Question on Vacuums, Sweeping, Raking, etc.

My trainer has a manners minder - she brought it to class and let us all try it out. That would be great for desensitization because it is very difficult to manhandle a vacuum, a crazy sheltie, and a few yummy treats all together.

Maddie barks at the usual suspects - vacuums, brooms, shovels, rakes. It really doesn't bother me in the house - she barks and lunges until she is utterly exhausted, then she slows down and just watches, panting heavily and tongue lolling. I figure at least she's getting to release a bit of energy!

But when we are out on walks and hears someone shoveling or raking or sweeping she becomes a viscious attack dog (at least that's what she looks like) and that really bothers me, because people don't realize she's not barking at them, just at their broom or shovel. And we go camping a lot so people are always out sweeping their rugs.

A friend of mine puts her sheltie in a sit/stay to vacuum.
 
Diana said:
OK, our current theory with training Buffy against attacking the Swiffer involves getting her used to it. Desensitization. So she managed to look at it without attacking the thing after some settle and time. When she was quiet and not attacking the Swiffer she got a treat.

She can't deal with it moving yet, but this is progress. We're going to try baby steps here.
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That's the ticket! Take it nice and slow. Good job!! Be consistant. Keep us updated!
 
Phebe didn't care about the vacuum until about a month ago. It was clear that she saw the aging Kenmore as a threat. I only had to put her in the crate twice -- not as a punishment, but as a safe place for her avoid the 'intruder'. When I vacuumed yesterday, all I had to say was "AHHH" when she started to pay attention to the roaring sheep and she went to lay down.
 
Diana - I just remembered, when I saw a behaviourist re the vacuum etc attacking, prior to using the 'wait' to attack method we did try treating to be quiet, and that also involved leaving the vacuum on in another room for periods of time so they got used to the noise.
 
I realize this is an old thread, but perhaps someone will reference this post in the future & find it useful.

I'm sort of a clean freak, and I know how much shelties like to heard just about everything so one of my first priorities has been to get my new puppy Vash used to things I will be using like the broom, and vaccume.

Day 1 introduction to the vaccume:

The vaccume was out in the open the day Vash came home with me from the breeders. He immediately saw the glossy surfaces and the puppy in them as a direct threat or something to be avoided. But I didn't introduce it to him until the third day I had him.

On day 3 Vash began barking at the Vaccume when it was not in use just out in the open. So I decided it was as good of time as any to introduce the two.

I grabbed some of vash's normal kibble and began placing peices of it on the vaccume cleaner, then i made a trail of kibble to lure him in close to the vaccume. Then I started moving the vaccume while off and dropping peices of kibble behind me.

It took about a half hour of me replacing kibble until he felt comfortable just walking up to the vaccume cleaner while it was off and eating off of it.

The next step was to turn the vaccume on and do the same thing. Vash needed some higher value treats for this because it was scary, but eventaully he got over the fear of the loud noise, stopped barking and was able to handle the vaccume being on. I ended things after that.

Today I decided to clean up a mess Vash had made by bringing in half a pine tree to chew on. So I put him in his play pen and started up the vaccume, he was a little scared at first but I had a hand full of treats and every time I zoomed by his pen with the vaccume I tossed a treat into the pen.

I can't be 100% certian but at the moment, I believe Vash thinks the vaccume cleaner is the dog food equivilent of a gum-ball machine. It's gotten to the point where when Vash gets a little hungry he'll walk up and start sniffing around the vaccume cleaner to see if there are any treats to be had.

I started the same process with the broom today. I slowly moved the broom back and forth and dropped peices of kibble out of my hand as I did it. Vash did still attack the broom, but right now I think it's because he thinks it's just a variation of another type of tug-toy.
 
Mya is just the opposite from you guys. The moment the vacuum comes out, she's pacing the house with tail down and ears flat back. She does not like anything (that's in the house) that's loud. She gets quite nervous.

Sassy, on the other hand, would make it a game to attack the vacuum. Although she did this...she was not an extreme dog like what some of you guys have.
 
jerros said:
I realize this is an old thread, but perhaps someone will reference this post in the future & find it useful.

I'm sort of a clean freak, and I know how much shelties like to heard just about everything so one of my first priorities has been to get my new puppy Vash used to things I will be using like the broom, and vaccume.

Day 1 introduction to the vaccume:

The vaccume was out in the open the day Vash came home with me from the breeders. He immediately saw the glossy surfaces and the puppy in them as a direct threat or something to be avoided. But I didn't introduce it to him until the third day I had him.

On day 3 Vash began barking at the Vaccume when it was not in use just out in the open. So I decided it was as good of time as any to introduce the two.

I grabbed some of vash's normal kibble and began placing peices of it on the vaccume cleaner, then i made a trail of kibble to lure him in close to the vaccume. Then I started moving the vaccume while off and dropping peices of kibble behind me.

It took about a half hour of me replacing kibble until he felt comfortable just walking up to the vaccume cleaner while it was off and eating off of it.

The next step was to turn the vaccume on and do the same thing. Vash needed some higher value treats for this because it was scary, but eventaully he got over the fear of the loud noise, stopped barking and was able to handle the vaccume being on. I ended things after that.

Today I decided to clean up a mess Vash had made by bringing in half a pine tree to chew on. So I put him in his play pen and started up the vaccume, he was a little scared at first but I had a hand full of treats and every time I zoomed by his pen with the vaccume I tossed a treat into the pen.

I can't be 100% certian but at the moment, I believe Vash thinks the vaccume cleaner is the dog food equivilent of a gum-ball machine. It's gotten to the point where when Vash gets a little hungry he'll walk up and start sniffing around the vaccume cleaner to see if there are any treats to be had.

I started the same process with the broom today. I slowly moved the broom back and forth and dropped peices of kibble out of my hand as I did it. Vash did still attack the broom, but right now I think it's because he thinks it's just a variation of another type of tug-toy.
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very well laid out. I think for some that have dogs that are already over the top, taking this prosess and stretching it out would eventually result in dogs that ignored or even enjoyed the vacuums.
 
that is a great way to do it.

Now, Toffee just does it to make trouble he isn't scared of it at all, but I honestly think he gets excited and feels he has to protect me from it, and evil electric toothbrush and sneezes! :confused2:

haha, but I can get him to just stop it, and he walks behind me, etc, just to make sure I am ok, but without a fuss.. same with the toothbrush every day, bark, until I say settle, and then a few low rumbles, and he settles in and ignores it.. as long as I don't get excited, lol
 
Just for a laugh...

I tied Vash to me with a 20ft leash over the weekend. I had a ton of yard work to do and it just seemed like a great way to get him some excercise.

Vash liked me raking up some leaves for him. He barked at the rake a bit, but after a while he realized the rake was making a pile of leaves he could lay down in.

So as I said, he would bark for a bit at the rake, then he'd hop on the pile of leaves, grass I had gotten and claim it as his own. It slowed me down a bit, but it was horribly funny to watch the pup try and dominate about 4 in of grass/pine needles.

The rake seems to be a new toy to him, which most of the time is good, but when I'm using the sharp thissle rake I have to be much more cautious. Because he want's to play with something that could really hurt him.

Still it made for an amusing weekend.
 
Thank you all for your advice on this! I've been having Zoe go into a sit when I vacuum or sweep the patio and treating her when she does. Later putting small treats on or under the sweeper. It is working! I'm seeing hesitation when the equipment comes out and thank goodness it is so much easier to vacuum without the equipment being attacked. Thank you!!!
 
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