Hoover

Hi. Our puppy Gus is so confident and unfazed by anything other than the hoover. As soon as we switch it on he runs out of the room and into his crate. What would you suggest we do to get him used to the hoover?
Many thanks

oh Gus,Sash still wants to attack to hoover even now and she's 12!!!, may be leave it in the room with out it being on for awhile so he gets used to seeing it and then every now and again turn it on for a few mins,they are funny little things 

Clicker training is brilliant for this. You first of all teach the dog to target something - you can buy special targets but an old wooden spoon works well too. Then you move on to targetting the hoover, starting with only a bit of it if possible when it's not switched on, working on the sound separately and gradually, then building up to targetting the whole thing while it's switched on, then moving.

It can take a while, over several sessions, and you do end up with a dog that comes running to the hoover for treats each time you get it out! Beats having a scared dog, though.

Shout if you want to try and need help getting started.

Thanks for the suggestions. He isn't scared of the hoover when it's off so it must just be the noise. My suggestion of not to bother hoovering again didn't go down to well with the wife

Odd, that!

Even if it's just the noise, clicker training will help. It allows the dog to feel (in part) in control of the situation as well as making it all fun and building up positive associations.

You guys have such great advice. My Jack Russell is 6 later this month & still attacks the Hoover now & again. I would love to give up hoovering haha, but decided to conform a bit to society

Jnestie84 wrote:My suggestion of not to bother hoovering again didn't go down to well with the wife

Now why can't I ever use that excuse