Afraid of the vacuum cleaner - YorkieTalk.com Forums

lovemy3babies · 08-12-2011, 03:14 PM

What causes my yorkie to be afraid of the vacuum cleaner? She attacks it like she's going to eat it up. What makes her go crazy like that?

I got her when she was 8 months old, so I really don't know how she was treated up to that point. Could someone have teased her with the vacuum cleaner?

Is anyone else's yorkie afraid of the vacuum cleaner?

jadabug · 08-12-2011, 03:26 PM

I never considered mine were afraid of it, they attack it like they are going to kill it too. I just thought they think of it as something to kill

YorkieRose · 08-12-2011, 03:29 PM

A Yorkie that is afraid of loud noises, as a rule runs and hide, shakes and whines...attacking it does not sound like fear..but it is a terrier trait..some loud and unsettling "thing" is invading her home..and she is attacking it as if it was an enemy..showing who is boss.
Dogs who are afraid of thunder or fireworks do not try to run outside and attack the noise, they shake and try to hide...act nerverous...my Kate hates thunder..she runs to the window and barks at it,,but she is not acting fearful..she wants at it, to kill it.

Lovetodream88 · 08-12-2011, 03:32 PM

Most dogs I know are afraid of the vacuum but Callie was the only one who attacked it and that was when she was a puppy and we never teased her but for some reason all of a sudden she got where she would hide from it. I imagine vacuum cleaners are loud, big and scary things that hurt there ears. I have tired many things to get her to not be afraid of it but the only thing that helped was the thundershirt.

BabyGirl Rosie · 08-12-2011, 03:34 PM

Rosie could care less about the vacuum. Mikki on the other hand does the attack thing. She doesn't act like she is afraid at all. I think they do it because they think they are billy bad a.

My girls have no fear. They let the terrier instinct loose every chance they get.

jadabug · 08-12-2011, 03:49 PM

Here is a link to a video I posted a while back. My two love attacking the vacuum and occasionally I will get the shop vac, since it has no beater brush thingys and let them have at it. I don't think they look one bit afraid

http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/my-...re-harmed.html

cpurser · 08-12-2011, 03:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by YorkieRose

A Yorkie that is afraid of loud noises, as a rule runs and hide, shakes and whines...attacking it does not sound like fear..but it is a terrier trait..some loud and unsettling "thing" is invading her home..and she is attacking it as if it was an enemy..showing who is boss.
Dogs who are afraid of thunder or fireworks do not try to run outside and attack the noise, they shake and try to hide...act nerverous...my Kate hates thunder..she runs to the window and barks at it,,but she is not acting fearful..she wants at it, to kill it.

I agree. My Sarge is afraid of any loud noise. His reaction is always to find me and he shakes terribly.

lovemy3babies · 08-12-2011, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jadabug

Here is a link to a video I posted a while back. My two love attacking the vacuum and occasionally I will get the shop vac, since it has no beater brush thingys and let them have at it. I don't think they look one bit afraid

http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/my-...re-harmed.html

This video is hilarious! They're having a lot of fun chasing the shop vac.

jadabug · 08-12-2011, 04:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lovemy3babies

This video is hilarious! They're having a lot of fun chasing the shop vac.

LOL..thanks, of course when I am really needing to clean I have to lock them in another room

Princess10 · 08-12-2011, 05:50 PM

I read in one of the puppy books that they're afraid of vacuum's because they go forward, then back, then forward, then back. It said that's what something attacking them would do so they either get scared or want to attack back.

Princess is scared, but not as bad any more. She used to fly to my room if the closet door was even bumped. I decided to leave it out to serve the dual purpose of exposure & to slow her down when she'd fly to the door to bark at nothing important. It really worked a lot. Now when I use it she still goes to my bed sometimes but it's more so because she's annoyed that I'm bringing that thing out again, not fear. Sometimes she'll just lay on the couch.

TxVicki · 08-12-2011, 06:18 PM

Out my 3, I have now. Willow and Allie are so afraid the vacum cleaner. They run to the back of the house when I pull it out. Now my Lizzie (14 1/2 yrs old) could care less. I guess she is used to it since I've had her since she was a baby.

rhondah · 08-12-2011, 06:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TxVicki

Out my 3, I have now. Willow and Allie are so afraid the vacum cleaner. They run to the back of the house when I pull it out. Now my Lizzie (14 1/2 yrs old) could care less. I guess she is used to it since I've had her since she was a baby.

My baby does the same thing!! She will run to the back until I'm finished. When I go back to put it up.....she's running to the front!

KazzyK810 · 08-12-2011, 06:33 PM

ZoE is afraid of the vacumn. As soon as I turn it on, she runs to the living room and leaps to high ground on the top, of the back, of the sofa.

Nancy1999 · 08-12-2011, 06:58 PM

So simple to cure this of this! Always turn so your back is in between vacuum and dog, never ever go toward dog with the vacuum. When first training you will have to continually maneuver so that you are between the dog and the vacuum, but your dog will eventually lose interest. Joey can now watch me vacuum quietly or even go to another room now, but he use to go nuts. Consistency is the key.

Mardelin · 08-12-2011, 07:02 PM

Mine hate vacum cleaners and brooms......they go on the attack.

