Scared of Hoover

Hi my 16 week old pup is scared old the vacuum cleaner!! Anybody else's? My old staff used to bark and chase it. now Lola runs and hides from it, she did it earlier on today, how can I get her out of doing this? She's petrified.

its pretty normal our 2 bite the end of the pipe they hate it

Roger has to get up as high as he can. If she's just taking herself away and not getting too distressed, I wouldn't worry. If she's really getting worked up and shaking, panting, etc. then you could start with just leaving the hoover out so she starts getting used to it.

When she's happy with that, push about for a bit (switched off) and gradually build up her confidence like that. It might be useful to record the sound so you can play it at a low level to start with.

We've left it out but she won't walk past it, she goes into hiding as you can see by the picture, she hid behind the toilet, sometimes it's funny (the places where she hides, last week she climbed into the washing machine!

my Lola's getting better, two and a half years on. she doesnt like being in the same room if its on nowadays, so just wanders off to another room till your finished. best advice on these things is dont comfort her, as she will see it as normal behaviour. just ignore her and carry on, let her know that what your doing is normal and not scary, sounds horrible, and is hard, but it works better in the long run.

beautiful girl by the way

That is a very cute pic! Sorry no help as Moo doesn't care Xx

Katy loves to attack the hoover, you should see the teeth marks in it. does'nt make it an easy job though, pushing a hoover with a staff attached

Gradual desensitisation can help with vacuum fears. As has been previously mentioned, you can slowly introduce the hoover in a safe environment.

Start off with the hoover - switched off - in the corner of a room where your dog feels safe. Lure your dog into the room with treats, but don't force her to approach it. Keep doing this and giving her fuss, until she looks more comfortable.

You can then either gradually move the hoover further into the centre of the room, or gradually lure your puppy over to the hoover with more treats and praise.

Eventually, once she's able to sit happily next to it and sniff it, you can try turning it on.

This will take time and patience, but it's worth the wait.

Tia hates the hoover, as soon as i bring it in and plonk it on the floor she is gone! wimp

Marley hates it too. But when you think of the sound frequensies they hear that we dont its not suprising. it annoys me too so dread to think what they are hearing

awww not fair

Ramsey's used to it now but hates my gf's hairdryer lol

Darcy is petrified to

I'll try and gradually introduce her to it, see if that helps, but when I bring the mop, or brush out she bites it so I'm mopping and sweeping up with a 16 week old staff latched onto them. There the most comical dogs ever!

Yes, at 13 months old Kuchar still gets hyper-excited by a mop, brush AND Hoover. It makes trying to keep the floors clean a nightmare, as whatever floor-cleaning device I wield, there is a Staffy attached to the end of it!

If Lola is really scared of the Hoover, then gradual desensitivation is the way to go, as outlined above.

Personally, I get "someone else" to take the dog out for a walk - the longer the better- and mop, brush and hoover like a mad thing while he's gone.

Eleanor wrote:Gradual desensitisation can help with vacuum fears. As has been previously mentioned, you can slowly introduce the hoover in a safe environment.

Start off with the hoover - switched off - in the corner of a room where your dog feels safe. Lure your dog into the room with treats, but don't force her to approach it. Keep doing this and giving her fuss, until she looks more comfortable.

You can then either gradually move the hoover further into the centre of the room, or gradually lure your puppy over to the hoover with more treats and praise.

Eventually, once she's able to sit happily next to it and sniff it, you can try turning it on.

This will take time and patience, but it's worth the wait.

Good advice

Desensitising her to it might help, but everyone has their fears. If she stays scared of it but it isn't distressing her, just leave her to it (if trying to get her used to it doesn't work). Loki's fine with the hoover but he hates the hairdryer but he's gotten to a point where he'll just sit a few feet away from it and watch, so it's not that bad.

Logan is afraid of the stupidest things ever, hats, puddles, a glass of water...

Staffords are essentially a very quirky breed so as she gets a bit older you will find that she will probably find more things she is iffy with. The best way to deal with it is to desensitise as others have said.

