when we played with tcat using it, I expresssed that exact concern.
Watching him psychotically chase it seemed a bit cruel to me and I said to hubby that it wouldn’t take much to make a cat OCD or insane with one of them.
Apparently he took that to heart because I can’t find it, now.
We checked the pup’s response to subtle viusal stimuli with it a couple times and it outlived its usefulness, I suppose.
We have substituted a treat ball. When it gets *lost* for a while or he gets tired of it, he just goes on to something else. With the laser, he was checking all over for it and ignoring everything else for way longer than is normal.
One of the articles I read, I think Cesar Millan,suggested the light always begin and end at your toes. That way, the dog has a bit of structure and closure with it. OTOH, then he is fixated on pawing your shoes.
The whole thing may just be overblown. K9 and service dogs are trained to retrieve and advance using laser light and they are not obsessive-compulsive. My dog has a high prey drive, so that may be a factor.
Subtle hand clues: our pup becomes alert, focused and interested the moment hands go into pockets because pockets contain treats.