08-12-2011, 03:14 PM	#1
lovemy3babies YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Oklahoma City, OK Posts: 799	Afraid of the vacuum cleaner What causes my yorkie to be afraid of the vacuum cleaner? She attacks it like she's going to eat it up. What makes her go crazy like that? I got her when she was 8 months old, so I really don't know how she was treated up to that point. Could someone have teased her with the vacuum cleaner? Is anyone else's yorkie afraid of the vacuum cleaner? __________________ Hi from Oklahoma City from me and the girls: Holly, Lacey & Tinker Belle

08-12-2011, 03:26 PM	#2
jadabug Jada + Bogie = ♥ Donating Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Mayberry AKA smalltown usa Posts: 24,078	I never considered mine were afraid of it, they attack it like they are going to kill it too. I just thought they think of it as something to kill __________________ Michelle, Jada and Bogie

08-12-2011, 03:32 PM	#4
Lovetodream88 Yorkie mom of 4 Donating YT Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: LaPlata, Md Posts: 23,249	Most dogs I know are afraid of the vacuum but Callie was the only one who attacked it and that was when she was a puppy and we never teased her but for some reason all of a sudden she got where she would hide from it. I imagine vacuum cleaners are loud, big and scary things that hurt there ears. I have tired many things to get her to not be afraid of it but the only thing that helped was the thundershirt. __________________ Taylor My babies Joey, Penny ,Ollie & Dixie Callie Mae, you will forever be in my heart!

08-12-2011, 03:34 PM	#5
BabyGirl Rosie I ♥ my girls! Donating Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: With My Yorkies Posts: 18,980	Rosie could care less about the vacuum. Mikki on the other hand does the attack thing. She doesn't act like she is afraid at all. I think they do it because they think they are billy bad a. My girls have no fear. They let the terrier instinct loose every chance they get. __________________ Momma to three sweet Yorkie girls Rosie Marie, Mikki Leigh , and Lily Mae Grace!

08-12-2011, 03:49 PM	#6
jadabug Jada + Bogie = ♥ Donating Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Mayberry AKA smalltown usa Posts: 24,078	Here is a link to a video I posted a while back. My two love attacking the vacuum and occasionally I will get the shop vac, since it has no beater brush thingys and let them have at it. I don't think they look one bit afraid http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/my-...re-harmed.html __________________ Michelle, Jada and Bogie

08-12-2011, 03:29 PM	#3
YorkieRose No Longer a Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: South Florida Posts: 8,577	A Yorkie that is afraid of loud noises, as a rule runs and hide, shakes and whines...attacking it does not sound like fear..but it is a terrier trait..some loud and unsettling "thing" is invading her home..and she is attacking it as if it was an enemy..showing who is boss. Dogs who are afraid of thunder or fireworks do not try to run outside and attack the noise, they shake and try to hide...act nerverous...my Kate hates thunder..she runs to the window and barks at it,,but she is not acting fearful..she wants at it, to kill it.

08-12-2011, 05:50 PM	#10
Princess10 Banning Queen Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Home of the Kalamazoo Wings, MI. Posts: 3,122	I read in one of the puppy books that they're afraid of vacuum's because they go forward, then back, then forward, then back. It said that's what something attacking them would do so they either get scared or want to attack back. Princess is scared, but not as bad any more. She used to fly to my room if the closet door was even bumped. I decided to leave it out to serve the dual purpose of exposure & to slow her down when she'd fly to the door to bark at nothing important. It really worked a lot. Now when I use it she still goes to my bed sometimes but it's more so because she's annoyed that I'm bringing that thing out again, not fear. Sometimes she'll just lay on the couch. __________________ For The Night Is Dark & Full Of Terriers

08-12-2011, 06:18 PM	#11
TxVicki Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: At Home Posts: 8,386	Out my 3, I have now. Willow and Allie are so afraid the vacum cleaner. They run to the back of the house when I pull it out. Now my Lizzie (14 1/2 yrs old) could care less. I guess she is used to it since I've had her since she was a baby. __________________ [SIZE="3"VICKI & ALLIE[/SIZE]

08-12-2011, 06:33 PM	#13
KazzyK810 Donating YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Michigan USA & Sheffield UK Posts: 4,120	ZoE is afraid of the vacumn. As soon as I turn it on, she runs to the living room and leaps to high ground on the top, of the back, of the sofa. __________________ Karan with Sophie & Willow (ZoE )(Chelsea )

08-12-2011, 06:58 PM	#14
Nancy1999 I ♥ Joey & Ralphie! Donating Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Arizona Posts: 25,396 Blog Entries: 2	So simple to cure this of this! Always turn so your back is in between vacuum and dog, never ever go toward dog with the vacuum. When first training you will have to continually maneuver so that you are between the dog and the vacuum, but your dog will eventually lose interest. Joey can now watch me vacuum quietly or even go to another room now, but he use to go nuts. Consistency is the key. __________________ NancyJoey Proud members of the CrAzYcLuB and YAP! ** Just Say No to Puppymills – Join YAP! Yorkshire Terrier Club of America – Breeder Referrals

08-12-2011, 07:02 PM	#15
Mardelin Mardelin Yorkshire Terriers Donating Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: California Posts: 14,776	Mine hate vacum cleaners and brooms......they go on the attack. __________________ Mardelin *Yorkshire* *Terriers*