I’ve never posted on any forum before but have been enjoying yours for quite sometime. I want to thank all of you for sharing your knowledge and experience with me.

This is probably a really dumb subject but this is my first experience at actually training a dog. I’ve never had one that even came when I called it.

Here is my question is about vacuum aggression. At three months she was introduced to the vacuum. She shied from it when it was on then would investigate it as soon as I shut it off. At four months my puppy decided it was time to rid the world of Hoovers. I not just talking about barking at it. She launches an attack that would make most husbands proud. Now at five months she has included the hand mixer, lawn mower, weed whacker and blow dryers in this group. Is this normal? Is it indicative to her temperament? Do any of your dogs turn house chores into WWF smack down?

Thanks!

This is common in dogs with high defense drive and mid-range nerves... usually it is a classic form of fear based aggression.

My six months old bitch does the same <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />
She ignored a vacuum cleaner and a lawn mower when she was younger but now she hates them <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> , especially the mower. She bites the wheels and actually raises it up if I allow her.
I forgot about a wheelbarrow <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />
Funny thing but she is much less agressive when my husband is doing the work.

osogreen,
WWF smack down LOL <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> anyway, I had the same problem at 5-7 months old with Argo he though he could challenge the world <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> then he met the Kitten LOL <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> anyway I think your pup will out grow it redirect her drive too her toys play. If this drive turns towards bikes,lawn mowers etc. obedience very easy but firm, with a phooey when she charges the object of her intrest, I found the tone of my voice very effective with a small pop on the line,(REMEMBER TOO PRAISE HER WHEN SHE DOES GOOD) <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> When it came to distance from me I had him on a flex line,he spooked a deer and started to charge the deer I did a 180 turn and walked in the other direction,Argo got yoked by his own force and he never realized he was being corrected by me and I recalled him and he ran like hell too me and I gave him tons of praise for returning to me. The next time he saw something he wanted to go after I called here and he ran too me with a lot of happiness. I do this still periodically to keep him on his toes. BUT remember it's a pup!take your time and use voice flextion it really works. That's all I had too do and now there are no problems except that DAMM Kitten <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />
Anyway this only my opinion and there maybe other ideas out there this is only one, hope it helps! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> have fun with your pup!
Be Safe
Lewis and Argo/Riley

I've had a couple of dogs that did this. I don't have the time or patience to worry too much about it so I would either crate the dog when vacuuming or put the dog in another room. Dogs are weird sometimes. If the only time the dog acts this way is for the vacuum...be glad that's the worst of your trouble. If the dog has shown other fear based issues then that's a whole other story.

My old Border Terrier did this as a pup. My wife thought it was cute until he ripped the bag off while she was vacuming. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> I broke him of that habit fast.

Hi -
I also was wondering what makes your pup's reaction to sweeper change? I too have had a similar reaction to the sweeper, lawn mower. My pup is 5 months old (lab) and when she went to puppy preschool she was introduced to the vacuum and didn't have a problem with it at all - went right up to it with motor running - wasn't a bit afraid. Walked right up on the teeter/totter board - not a bit leery.
Same with the lawn mower - she would follow me around when I did the trim work with the self-propelled mower - she didn't bark at it or anything. And when on the riding mower she would even try to jump up on it with me while it was moving.
But now she takes off and hides when I am vacuuming - And when I go to mow the lawn - all she has to do is see me get the mower out of the shed and she goes crazy (motor isn't even running yet) and she is barking like crazy at it and trying to attack it. Now the riding mower she doesn't seem to have too much of a problem with she still follows me around for a short while and then goes off somewhere else in the yard.
I am just wondering what would be the cause of this change - and is this anything to be concerned about??
Thanks Sharon

You asked What creates a sudden change in attitude?

Simple... The dog develops some defense drive that you could not see at a young age. When pups are very young... they typically AVOID or RUN when scared... even if they are quality animals. As they get older... some will become aggressive to whatever is making them nervous.

I adopted my Lab at 18 months of age, and was quite surprised the first time he tried to attack the vacuum. I desensitized him to it by encouraging him to investigate it while off. I'd place a treat on it, and let him go get the treat. Then, when I'd turn it on and vacuum, if he acted up, I'd tell him to knock it off in a no-nonsense voice, and just keep vacuuming. Now, he'll lie right in the middle of the floor while I vacuum, and I have to tell him to move, or bump him with it, to get him to get out of the way.
I think he may have barked at the lawn mower once or twice, but now he doesn't think anything of it.

My dog does this with the vacuum also. She doesnt act afraid of the vaccuum at all, she just acts like she wants to kill it. She is not afraid to advance on it and will bite and bark angrily while I am vaccuuming. Dave stated that it is high defense and mid-range nerves. Well, my pup has always seemed to have strong nerves all of her short life. she was selection tested at 6,7 and 8 weeks and she scored mostly 1's on Bernards test. while doing bite work at a young age I would condition her to the bamboo stick used in Ed's video and it did not phase her. She also was not phased by loud fireworks, drum symbals,lawn mowers or 4 wheelers. She just hates vaccuums for some reason. it is only when it is on and moving when she tries to kill it. when it is stopped she could care less. I dont know what to say about it except maybe just conditioning to the vaccuum.