Sukie barks and goes down on her front paws,Not keen on the hairdryer aswell.

Eris wrote:Roger has to get up as high as he can. If she's just taking herself away and not getting too distressed, I wouldn't worry. If she's really getting worked up and shaking, panting, etc. then you could start with just leaving the hoover out so she starts getting used to it.

When she's happy with that, push about for a bit (switched off) and gradually build up her confidence like that. It might be useful to record the sound so you can play it at a low level to start with.

I love is name, Roger, cool.................
Yes, Kenny thinks the hoover is a big snake trying to eat him up, so he rightfully defends himself. Enjoy the "easy Cleaning", while you can

MatLogan wrote:Logan is afraid of the stupidest things ever, hats, puddles, a glass of water...

Staffords are essentially a very quirky breed so as she gets a bit older you will find that she will probably find more things she is iffy with. The best way to deal with it is to desensitise as others have said.

A glass of water dangerous breed, sure.

Haha! Staffy a are so comical! Lola doesn't half make me chuckle at times, this morning she ran straight into the patio doors trying to hide a chew toy!

tyke just looks at it as if its goin to get him then he out like lightening, we can generally find him upstairs in the bedrooms lol..........theres nothing i can advice really apart from may be putting her up stairs and visa versa

Cant help really as my two just love attacking it, ozzie attacks the pipe and sash attacks the attachment. Definately difficult with 2 staffs attached to it haha.

Hahaha! Well I left it out this morning in the front room, she was at the door cowering and wouldn't come in (it was turned off) so I put it away and she was back to her old self chewing her toys. Maybe it's just the look of it?

Oh poor little Lola, looks like she has Big fear.

Maybe try getting someone else to take her out and then you go mad with the Hoover whilst she's gone, and make sure you've finished and the beast has been packed away before she gets back.

Then, after a week or so, just leave it, switched off of course, just outside the cupboard or wherever you keep it, behave absolutely naturally with her so she doesn't think "something's up here" , feed her in another room, play with her, distract her from the beast. Then without fuss put it away. Do this until she accepts the beast outside the cupboard door (all the while, getting someone to take her for a walk whilst you hoover). Then you could gradually move the thing away from the cupboard, leave it in various places, until she becomes accustomed to the sight of it. Fairy footsteps! And it may take some time.

If you feel like trying this method, let us know how you get on please?

After Lola accepting the sight of the hoover without qualm, the next step would be to switch it on, but that may be a long time away yet.

i was hoovering today. turned off, no biggie. turn it on. i got a dissaproving look (yes, me, not the hoover) and Lola just walked into the next room.

patch used to be scard now at 10 months he run after it barking

Cassie used to be afraid of the vacum i think thats why she used to attack it. I did what Lynda suggested i just left the vacum out i the corner and gave plenty of treats when Cassie went near it without killing it, then i pushed it around the room without it being swiched on and gave treats and even had Cassie taking treats off the vacum. Then i left it switched on in the corner while doing some treat training sit,lie,roll over and stay and slowly moved the vacum while giving Cassie treats as she stayed next to me, now she thinks i have treats everytime i get the hoover out but it's better than the alternative. We still do have relapses where it's a fight for the vacum but i distract with constructive distraction. Good luck and please keep us updated on progress

cant help with your problem we got the same thing going on here both of our hide when the hoover comes out but the mop a different matter get that out and they are both hanging of it as you try to mop the floor

Lynda wrote:Yes, at 13 months old Kuchar still gets hyper-excited by a mop, brush AND Hoover. It makes trying to keep the floors clean a nightmare, as whatever floor-cleaning device I wield, there is a Staffy attached to the end of it!

If Lola is really scared of the Hoover, then gradual desensitivation is the way to go, as outlined above.

Personally, I get "someone else" to take the dog out for a walk - the longer the better- and mop, brush and hoover like a mad thing while he's gone.

Haha, would love to see a pic of that. the Staffy attached to the end of it that is

That's a thought - I'm rubbish at taking photos but I might just try that one!