So, I have vacummed twice before since Sage came home and she was fine. Today I brought it out and went about the business of turning it on and she want Ape Nuts. No not attacking it, but rather trying to get away! I feel so bad.

I tried not to comfort her, but I did need to rescue her from trying to get on my ottoman.

My plan of action and I welcome all constructive advice here....I put the vacumm in the L/R and put treats around it...obviously it isn't running. She would cautiously grab a treat and walk away. I plan to do this for a while until she thinks nothing of it in off mode....but what about when I use it next, I still need to vacumm the back of the house and will wait till DH comes home so he can take her outside.

Could it be that she is 9 wks old tomorrow and maybe having some fears now???? She's been so confident about everything until now!!!

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Mayve

I wouldn't worry too much about it-I think she will grow out of it.
Both my Smooch and Tucker who were 16 mos. and 2 years old when I adopted them, were afraid of the vacuum and would run from the room I was using it in.
In time, they both grew to ignore it.

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[IMG]http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii215

Tonka & Tucker

SNOBEAR at the Bridge
Dec. 23, 1999-March 27, 2010


SMOOCH at the Bridge.
Feb. 14, 1999-Dec. 7, 2010

Fannin used to freak out when I turned the vacuum cleaner on. He would run away, hide under the table, jump on the sofa... anything to get away from it. Now (at 11 months) he just ignores me and goes about his business.

I think she'll probably grow out of it.

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Fannin and the ball, a love story

Buddy and Holly are not crazy about the vacumn either, but they both just go to a new room!!!

I think if she has a place to go to, I'd just let her do that and carry on as normal. Your matter of fact attitude will eventually convince her it is no big deal. How is she around hair dryers?

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Kathleen, mom to one human, age 17, three canines, and a bunch of fish.

Would you be able to hold her while you vacuum? I did that with Yogi and he doesn't seem to react to it, though he's a little curious about it when he's in his pen and I'm getting close.

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Meet Yogi! http://www.goldenretrieverforum.com/...tion-yogi.html

My older dog hunter was scared of the vacuum as a puppy and so was Ripley. With both of them I tried to desensitize them to the noise by encouraging them to approach me while I had the vacuum on and then I praised them and gave them treats. Eventually they would approach the vacuum first and then come
to me. I also began to treat it as play time by throwing their toys. So now they both just play when I vacuum and aren't afraid at all because we turned it into a fun time. Hunter is going on 12 now and still loves it when I bring the vacuum out

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Ripley! Born April 14, 2012

I followed this gradual plan for the vacuum in a book our breeder gave us on our puppy match day.

Step 1: Leave vacuum in play area with pup, turned off. The book said to approach vacuum with pup, tap the vacuum and say "Wanna play beep beep? Beep beep, wanna play?" When puppy was brave and investigated by sniffing and pawing, give praise and treats. Repeat 3 times a week and do NOT proceed to second stage until you're sure the puppy doesn't give a crap about the vacuum being off. (I knew Sasha was ready for stage 2 when she started sniffing it and cuddling up next to it like it was a teddy bear lol.)

Step 2: Holding the puppy, approach vacuum, tap it and say "Wanna play beep beep?" Puppy should not care about being held close to vacuum. Still holding pup, turn the vaccum on and just let it run without moving it. Encourage pup to sniff/explore. Perhaps gently take her paw and tap the vacuum while it's on. Whether she touches it herself or you guide her to touch it, praise and treat (I said what a smart, brave puppy constantly). I did this with Sasha until when I released her from holding she stopped running away and approached the vacuum, sniffed it, and would take treats from my hand even if I rested my hand on top of the running vacuum.

Step 3: This book said to do this step while the puppy was in its xpen or crate. Ask the beep beep question, turn it on and move the vacuum. The book said to encourage the puppy to come to the edge of the crate/pen closest to the moving vacuum to explore. Once it does, praise and treat.

Sasha is fine with the vacuum now and pretty much expects treats/food whenever it's on lol. Hope this helps somehow!

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Gotcha 12/15/12.

Tess doesn't like the vacuum, Liza couldn't care less. Tess has always gone to another room when I was busy. She isn't afraid anymore, just doesn't like it and I'm fine with that.

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Isla still doesn't like it, but she's gotten better. she used to run away terrified. I tried stoking it and trying to show her it was ok but that didn't work.
What i did learn was not to confine her. She wanted room to run away from it and got even more upset when i confined her to one room. I just got on with it and let her do her thing. Now when she sees me get it out she just wanders out my way but doesn't run or panick, but she doesn't like being in the same room.

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