ok.. one more question about my siberian husky...??

Question

sorry but there were more problems with her. she is very startled by sudden movements and deathly afraid of the vacuum she wont even go ten feet near it and when my sister vaccums, my dog RUNS AWAY and slips on our wood floors while doing so.. how can i have her get over this fear?

Answer 1

I suggest taking her to various training classes. Siberian huskys are great dogs but they need to be taught at an early age.

Answer 2

You could slowly introduce her to things that scare her, making her comfortable over time.

You can start by keeping the vacuum in the living room or wherever she spends time relaxing. When she is calm and quiet, not jumpy or excited, stand near, but not next to the vacuum, and call her over. As she passes the vacuum praise her and give her a treat. Continue this type of process over days, slowly getting her closer and closer to the vacuum until she can lay right beside it without concern, or touch it with her nose for a treat (if you've taught the touch command).

After that you can slowly introduce her to the vacuum running. At first, when she is calm, and possibly distracted, turn the vacuum on and off quickly, praise her and give her a treat. Repeat this process leaving the vacuum running for longer and longer periods. This will take time if she's skiddish. Until then try and keep her out of the room while you are vacuuming to avoid and regression in her progress. Also, you can try this with the vacuum out of sight and just work on her getting used the sound before going to the final step of running it in front of her.

Good luck!

Answer 3

Hey Amanda, I just read your other question. First and foremost, never hit. She has no idea WHY you are smacking her nose, so please don't do it. Besides, it's obviously not working, so why continue doing something that doesn't work?
Also, crating is NOT cruel. If you place her in a crate and leave her there, that can be cruel. If you use a crate while you are away at work, that is totally acceptable. Dogs are den animals by nature and huskies love the small confined spaces, too. Please read up on crate training, you will find it a very beneficial tool for you.
I believe your husky is very, very bored. You need to stimulate her mind with games. Those games must mean burning energy. huskies are full of energy. Mine is going on 10 years old April 1 and she still has puppy energy!! Huskies are mischievous and smart. When they are bored, they can become destructive. Mine mostly becomes destructive when she can't get into my sons bedroom during a thunderstorm. Thankfully someone is almost always home to give her her Valium, but when were not, watch out! So, find games that you can play with her that uses a lot of energy! Also, Kong toys are great, you can hide treats in them and she will have to work to get the treats out.
With the startling, I would enroll her in a good obedience class to build her confidence. After that, I would enroll her in agility class, fun for both of you. And beneficial to both of you! When the vacuum is going to be run, instead of putting her through the stress she must be feeling when it is running, take her outside for that time or in a different room. Since it sounds like your sister is the one vacuuming, why don't you take her for a walk around the block or play fetch or something with her outside? You don't really want to stress her out and cause anxiety. After building her confidence with obedience training, working on the startling things and the vacuum can come later. For now, it's wise to just eliminate her from the area when vacuuming is going to be done.
Siberian Huskies are great dogs. They are one of those breeds that people need to research about before getting one, as they aren't for everyone (like JRT!). As a working dog, they want to run and pull and they have a lot of energy. Natural diggers and escape artists, too. Never, ever to be trusted off a leash! With the training and a lot of energy release playing, you will find your dog to be way more pleasurable! Also, don't forget to buy a crate! Your dog will love it, trust me.
http://www.k9web.com/dog-faqs/new-dog.html#crate_training
http://www.tenderfoottraining.com/crate.htm
http://www.sibrescue.com/husky-training.asp
http://www.homestead.com/diamondtsiberians/dogtrainingtips.html
^^^^ the above link also has a link to click on regarding facts and info about the dogs
http://www.adoptahusky.com/education/AAHI-education.html
I hope this helps you. Good luck.

`*`*`

Answer 4

Chances are the dog will never get over her fear of the vacuum cleaner. If she is that petrified, bringing a running vacuum near her will only make it worse. She may also do something completely unexpected due to fear, including biting.

I'd say it's best to just put her in another room while you vacuum and you'll both be happy.

Answer 5

Total opposite of my little guy...he loves the vaccum, chasing it while I'm cleaning! Some more socialization would be great for her...take her to the park, walk her near loud noises....also when she gets afraid of things pet her under her chin...gives dogs confidence. Puppy training would be great as well! As for the vaccum...take her over to the vaccum when it's off and pet her under her chin, give her a treat or too and praise her...all the time making sure she is aware the vaccum is there. Play with the vaccum a bit (in off)...slowly she will get accustom to it...and as she gets more confident in loud noises it won't bother her one bit! It's much easier cleaning without the dog chasing the vaccum though, trust me! hahaha

Answer 6

Leave the vacuum out, without turning it on and have it in various areas of the house. Maybe bring it into the bed room with you one night (if your dog sleeps in the same room.) When she gets used to it just being around, try turning it on for short periods of time, at a distance from her. Every time you turn it on, give her a treat so she'll associate it with a positive experience. Just do not give her a treat when she's showing anxiety because that would reward the anxiety. Try rewarding her for tolerating it when it's not on, first.

Answer 7

from personal experiance from owning several huskies and wolves, these animals are extremely timid and do not like sudden movements and noises.over time and being around things like vaccums your pet may accept it or she may not. its up to the pet. I once had a wolf and siberion husky mix that would try and play with the lawnmower but yet would go nowhere near anyone or anything else but me or my children. they are a different creature and patience is the only hope.

Answer 8

Get her used to it gradually. Feed her near it while it is off. She sounds like she might be nervous. Calm her by holding gently to her while the vacuum is running and pet her. Give her a treat when she stays put and shows improvement. Check the web for The Dog Whisperer. I'm sure he'd have more advice.
http://dogpsychologycenter.com/dogwhisperer/

Answer 9

With the vacuum, put it out in the middle of her most visited room or where she spends most of her time, don't draw attention to it, don't turn it on or anything, just leave it there and she should eventually get used to it. And with her being very skiddish, this could partly be your fault. When you are walking her or anything you need to be dominate and be very calm, don't tense up or get scared or something when something that usually scares her passes by. Don't give her any attention when she is acting in this scared behavior, it will only feed it and keep it up and it will escalate.

Answer 10

we all have gone thro this when your sister is vacuuming the floor hold the dog next to your heart and tell her it is ok and talk to her thro it let her know what is going on and that the vacuum is not going to hurt her this works with any noise while the vacuum is off and sitting on the floor sit by the vacuum and call her over and let her check it out and after acouple of times she checks it out move it alittle so she knows it won't hurt her