Does anyone know anything about dogs who imagine they are catching fly's and keep jumping at imaginary objects believing they are fly's. If so I would appreciate some feedback on the subject, I have two dogs doing this and its driving me mad.I have been told its quite common in dogs but I have never heard off it before.

Hi
I've known of dogs trying to catch real flys and wasps but never imaginary things :D
tRACEY

Are you sure they are not chasing shadows?
Dogs have very different vision from us and could be seeing moving shadows where we do not.
I know the terrier breeds are renowned to chase various object fantically, including shadows and reflections.

No there are no shadows, they are just staring at nothing and pouncing every so often as if they are catching something, its quite upsetting to watch and can go on for hours at a time but I cant seem to distract them unless I keep them indoors all the time which is not fair on them.

My dog loves chasing torch beams or the reflections when the sun hits your watch and shines on the wall - my other dog (who does chase real flies) can't seem to see them and just jumps on him in bewilderment! Not imaginary, but certainly odd and very very funny (well at least until the kids get in the way!:))

Sandie dogs have far better eyesight to us
Small little midges and insects that bite us and cant be seen are seen by dogs
So let them out let them jump when they are fed up they will stop
Dont worry , let them alone and they will in time find something else to do
Remember no matter how much it seems to us there is nothing there , we cannot see what they see,
Enjoy their antics
Mari

I once read - can't remember where though - that dogs get floaters in their eyes like we do and that sometimes this is what they are seeing. If you haven't experienced floaters - they are harmless and everyone has them. The are in the liquid that fills your eye and are usually almost transparent. I know I see them sometimes. Perhaps different light makes them more or less visible.

What dogs don't have is the sense to know it's in their eye and therefore un-catchable:D - enjoy the fun:D

Pam n the boys

I had an old Cavalier who used to do this and the vet said it was common in older dogs perhaps as Terry Wogan says 'Senior Moments', Haylea was almost 13 when she died after a huge heart attack. I now have her granddaughter who at almost 13 has began to chase and catch flies which aren't there - strange. I have never known young dogs do this so perhaps it is an age thing!!!

Alice

Cant be an age thing with my dogs because they are only 8 months old.

This imaginary fly thing is quite normal to me!

My mum has a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and he is obsessed with flies, wasps, bees..anything that flies and makes a buzzing sound! He has been stung several times on the nose, and since then he imagines flies, especially when he thinks he can hear buzzing. He is so silly though, even though he has been stung, he still insists on sticking his nose into plants that are covered in bees!

My Lab also has a fly obsession. Ever since we had a wasp nest in the garden he is paranoid about flies/wasps/bees.

Also, you know when you look at a bright light and look away and you can see a dot that goes everywhere you look, well I have heard that dogs get that too, and can also sometimes have it permanently, so that sometimes explains the imaginary fly thing!!!

There is something in the Cavaliers called Fly Catching Syndrome I had a friend whose dog had it and it seemed to get worse and then ease off a bit. I don't think there is anything you can do. Go to the breeders section and see if any of them can enlighten you.