Whenever I simply take the vacuum out of the closet, my two-year-old goldern retriever goes crazy and runs into another room or some other place to hide. He's been afraid of the vacuum ever since we got him at 8-weeks-old. My little guy is nearing his 3rd birthday, and he still hasn't out-grown this fear. How can I get my dog to calm down?
2007-02-13 02:14:57 · 12 answers · asked by Gettysburg Ghost 3 in Pets ➔ Dogs
Leave it sitting out flat on the ground in a room he normally goes in, and put a treat on top. Make sure it's unplugged. He'll eventually go over and sniff it. Do the treat thing once in a while but leave the cleaner out all the time. Once he no longer hesitates around it, place it in a path he normally walks, like a doorway. Leave space to go around so as not to traumatize him, but this way he will learn that walking by it will not hurt him. Use treats still sporadically so that he thinks of it as a treat dispenser not a scary thing. After a while turn it on when you are in the opposite side of the house as him, leave it on for a minute then turn it off and bring it back to his room. Progress by having it on longer at a stretch, and slowly go toward him with it on. This should be by feet, not leaps and bounds or he will still be scared. Eventually vaccum near him and offer him a treat, but make him come close to you to get it. Lots of praise and treats all along and he will overcome his fear. Good luck!
2007-02-13 02:34:58 · answer #1 · answered by lildi_32 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Its a condition he has develop and it is up to you to change this condition. The first thing you want to do is exercise your dog for a good 1/2 hour. What you are trying to achieve is a calm state of mind for your dog. Now return home and have the vacuum out in the middle of the floor plugged in. Leave his lead on. Entice your dog with some treats to get him to come to you (standing by the vacuum) You must be willing to wait him out if you become flustered this re-conditioning will never work. Now make sure HE IS CALM, don't make a sudden move for the on/off switch. (This works best w/ wet dog food). While you are re-assuring him that all is okay flick the on/off switch. If he runs start over, if he stays give him some more food. Do this step till you can prolong the on/switch longer and longer. Continue re-conditioning your dog however long it takes, if you really want to beat this condition you will; but only if you are calm, patient, and have the endurance.
2007-02-13 02:59:37 · answer #2 · answered by Beano 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
We had the same problem with my Airedale. We made a game-I would take out the vacuum and put biscuits all around the room-he had to get to the biscuits before the nasty vacuum got the biscuits. I put a biscuit on the unplugged vacuum and let him sniff-then when it came time time to vacuum I would say," Are you gonna let the nasty old vacuum get your goodies?" He collected his biscuits and was satisfied that the vacuum didn't get any. After a while(about 4 times) I would just give my silly beast a biscuit whenever I had to vacuum. No problem.
Good luck.
2007-02-13 03:00:31 · answer #3 · answered by bomullock 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Work with him slowly in regards to being afraid of the vacuum. Make him sit and then put the vacuum in his sight....then work with the down and do the same thing but keep inching the vacuum ever so closer to him. It may take several weeks to accomplish but you can break him of this. My American bulldog has to be crated when we vacuum because he attacks the thing and has torn up 2 of them. Good luck!
2007-02-13 02:24:26 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
put him in another room during the time, or ask someone to walk your dog during that time. you really cant make them stop fearing vacuums. with my dog, we just let him out side so he wont run around the house, away from the vacuum.
2007-02-13 02:21:25 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
This could be because of trauma which was experienced at an early stage of the dog's life. For instance, my puppy was clawing at the clothes horse and it fell on top of him, and for months he wouldn't go anywhere near it, he'd run and hide behind the dining room table. This may not work in your case but we slowly coaxed him towards the clothes horse with treats until he saw that there was nothing to be afraid of. He's still cautious but now he's fine whenever it's around :)
2007-02-13 02:21:02 · answer #6 · answered by selryamrymm 1 · 0⤊ 2⤋
At least he runs and hides from it - My 3 1/2 year old Aussie launches a full-on attack on it and I can't vacuum unless I put him in his crate!
2007-02-13 02:23:45 · answer #7 · answered by Yo LO! 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
First teach him to 'down'. Then put him 'down' in another room and run the vaccum, insisiting that he remain in his down position. it is easiest to do this with two people. once he is able to remain down,move the vacuum closer to him, keeping the challenge within a level that he will be successful.
Don't overly praise him -it should be no big deal to you, just what you expect. if you are calm, he will be too.
2007-02-13 02:20:53 · answer #8 · answered by hoodoowoman 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
My gf's little chihuahua used to be terrified of the vacuum. He'd go running to me while my girlfriend vacuumed (which he never does, because I mess with him). Now all he does is run around the vacuum and bark at it. My westie isn't afraid of it at all. She pays no attention to the vacuum.
Dogs are retarded.
2007-02-13 02:24:44 · answer #9 · answered by jasohn1 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
I think all dogs and babies are afraid of vacuums
2007-02-13 02:23:44 · answer #10 · answered by elizabeth_davis28 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