Dog's and shadows

[PonyFeet10]

I've just taken on a dog which was rescued only a few days ago, he's 18 months old and hasn't had a great 6 months previous. He has an obsession for shadows, shadows made from anything - the tv, you moving behind a light, a candle which is flickering, your shadow under your feet.. Basically any shadow that moves, be it on the floor, walls and even the ceiling. He looks at it / follows it like it's a game, even licks the floor or wall where the shadow is.. Does any body have any experience in dogs doing this? He's such a sweetie but will send himself insane by doing this. Previously he has been shut away in a room on his own with little human contact so my guess is he entertained himself by chasing shadows. Any experience, tips or advice would be much appreciated - I hope it's not now a long term mental sort of condition of his because of his mistreatment?

 

[dollyanna]

My friend has a deaf collie who is a serious shadow chaser. Often it starts as a way of self entertaining in dogs who are kennelled with little interaction. It can become a really severe problem - with hers she used to smash her head on the floor, cupboards, walls to the point of nearly knocking teeth out, couldn't walk on grass on a sunny day because she would fix on the shadow of every blade of grass, couldn't use torches when walking in the dark etc. It does take time, but if you can distract away as much as you possibly can, and when left at home on their own consider leaving in a covered crate or darkened room so there is nothing to obsess over when not supervised. Make sure the usual things are dealt with - good diet, lot of exercise both physical AND mental, access to toys etc so the chance of boredom related shadow chasing is reduced.
4 years on and it is more or less managed, but she is looking at doing some research into it as it is not always as easy as distracting until the get fed up of it. But basically you want to try and limit it as much as you possibly can whilst making sure there is no other reason for it. Hers was a very severe case though, many dogs can and do recover once enough input is put in, but there are no quick fixes and it takes patience. Negative tactics such as water sprays don't help, they just risk increasing the stress that may be contributing to it which might end up redirected elsewhere. Good luck!

 

[PonyFeet10]

Thank you very much! That gives me definite hope of helping him to over come this. I am hoping to take him to do some agility training which fingers crossed will help him immensely as he will be using energy mentally and physically. He is not deaf or partcially sighted - just 6 months of being shut away doing the damage. He has a lot of tlc coming his way which he didn't have and a good diet which he didn't have (he is currently bones under all of his hair) as well as time spent with him so he is never alone. He's a quick learner and very intelligent so hoping I can use this to my advantage. I've asked him to go to 'bed' and he has done so and settled without getting up and chasing the shadows. This is his first day and night with me so it's all new to him but I was pre warned about his shadow obsession so did expect it but not quite to the extent he was doing it (pacing for what would be forever if I didn't intervene and ask him to go to bed). He has had PLENTY of exercise today but I have to be careful not to over do it because of his current weight.. Thank you very much for your reply, definitely gives me hope for him - he's only still a pup!

 

[CorvusCorax]

Yep, as mentioned it's a form of self-entertainment/OCD.

Keep him occupied, keep everything calm, sometimes the world can be too 'Big' for dogs with these sorts of problems and they find comfort in confined, calm, dark places.

Just be careful you don't promote separation anxiety by teaching him that he is 'never alone' x

Distract him, use his focus and redirect it onto a special ball or toy and you could have a cracking dog.