hello, i'm hoping you can please help me as I'm at my wits end..again.... my spaniel of 12 months was playing with my girls about four days ago, they were shining a torch at the wall, and my dog was chasing the light,etc. well, ever since that he's become truly disturbed. he will hardly eat, won't even touch his favourite chews, and spends ALL day and evening chasing shadows,etc on the wall, on the doors, on the tv anywhere. he sits staring at the ceiling looking for shadows or movement. at first it was funny, and I ignored it as i didn't want to reinforce his behaviour, but he's actually getting worse. he looks demented. he still sleeps on and off, but he cannot relax at all. he follows my shadow all day, and i keep tripping over him. please please any advice would be so good. i'm really scared i've lost him...

have you tryed a toy or something that will keep him distracted and in time he just forget
perhaps taking him for walks or somewhere new to sleep i hope he get,s better for you

I have a spaniel that does this and I find it so difficult at times, he is always looking for shadows and chases them, he even creates shadows so he can play. The only advice I can give is try and distract him, this is what we do. It works sometimes.

I am no expert , but could your dog have translated excited  noises and screaming /loud voices from the girls as fear? If so he  might be trying to catch the shadows in order to protect you all and himself from them reappearing.  I've been told by trainer that often what we think is an innocent  game, can for some ( not all dogs) be interpreted differently.  Is it possible he is looking for shadows , as he fears they are  upsetting the household ? It could be this stress is causing and change in his behaviour and putting him off his food.    Just a thought....      

Hi, My 3 year old cockerer spaniel has always chased (with some anxiety) shadows and reflections of light.  I noticed this one evening when my husband turned on his torch to check the batteries and Jasper went crazy trying to pin this 'thing' down, even running right into walls! It does seem to leave him somewhat disturbed for a short time after as he searches the walls and ceilings.
I try to calm him down, letting him know there is nothing to fear and he soon settles, until next time.

My labrador has never shown any anxiety, disturbance or even any interest in the light phenomenon!