Why dog hates vacuum

Vacuuming can be a gruelling enough task without having to concurrently manage a nervous or upset dog. There are methods of desensitising your dog to the vacuum cleaner. Book Now. All Rights Reserved. Does your otherwise fearless pup turn into a scaredy cat the second they see a vacuum cleaner? Vacuum cleaners also look strange and alien.

Combine that with the anticipation of the ensuing turmoil, and we have created our own vacuum monster! In a normal household, you likely only bring out the vacuum once, maybe twice per week give or take. So, our dogs do not have the time to familiarize themselves with the device and become comfortable with it. Eventually the emotional reactions become a learned behavior; just the sight of the vacuum can trigger barking and hyperarousal.

This can lead to zuigerphobia — the fear of vacuum cleaners. Most of us can tell when our dogs are truly frightened, but there are some more subtle signs we may miss that can indicate our dogs are uncomfortable. By doing so, we can help train our dogs to be more comfortable with the vacuum.

There are several indicators that people often miss that may indicate that your dog is feeling uneasy, stressed, or worried. If your dog has been scared of an upright in the past, you could try starting fresh with a canister-style vacuum or a Roomba. Ideally, a vacuum that is less noisy will potentially be less scary. Roomba might be a nice option, as they are pretty quiet, compact and unobtrusive compared to many other vacuums on the market.

But once again, it is important to introduce your dog to the new device slowly. To Roomba train your dog, first allow her to become comfortable with it while it is stationary and quiet — perhaps even on the other side of the room to begin. Allow your dog to take her time and explore the Roomba slowly.

I would make sure that you are always there to supervise during its scheduled cleaning sessions, particularly if your dog is scared of the Roomba to begin with. Have them play a game or divert their attention to something more interesting so that they are not focused on the Roomba moving around the house. Dogs as well as humans and most other animals, actually make associations, process, and learn new information all the time. One bad experience could cause your dog to have a negative emotional response that lingers.

This could include things like getting too close to your dog while vacuuming or startling your sleeping pupper by turning on the vacuum suddenly. The first generally happens at about 8 to 10 weeks of age, and the second happens somewhere between 5 and 12 months. During this time, puppies become more sensitive and may react badly to things that they were comfortable with just last week!

This means it is important to take your time and start from scratch with easy and positive introductions. My old dog, Grandma Monday, began to lose her hearing at the age of Some dogs like the Chihuahua and Affenpinscher are very frightful pets when in close contact with strange objects and people. The average Dog tends to be fearful and nervous not just around Vacuums but also Human Beings whom they consider strangers.

Dogs being clever animals can tell the difference between a human and an object. Objects are not meant to move like vacuum cleaners do. A moving vacuum cleaner is a bizarre sight to behold for a dog and they are bound to react negatively to this strange creature. When faced with a strange intruder, some dogs choose flight while others choose to stand and defend their territory. Dogs being territorial in nature may have a heightened herding instinct when dealing with strangers including the vacuum device.

This canine phenomenon holds even truer for territorial dogs like Mastiffs and Sheppard Dogs when confronted with an intruder. Dogs have good ears for picking up sounds at different levels of frequency. What may appear as a mid-level sound to human ears may actually come out as a very discomforting one to a dog. The noise made by a vacuum tends to cause dogs distress when turned on.

When confronted with the noise, odor, and sight of a vacuum cleaner, Dogs react in different ways based on their basic natural temperament. There are telltale signs to watch out for in your dogs to identify behaviors of distress. Like animal experts will point out, drooling is a reactive action in dogs and not a behavior. Dogs drool for several reasons , one of which is in cases of distress and anxiety.

The sight and sound of a vacuum cleaner can be terrifying for a dog and even for a cat. If your dog starts salivating profusely anytime your vacuum comes on then you need to watch it and seek ways to calm its nerves during and after use. Animals with the instinctive inclination to take flight when faced with a potential risk run for protective cover. If your Dog keeps running under Tables and Chairs especially when the Vacuum is switched on, this serves as a strong signal to show that it is scared of it.

The tight spot gives them a sense of protection from harm. This is another reactive trait in dogs many are not aware of. Dogs pee not only to release waste but also when they are scared. Constantly urinating at the sight of Vacuum cleaners is another indication of a dog that is afraid of vacuums.