Our old springer spaniel was absolute terrified of the vacuum cleaner. From the day we got him until the day he died, he just didn't trust it. Now we've got the pupster I wanted to start out on good terms with the evil noisy dog fur taker awayer. I put pup in one room and closed the door, so I started in another room where she could hear it, but not too loudly. After about 5 minutes I opened the door so she could come and seen if she wanted. She bounded straight up to it no problem. She finally went back into a different room completetely unfazed. Here's where I messed up.... As I entered her room she bounded back out to me and I ended up hitting her in the face with the sucky end. She then hid under the sofa and didn't emerge for 20 minutes after I'd putit away. I am absolutely kicking myself and really quite upset as she did so well until I messed up. Any tips on how we can approach it next time? Thanks
Re: Any vacuum related tips? My husband cured our Chihuahua ! So he started by feeding in the same room as the beast, moving the food closer and closer. Then he moved it around again starting with the food across the room and moving it closer. Then turned the vac on and again started with the food across the room. Now she is bomb proof with it, took about 3 weeks to cure the fear. Elsie just follows the lead of her little sister and takes the hoover in her stride.
Re: Any vacuum related tips? Maisie was really scared of the hoover to start with, so when I got the hoover out I put treats all over it and she would slowly approach it, get the treat and run away! After a few weeks of doing that she grew more confident. it's not her favourite thing to be around, but she tolerates it now.
Re: Any vacuum related tips? I like the treat putting on it idea. Although since she's so young she's not that bothered for treats yet, unless I have the only none greedy dog I could lure her with my slippers though! I'm just gonna bite the bullet and buy a new none furry pair and let her have them. I'm just so upset with myself. She's my friend again now though after a good play and snuggle
Re: Any vacuum related tips? What about trying the same way again ? ??? Just like before shut the door, start it up, wait a bit then open the door and wait to see what she does but don't push it towards her. If she is obviously bothered by it then you will need to work on it with lots of treats for being brave etc. you never know though she might not be as bothered the next time as you think. I'd leave it a few days though.
Re: Any vacuum related tips? Hi, I was always told not to walk towards a puppy with the vacuum on as they might perceive this as more threatening. So I always made sure that I walked backwards away from Molly with the vacuum on. I also got my husband to vacuum in the other room whilst I sat on the sofa and completely ignored the vacuum and watched tv so there was a bit of background noise. When Molly didn't react my husband slowly came closer whilst I continued to ignore it making sure at all times that Molly didn't react to the vacuum. Molly is now happy for us to vacuum the room around her. Good luck! Vikki and Molly
Re: Any vacuum related tips? Try just turning the vacuum on and leaving it, then let your pup into the room to explore it in her own time. Ignore her if she's acting fearful, bit if she's doing well then maybe try and play a game with her or something. Then put the vacuum away. I would build up the vacuuming with her in the same room very slowly, especially as she's already had a bit of a fright with it.
Re: Any vacuum related tips? Unfortunately I went about this all wrong and Harley learnt to bark at the hoover with hubby and daughter laughing at her Over the past 4 months I have trained 'quiet' when the hoover goes on. I have a pocket full of barker and barker liver treats and give her one when she isn't barking and say 'quiet'. If she goes to bark I say 'quiet' and if she doesn't bark she gets a treat. After several months (yes, months!!!!!) we have this perfected to the stage that I don't need anywhere near as many treats as we did when we started. She sometimes even goes wandering off and doesn't want any treats now
Re: Any vacuum related tips? Bouncer just thinks the Hoover is a great beast to be defeated at all costs.
Re: Any vacuum related tips? [quote author=Leanangle link=topic=8419.msg119284#msg119284 date=1414090808] Bouncer just thinks the Hoover is a great beast to be defeated at all costs. [/quote] I'm sorry but that did make me laugh! Thanks everyone. Think I'm gonna leave it a few days and see how she is next time. Just really don't want it being a battle again.
Re: Any vacuum related tips? My two were both petrified of it to start with, immediately jumping on my knee or behind me while hubby used it. I have always reassured them, and let them have a sniff when it's not switched in, particularly of the little brush attachment that sits on the back as they love brushes. I also never walk towards them with it. I can now vac the same room they are in without anyone else around, Barney tries to be it's friend, bum wiggling submissive walking round it, and Jack watches from afar, usually sat on the arm of the sofa as high as he can get. I fuss them both while I'm vac-ing, stroking Jack while pushing it away from him (multitasking or what!!) I think they're getting more confident with it as they get older. One if our old lab's hated it and wouldn't go near it until it was unplugged then she knew it couldn't make a noise ;D the other used to live being vac'd with the hose/brush attachment! We have bought an app for our iPad called 'sounds for hounds' which has different noisesin that dogs might be scared of, including vacuums, fireworks etc that you play in the house so they get used to them and don't get scared, so you could try something like that to get her used to the noise then maybe she would accept the noise and the vacuum. Lou x
Re: Any vacuum related tips? [quote author=Penny+Me link=topic=8419.msg119255#msg119255 date=1414082037] Try just turning the vacuum on and leaving it, then let your pup into the room to explore it in her own time. Ignore her if she's acting fearful, bit if she's doing well then maybe try and play a game with her or something. Then put the vacuum away. I would build up the vacuuming with her in the same room very slowly, especially as she's already had a bit of a fright with it. [/quote] Might try this with OH...sure he has a deep seated fear of the vacuum cleaner.... 8)
