Hot Rod seems to act like this alot. I usually try to say to him "it's okay" and it works for a while. He will come towards me or the object. I made the mistake when he was little and put him outside in the sunroom when I vacuumed so he wouldn't be afraid of the vaccum. Well, the opposite happened, he's terrifyed of it and now he starts barking at it as soon as I start rolling it across the floor. For a time, I was laying treats on the base so he would go up and sniff it and take the treats--worked but he still doesnt' like it. lol
And when he was little, I also made the mistake of rolling the trash can in when I had him on the lease...to this day he barks and walks clear across the driveway from the trash can, lol. I've told him that it's okay and he's actually gone up to it close enough to sniff it but then run away quickly. But he does respond when I say that it's okay. It's worked on littler things. Good luck.
