2006-06-13 13:43:36 · 21 answers · asked by Crys 1 in Pets ➔ Dogs
When you vacuum, put the puppy on the other side of the room. Talk to him but don't try to force the relationship and don't vacuum in his direction. After a few times, he'll wander over and explore it. My cat used to ride on the canister.
2006-06-13 13:57:22 · answer #1 · answered by stward101 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Can you keep your puppy in a separate room while vacuuming? I have a small dog that is also afraid of the vacuum cleaner and last summer he injured his back when turning to run from it by slipping on the floor. Trust me, after a good size vet bill (exam, xrays, medication) and having to keep him still for three weeks, I've resolved to just keep him in a room by himself when I have to vacuum. My vet suggested to me that I could try vacuuming and handing the dog a treat as I'm going along, but she has large dogs and maybe it's easier with them. I'm sure that my dog would just panic again and take off running and I don't want to chance any further injuries.
2006-06-13 14:27:49 · answer #2 · answered by Chi_Mom 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sit the puppy next to the vacuum, (turned Off), this way he can smell it, and see it won't eat him. When your vacuuming put the puppy in another room, until your done. Let the puppy sit with vac at least 2 to 3 times a day.
2006-06-13 13:52:14 · answer #3 · answered by spiritwalker 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are two parts to the solution of this problem.
First is to make sure you aren't encouraging and rewarding her fear by being extra nice and kind to her when she's showing fear symptoms. Make sure you don't cuddle her, speak sympathetically, give her lots of attention etc. when she communicates fear. Ignore her fear completely and she will learn that being afraid gets her no goodies from you.
The second part is to desensitize her. Leave the vacuum on for extended periods several times a day somewhere near her - perhaps in the corner of the loungeroom if she's an inside dog, or something like that. The longer it is left running, the quicker she will learn this - that the vacuum is on, but she is not getting hurt, chased, or otherwise endangered by it.
Another little extra you can do is to leave it off, but hide little bits of food on and around it while it's turned off. Don't do this while it's running, or she may interpret it as a reward for her fear behaviour.
So leave it on a lot, and ignore her fear. You really can trust your dog to learn things for itself if you give it the correct opportunity it needs to learn. Set up your situation correctly, and a dog will figure things out for itself.
2006-06-13 21:23:45 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Try to get her used to it in small, non-scary steps. Start by asking her to come near it while it is off. Do NOT coddle her - meaning cooing at her when she is afraid - because this will be a reward for fear. Instead, give her treats and praise for bravery (when she takes a step towards the scary monster or sniffs it). When she's fine with it when it's off, turn it on. Shut the door to the room and let the puppy go to the far corner. You yourself should stand near the cleaner and lure her towards it using treats. Again, reward her for coming closer. Take your time with this; you want her to feel calm during each step. Eventually, you will be able to lure her within ten or fifteen feet of the "monster" - but don't ask her to go any closer since her ears are very senseitive to the loud noise.
Hope this helps!
2006-06-13 13:54:04 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
hold him at first when you vacuum so he feels comforted if the noise bothers hims then after a couple of times set him in a crate and go near the crate but don't hit it this will cause him more anxiety, and then when he is ready put him on the floor in a room that you can close off, have him on the othe side. and talk to him to console him then the next time do the same thing and go closer to him until he is no longer afraid.
2006-06-13 13:56:28 · answer #6 · answered by Tinkerbelll204 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
While the vacuum is running, play with your puppy to distract him from the noise and praise him (i.e. good dog etc...) do this every time you run the vacuum and after a while he will stop being afraid and associate positive things when you vacuum.
2006-06-13 13:52:41 · answer #7 · answered by mowudwn 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My best friend put a toy and a treat on top of the vacuum. When the dog got more comfortable, she turned the vacuum on and he is not afraid of it anymore.
2006-06-13 13:58:22 · answer #8 · answered by tennislover25 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My mom used to vacuum while holding my cat when he was little so that he'd get used to it...but he still runs away :) It might work with a puppy, my cat's not that smart.
2006-06-13 13:48:50 · answer #9 · answered by eeyorefan607 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you should leave it out where the puppy can always see it and then without turning it on move it around the house like you are vvacuming and then when he is used to that start to turn it on for a little bit at a time
2006-06-13 13:48:38 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