My last dog disliked the vacuum cleaner, she would bark and chase the base part that was moving backwards and forwards. It took me years to get her to relax around the vacuum cleaner. This time I want to get it right straight away, and I would appreciate your advice please, what is the best way to help a dog to get used to the vacuum cleaner.
i found with our pup best thing to do was switch vacuum on when she was in a safe place eg her crate but not to move it just noise to start with and to build the time up gradually then to start moving it from a distance getting closer each time eventually she came out of crate to investigate but does not seem to bothered by it although does tend to go to her safe haven when i am using not sure if this method would work for every dog but it has worked for us
My last dog was a rescue dog and mostly very obedient, but she was a wheel chaser and I have always wondered if her issue with the vacuum cleaner was connected to this. We got there in the end both with the wheel chasing and the vacuum cleaner, but it was a long slow process. Oddly the thing that helped her most was having something else to hold in her mouth, she had a kong type of thing and she would hold that, in the end she didn't give the vacuum cleaner any attention. Thanks for the advice.
I've had dogs for decades and none of them have liked the vacuum cleaner. I have no clue how folks get their dogs to ride on them and such, as I've seen in videos.
The thing is that vacuuming is something that happens almost daily and it is not practical to isolate the dog so I would like to get my next dog used to the vacuum as quickly as possible.
I think just talking to your dog while vacuuming. My current two aren't fond of it but they follow me and I talk to them, telling them what I'm doing, and when I change directions, I warn them and tell them to move, etc. They're calm about it.
I had a wonderful blue heeler that did the same thing, he would go as far as picking it up and draging it off by the base. I found he was really happy and having a great time so I never did try to stop it, rather I laughed until my sides hurt. It started to be a happy/special time for him and I would go as far as to call him when I going to get out that roaring beasty. Happy dogs live longer and he barked, bit, dragged, etc every one I had for 22 years. I put in hardwood floors after he was gone, vaccuming never was the same.
But if you must... basic obedence is a must. No, sit, stay. Some things are just too temping, but manners are a must, be firm but gentle.