Why does my dog run and bark at vacuum cleaner?

She is a feist, well trained (sit stay paw etc) gets lots of exercise walks well on leash, but don’t need it. She is 8 yrs old and i’ve tried working with her on this issue but just don’t get anywhere. I usually end up putting her in another room so i can clean. I tried setting it out all the time but she just barks at it off and on thu out the day.
Any tips would be helpful ……. THANKS

11 COMMENTS

  1. just deal with it as best as you can. my great dane gets so scared of the vaccume he’ll hide under the table. so i just seperate the two. i put him outside or in another room when i vaccume. and it works fine. lots of dogs have a problem with the vacume. the best option would be to keep separating the two. it’s not a big inconvenience after all. and it’s easier on her ( which is good since she’s a senior) i would continue to do what you’ve been doing. But if you want the problem broken i would talk to the leader of an obedience class for answers…..hope you sove your problem!!

  2. My dog does that too! I believe he feels challanged by it (the noise) and maybe it hurts his ears. I put my dog outside on the runner while I clean. If it is that upsetting to him- he shouldn’t be put through the exhaustion of losing to a vacuum! LOL.

  3. there is no problem with ur dog its usual i have about 3 dogs and they all have this problem. i ask the vet and he said that he thinks that vaccum cleaner is something that wants to bother him and its very usual in his mind!

  4. dont worrying my small yorkie does that too . she will run at it and tried to use her teeth to grab the front of the vacuum cause she think its a real thing or its going to harm someone.or even her . she doest like hearning aloud noises in the house . so i thnk it normal for dogs .

  5. Your dog is probably scared of the loud nosies because of it’s sensitive hearing. Try getting the vac-cums that have no nosies and see how your dog’s behavior has changed.

  6. the dont like the sound and they remember what it came from so now all i could say is that your dog hates your vaccum

  7. When you notice her looking at it, tap her on the side or the back to break her attention and tell her to GO. Doesn’t matter where, just anywhere away from the vacuum. She is fixating on the vacuum and attacking it. You need to break her of it before she fixates on the vacuum. By removing her from the situation, she has now effectively learned to fight instead of submit. Anything you don’t want to challenge her with can’t just be avoided. Challenge her mind. It might take you a while since you have been doing this for 8 years but you can break her of the habit. Every time she fixates on the vacuum or barks or growls, correct that behavior.

    I have a dog that will fixate on people passing by the house before she barks. I tap her on the side and say HEY and she comes right out of it. She has learned to not bark because of this training. Trust me. It will work. But you need to be firm and don’t get frustrated with her! Good luck!

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