All right, get creative here. My girlfriend currently has a dog that needs some preoccupation as she's going to be out of her apartment from time to time. We've concluded that she LOVES laser pointers (she just got one and the dog has a blast). But a laser pointer needs human operation. And batteries. But it'd be a pain to have something on all the time so it'd be nice to have it run on some sort of timer. And gyrate or move or something to get the dog active.

Here's my random, cheap concept so far:

I would need to mod a laser pointer to run off of a DC power brick or something, so we wouldn't have to buy batteries. For gyration/randomization, and bear with me on this, attach the laser pointer to the tail of one of those random rolling raccoon tail balls you find at Cracker Barrel (if you've been there you know what I mean) inside of a box with the tail coming through a small hole or something. I'd have to mod that ball too so it wouldn't eat up batteries. The only thing I haven't thought of is how to make it turn on for like 15 minutes then turn off every few hours or so.

Has anyone else on the forums created something to keep their pets occupied? If so, I'd love to hear about it. And if you have any input or ideas for my laser raccoon ball box that'd be great to hear too! Thanks.

Here's an easy idea.

Use those automatic fake cameras like they have at flea malls. Ebay Link

Strap a laser pointer to it, pointing at the ground. Then wire the laser pointer switch to the wire that activates the camera so the pointer turns on with the camera motor.

Then when the dog walks by the camera pans the laser pointer back and forth.

We used to just clip it to their collar pointed at the ground.
It was good for an hour or so of "Get the dot!!! Get the Dot!!!"

If you really want to make it move with very little effort you could use a standard power source, an ir switch and a fan. Just dangle the device facing down with a Sail on it like a paper fan or a few cd's so it will turn in the wind, hook the IR switch to the same circuit as the fan and PS. Dog comes in, activates the IR switch, fan goes on, dog plays til she's bored. Leaves. Switch goes off.

They are also called Occupancy switches.

I know... Start with a micRo...

There are a few things that you have to take note of. Actual RANDOM motion isn't going to help, and is likely to have the dog trash stuff that you'd rather not be trashed. "Oh look, the red dot just went over to the ornament shelf..." Also, the dog isn't going to chase it if it goes too fast, or is too unpredictable. It can go fast in a stright line,

Something that's programmable would be much better, where you can give it a specific track, with pauses. Much better.

A cam system can be made which you can use to move the light in 2 dimensions, and only needs a timer. An electric motor to drive the cams, and a switch for the DC source to the laser pointer. The timer can be random, but I'd probably control it from a PC, possibly with webcam software. Play with the dog from whereever you are.