I scared my dog with a vacuum cleaner

[HereSadie]

I made a huge mistake! My friend's dog loves to have a handheld vacuum cleaner rubbed across her fur. Since Sadie likes to be brushed and she isn't afraid of my small handheld vacuum cleaner, I figured I'd try it. That was a very bad decision! Sadie ran to the basement and hid until I coaxed her out. I obviously learned my lesson, but now she's afraid of the device. I use the vacuum regularly on the furniture to get rid of pet hair. How do I make Sadie less afraid? She literally runs and hides when I pull it out of the closet. It's hard to desensitize her when she's hiding and I feel terrible when I try.

 

[Vinny]

Here’s how I would most likely start my approach for changing a CER (conditioned emotional response) form bad to good.

I would probably start by leaving the vacuum out in a corner somewhere and click treat for just looking at it. I would also leave some yummy treats in the area of the vacuum.

I would do this for a day or days to see if we observe more positive body language to the site of the vacuum.

Depending on what we are observing I would either do this longer or raise the criteria by placing yummy bones treats closer and closer. Eventually if we are changing the CER to the vacuum the dog will eventually sniff or approach the vacuum.

I like to go slow with any DS/CC according to what body language I am observing. My goal will be that the visual of the vacuum no longer elicits any type of body language related to fear or anxiety. I will then raise the criteria for turning the vacuum on slowly and using lots of distance. Distance might be on another floor or far far away...example have someone upstairs and turn it on/off for a second and click treat.

Here’s one of DR’s articles on DS/CC for anyone that needs a refresher.

 

[Woolsy]

The advice Vinny said is really great. What should I do though when the dog doesn't respond to the yummy bone treat? Will it be a good idea to change the vacuum cleaner or will the sound of the new vacuum be the same experience to my dog?

 

[Vinny]

If it was me I would probably find what reinforces the dog I am working with. Finding what is reinforcing for a dog is very important when trying to teach or change emotional responses. I always look at things from a behavior view so If it's a ball a vacuum produces a ball. If it's fetch or tug a vacuum produces fetch or game of tug. When we are using counter conditioning it's all about associations and emotional responses.

I would assume that any vacuum will elicit same response. Great question...

 

[RuffLuv]

I think the doggie treats are a great idea. Maybe as time goes on she won't be afraid of the vacuum anymore because you said at first she wasn't afraid of it. Maybe she can go back to that? Since dogs have sensitive ears, maybe that one close run in with the vacuum was something that really did a number on her ears and so now she's particularly sensitive to even seeing the vacuum. Now she just wants to avoid that experience from ever happening again, so she runs away? Like I said, hopefully she'll get over it with time.

 

[HereSadie]

I'm sorry it's taken me so long to follow up here. I don't really have an update though. We're moving really slowly.

I would assume that any vacuum will elicit same response. Great question...

No, just the one I used on her causes the response. Just the handheld. Should I get rid of it? I don't mind donating it to the shelter, but I was worried that Sadie would see a similar vacuum elsewhere, like at the groomers and that might cause problems down the road. I really messed up by trying to vacuum her fur. My friend's dog just loves it and I thought Sadie would too. I'm working with her, but she's not improving which is unusual. I think I crossed a huge line. I didn't test it first because she loves being groomed and wasn't scared before. Like I literally just tried to vacuum her fur. I'm kicking myself for trying it in the first place.

 

[Vinny]

Ok that would make more sense on the association your dog had with this particular vacuum. What does your dog do when she sees the vacuum? Form a distance?

You can try to DS/CC from a far distance until you observe a better CER (conditioned emotional response). Basically we would want the vacuum to predict something good instead of the fear. Then we can work from there eg...closer and her approaching....long process but it does work.