Are Laser Pointers Safe for Your Puppy Dog?

Are laser pointers safe to use with dogs for training or play? Some dogs have developed serious "obsessive-compulsive" type behaviors (known as a "stereotypie") when allowed to chase the dot from a laser pointer, yet others do not develop these behaviors. So how do we know if our dog is at risk of developing a stereotypie when exposed to a laser pointer, and is the light dangerous to our dog's eyes?

Some breeds seem to have a greater tendency to develop abnormal behavior when exposed to a laser pointer, but these breeds are also popular as Service Dogs and many have been trained to 'target' a laser dot in their work without developing abnormal behaviors. So, while some people say that certain breeds should not be allowed to play with laser dots, that does not mean that your particular dog of this breed will develop a stereotypie. Conversely, it does not mean that just because you don't have a dog of one of these breeds your dog is safe, either.

Some signs that a stereotypie may be developing are:

- pawing or scratching at the area/s where the dot was last seen for more than 1 minute after the dot has gone

- patrolling the area/s where the dot was last seen more than 1 minute earlier

- repeatedly returning to the area/s where the dot has been seen for no apparent reason other than to chase the dot again

- developing strong chasing behaviors for other light or shadow sources

If your dog displays any of the above signs then it is time to stop using the laser pointer as your dog is at risk of developing a serious behavioral problem. You should consult an experienced animal behaviorist if using a laser pointer is important to any of your training goals.

It is strongly recomMended that you do not use the laser pointer to play games with your dog. Nearly every dog will enjoy chasing the laser dot, but it is not worth the risk. There are safer games to play, and dogs who enjoy chasing laser dots will probably be just as happy to chase a ball or play tug.

If you are training your dog to 'target' a laser dot, then approach training with the aim of minimising chasing behavior. Introduce moveMent slowly, and be mindful that you are teaching your dog to 'target' using some specific behavior that you have defined and trained. I suspect the risk of a stereotypie developing is minimised when training is approached in this manner.

TreatMent for obsessive light or shadow chasing should be performed under the guidance of a veterinary behaviorist. Medications are available which may be effective. Do not under any circumstances attempt to punish obsessive light or shadow chasing.

Is the light from a laser pointer safe for a dog's eyes? Generally, the light emitted from a laser pointer is very weak and will probably only cause temporary dazzling if pointed directly into a dog's eye by accident. Prolonged or repeated exposure could be harmful and should be avoided.

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Green Laser Pointer - Modifying Your Green Laser For More Power

A green laser pointer produces a far brighter visible beam than any other color of laser. This is not necessarily because the lasers are modded to such high powers, but instead because green is the brightest color in the visible light spectrum to the human eye.

This is why the lower power 5mw green laser beam is clearly visible under the cover of night or a little bit of smoke. Still it seems this is not enough for most laser enthusiasts out there, they feel a need to modify their laser pointer to increase the strength of the beam, with little regard to the obvious safety hazards.

A green pointer with a simple on/off push button switch is not legally allowed to be sold above an output of 5mW in the united states and many other countries. This makes getting your hands on high power green lasers a little bit more tricky. If you know where to look, you can easily pick up high quality hand held and industrial laser goods right from the web through reliable retailers with no hesitation. But, if this is out of your budget and you're looking to buy green laser pointers cheap you may consider modding your pointer.

The 532nm green laser crystal can be a bit less complicated to work with than that of a red laser pointer, which is yet another reason why green lazer pointers are so popular for laser modification. A simple sottering kit will be needed to complete this task, oh and of course your laser. Now, if you have a high power green laser, there is no sense in toying with it because there is always the possibility for complete failure or permanent damage to your laser pen.

So, unscrew your lasers end-cap and carefully remove the batteries or power source. You may be able to see the green diode and even remove it if you have a real cheap laser, but most likely this won't be the case. A lot of laser manufacturers have made getting at the diode rather difficult, not so we can't mod them, but so the laser stays in its solid state and remains durable. These are high precision crystal diodes and one variation can lead to a dispersed beam.

If the diode is removable you are in luck, if not, I'd let the professionals handle your lasers. Spend the money, you will not be disappointed. But for all of you cheapskates that want the cheapest green laser pointer possible, and I feel where you are coming from, we need to remove the diode and locate the green laser crystal. You will notice it is round, maybe the size of the flat end of a pin, and looks like a CD or DVD laser eye. You will need to heat up your sottering kit and put on some safety goggles.

Now we very carefully heat the diode until the crystal has been visibly changed, its great to have a few diodes laying around to get the hang of which way the green crystal needs to be heated for proper beam propulsion, but make do with what you can. After you have heated and molded the crystal, from a round shape to an oval shape preferably, replace the diode into the laser casing. Return the pointers batteries and end-cap, then turn your green pointer on. Has the beams output power been increased? You will be able to tell immediately if you have drastically increased the output of your green laser, but if the change is slight or you have ruined your laser we may be out of luck.

I'm suggesting if you want a perfectly collimated long lasting green laser pointer, you purchase the higher output powers. These high tech gadgets come with warranties and there is no risk in losing your pointer enTirely. But for everyone on a budget who really needs a 50mW green pointer or higher, you can always try (I want to stress the word TRY) to mod your green beam at home. Either way, be careful with all lasers.

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