Leerburg / Ask Cindy / Categories / Behavior Problems / My 4.5 year old dog goes nuts over the vacuum clea...

July 01, 2011

My 4.5 year old dog goes nuts over the vacuum cleaner. Is there any way to train her that the vacuum isn’t for lunch?

Full Question:

Hi Cindy,

I have a 4 1/2 year old GSD that I got as a 2 1/2 year old. She absolutely goes nuts over the vacuum cleaner. thought she was afraid of it until I read on the site that her behavior is likely due to prey drive. That makes sense because she has a very strong prey drive as evidenced in play and her interest in chasing squirrels (which she doesn't get to do because she isn't off leash anyplace we might encounter them). Do you have any suggestions on how to train her to know the vacuum isn't for lunch?

Bonnie

Cindy's Answer:

There are a few of approaches to this. You could desensitize her to it gradually, first with the vacuum far away and not switched on… using food and obedience to get her to ignore it. This is the approach I would take with a young dog that didn’t have a lifetime of rehearsals with attacking the vacuum. Since she’s had at least 2 years of practice with the unwanted behavior, it’s a longer road to go.

You could teach her to avoid the vacuum through correction. The type of correction you would use would depend on your dog and the methods you were most comfortable with.

You could put her in a safe location away from the vacuum when you are using it. Simply control her access to it. put her in a crate or another part of the house where she can’t be stimulated by the vacuum.

I hope this helps.

Cindy Rhodes

89% (16 out of 18)

respondents found this answer helpful