Why are dogs so afraid of vacuum cleaners?

Question

Why are dogs so afraid of vacuum cleaners?

Answer 1

imagine a machine as big as you making loads of noise  -   bet you would be afraid !

Answer 2

It's a loud noise that starts suddenly and is created by a really really strange 'creature' that moves around the room  and is (as far as the dog is concerned) invading it's territory.

Answer 3

mine isn't

Answer 4

Probably because they're loud. If you want you could get the swiffer vacuum. You don't even have to plug it in. And it doesn't make any noise. That what I'm doing with my Yorkie right now!!

Answer 5

Vacuum/hoover has never bothered my dog,but some dogs just hate the noise, my freinds little Yorkie tries to kill their vacuum,he realy goes mad.and as for doing the garden with mower or strimmer he has to be locked in a room out of harms way for his own good.

Answer 6

My 11 month old Pekingese used to be soooo scared. So one time, when my mom was vacuuming, I carried her and took her next to the vacuum. She sniffed it a couple of times, and realized that it's nothing. She loves it now. She's actually annoying now, because every time I vacuum, she just jumps on it and doesn't let me clean my carpet! :)

Answer 7

My dog doesnt mind the vacum cleaner, i was hovering once and there was loose fur on him (he's a GSD) so i hoovered him (on a low setting and didnt touch his skin or anything and it didnt hurt him) he seemed to enjoy it he just sat there with a dopey look on his face lol.

Answer 8

they`re not, as texelgirl has said its down to introduction. i HOOVER my st bernard its hilarious when you run it up his spine he quivers all over. i also have a gsd who was terrified, its only the last 3/4 weeks i got so fed up of him making for the bedroom before it was even turned on i decided i had to do something about it. compelling him to stay in the same room but being as far away from him as possible, on/off on/off and use the extension pipe a little (tends not whine as much as the brush) releasing him from the room while he was still fairly calm rather than a state of panic as this only makes matters worse in this short period i now have to ask him to leave the room so i can get on. and for some real-time top tips, sky tv The Dog Whisperer (Cesar Milan). of course there are by products to an exercise like this, obedience and trust without beating your dog into submission    

Answer 9

Dogs have highly sensitive hearing, they can hear many things that we cannot (i.e dog whistles) of course they're going to be scared of a big cary hoover!

it is also why they are scared of thunder and fireworks :)

Answer 10

It must just be the noise although mine is also scared of the broom.  

Answer 11

My dog respects my hoover and offers it his toys when it is off, when it on he runs around playfully and just makes more hairs, it might be the noise plus hoovers blow air also.

Answer 12

My boy's not frightened of the vacuum cleaner.

In fact, he sits there and lets me vacuum his coat, and loves it when I suck his tail up the hose. Mind you, it's about the only thing he's not frightened of.

He's a big scaredy cat, and is frightened of the moon, thunder, fireworks, kites, wind-chimes, jet planes, tractors, sunflowers, and large birds, but strangely...........not vacuum cleaners!!!

Answer 13

cause they were not introduced properly to them. Of my 7 dogs only 1 is afraid of it. One of my dogs is actually IN LOVE with my vacuum. She would marry if she could. I have to buy a 2nd so I could vacuum in peace. It takes time and patients. Introducing it to them in stages. Just bringing it out, turning it on, and running at them is of course going to scare them out of there minds and hate it possibly for life.

Answer 14

good question, they're bigger than them, noisy, suck things up (perhaps the dog thinks its going to suck them up too?) who knows just keep the dogs out the room when your hoovering =]

Answer 15

Mine is l think it's the loud noise and shape and the fact they are near ground level .

Answer 16

Because they're quite loud which would spook the average house pet!

Maybe they see it as predatorial

Answer 17

The noise.