Green Laser Pointer addiction

   So, my dog has an addiction. German Shepherd Dogs are prone to neurosis; they can easily create habits that waltz deeply into the obsessive. As we raised Woden from a puppy, we read up on the issue, and tried to avoid obvious stresses.
   At around six months, Woden accidentally discovered my red laser pointer as I played with our cats. He loved it, and so he began getting his own time with the laser pointer - at this point he was too clumsy to play along with the cats. After a few weeks, we misplaced the laser pointer, and it just kept hiding from us. So, I went online, and tried to find a cheap replacement. As I looked, I found a place in China selling GREEN lasers for the same price as I had paid for the red - including getting shipped from China! So of course, I ordered it. As soon as I had powered it up, the dog was in love. Something about the greel laser was different than the red - maybe Woden could see green better or something. But he loved it.
   He really loved it. He began getting really obsessed by it. After five months, we had a real problem; any laser-pointer games with the green pointer ended with the dog sitting with poorly maintained composure, as he whined and swung his gaze from Beth & I to wherever we had stashed the green laser pointer. He would sit, clearly in torment, staring at the out-of-reach toy - for up to forty-five minutes!
   When he began staring for long periods at his toy, we decided that we couldnt keep letting him play with it. We had tried moderation, using it as a reward, to no effect. So, we retired the green laser pointer, tucking it away in a drawer out of doggy reach.
   Last week, I stumbled across it. Woden turned 2 on Dec. 8, so I decided that maybe we would try the laser pointer again, to see if he was different with it as an adult dog. So far, it seems to be working out alright. He cannot play with it very long, but it seems to be an effective reward, and we are tryng to use it to teach him to move as instructed - i.e. "Woden. turn left. Go forward - keep going - stop!"
   I hope that he can keep getting to play with it this time - he really seems to like it. But I dont want him to get all strung out like before. Anyways, thats the laser pointer story.