypy). You are not likely to change this behavior but you could always consult with a professional dog trainer if you wan to attempt to redirect the behavior which may help to minimize it. ( https://www.sfspca.org/sites/default/files/dog_behavior_repetitive-behavior.pdf )

Zeke is a very handsome guy! I see that he looks like an Australian Shepherd or a Border Collie. It's very common for herding breeds to try and chase fast-moving objects like cars. To address this problem, you will need to start with Zeke on a leash at a distance from the road. You need to be far enough away that is able to notice the cars going by without reacting - this may mean you need a *lot* of distance at first, depending on how sensitive he is. Each time a car goes by, praise and reward him with a treat for staying calm. When he's doing well with this, you can gradually begin moving closer to the road, one step at a time. If he gets too excited and tries to chase, just move further away until he can be calm, and work your way closer again. Eventually, with practice, he should be able to stand calmly with you on the sidewalk even with cars driving by a few feet away. It's also important to keep Zeke on-leash or in a safely enclosed area at all times, to prevent him from practicing his car chasing behavior outside of training sessions. It can be challenging to do this on your own in some cases, so if you're still having trouble, I would recommend finding a good reward-based trainer who can work with you in person. You can search for a qualified trainer in your area here: www.ccpdt.org