Zuigerphobia - Handling Pets that are Scared of Vacuum Cleaners

It’s common to have a dog that runs and hides, shakes, or barks and bites at this strange Vacuum Cleaner. This is known as Zuigerphobia. Dog owners may even need specialized pet hair vacuums to take care of all that pet fur and dander. You have to deal with the organic garden “toys” mostly they enjoy bringing into the house for some playtime. Here are a few things you can do to assist in understanding and soothe your pet’s fear of the vacuum.

Why Are Dogs Scared of Vacuums? 

Dogs are often afraid of vacuums for a simple explanation: They’re loud and have an unfamiliar, confusing odor (remember that our dogs’ basic sense is their sense of smell.) Vacuum cleaners also look unusual and alien. Furthermore, our dog’s sense of hearing is even more sensitive than ours, causing loud noises a whole lot less tolerable. The anticipation, combined with the ensuing turmoil, creates a vacuum scare. In an average household, you likely only remove the vacuum once, maybe twice per week. Our dogs do not have the time to acquaint themselves with the device and become comfortable with it. Every time the vacuum is out, it frightens your dog, their anxiety builds. Eventually, the emotional responses become a learned behavior; just the sight of the vacuum can trigger barking and hyperactivity. This can lead to zuigerphobia, the fear of vacuum cleaners.

Helping Your Dog Get Over the Fear of Vacuum Cleaners

Just because your dog is fearful and reactive to the vacuum today, doesn’t mean she will always be. Some strategies can help you solve your dog’s zuigerphobia:

• The Dog-Management Strategy

One of the best ways to solve your dog’s vacuum fear is by merely having them stay in another room or out in the yard while you vacuum. You could also have your dog go for a walk with your spouse while you clean.

• Dog-sleeping

Due to the Infrequent vacuum occurrence, this might not be too hard to manage in some households. If you stay alone in an apartment, you might need to become creative by hiring a dog walker or having friends and family stop by to assist.

• Desensitize Your Dog to the Trigger

This means getting your dog used to the vacuum very slowly. The goal is to proceed so sequentially that she never reacts fearfully.

Resources and References:

• Coping with Zuigerphobia or the Fear of Vacuum Cleaners
• Professional Dog Walker