Why is My Dog Afraid of Vacuum Cleaners?

For as long as there have been heroes, there have also been villains to define them. Batman has the Joker. Joan of Arc had King Charles VII. Even Winnie the Pooh sometimes squares off against heffalumps – the cunning elephant-like creatures who steal honey. Now, if you ask the average person whether dogs have an arch-nemesis, they’ll likely reply with: “That’s easy. Cats!” However, most Dog Owners will know two things: firstly, under the right conditions, dogs and cats can be friends. Secondly, dogs have a far, far more dreaded foe than felines. That’s right, folks…we’re speaking of the vacuum cleaner. And if you’ve ever asked yourself “Why is my dog afraid of vacuum cleaners?”, then this article is for you. 

In this piece, we explore why some pooches can’t stand the sights, sounds, and smells of this household staple. We also equip you with some tactics to help your pupper conquer their fears. Play your cards right, and your furbaby may stop running for the hills every time you clean the floor.

“Hello, old foe. We meet again.”

“Firstly, why is my dog afraid of vacuum cleaners?”

For starters, vacuum cleaners are loud. You may be thinking “Thank you for the keen observation, Captain Obvious”, but this is doubly true for our pups. Dogs have much more acute hearing than we do, which makes them much more sensitive to loud noises. Sure, no-one particularly enjoys the sound of vacuum cleaners. However, for our furry friends, the specific decibel of the vacuum can feel like an affront to their ears. Dogs also live and die by their noses, and vacuum cleaners offer a foreign scent. The result is something that smells and sounds like something from another planet to our dogs. 

There’s also the fact that, as creatures of habit, they can feel ambushed by the vacuum cleaner. While the TV can make a lot of noise, there’s a likelihood that your pup will hear it every day. As a result, they’ll have the chance to grow accustomed to the sound. By contrast, many of us will only vacuum once a week (or even less, if you’re a uni student). With relatively few opportunities for our dogs to familiarise themselves with it, the vacuum cleaner can seem like a brash guest that shows up at random without consulting them. Mix in the fact that many vacuum cleaners can resemble giant snakes, and our dogs may even fear they’re fending off a monstrous home invader.  

“Wow, that’s terrible! But, at the same time, I still need to clean my home. What can I do to help my dog with their fear?”

Like we said, dogs are creatures of habit. Just as this trait adds to their fear of vacuum cleaners, it can also help to allay it. In many homes, the vacuum cleaner lives in a cupboard. And we get it – the vacuum is hardly an interior decor centrepiece. However, by hiding it away, you’re robbing your dog of a chance to get used to it. Instead, try leaving it in your pup’s chief living area for an hour every day. By doing so, you’ll allow your pooch to become familiar with the sight of it. This way, the vacuum will slowly transform from “giant deafening snake” to “just another human thing”.

Next, introduce your furry friend to the regular sound of a vacuum cleaner. At first, they are not going to like this; but when they can hear it for 30 seconds a day, instead of only 10 minutes a week, they’ll realise it’s not the end of the world.

Finally, when you do need to vacuum for real, make sure you set a regular schedule. If you bring it out when they’re halfway through their dog dinner, they’ll conclude that they’re facing an attack. However, by choosing a standard time each week (say, 10am each Saturday), they’ll form a habit around it. While dogs don’t perceive time the way humans do, they do respond well to structure. In other words, a sturdy vacuuming timetable will give them a sense of order and control. When combined with daily sounds and sights of the vacuum cleaner, this approach ought to give your pup a newfound sense of spring cleaning courage.    

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