Why Dogs Fear Vacuum Cleaners: Understanding the Phobia

Many dogs exhibit a fear response when faced with a vacuum cleaner, some choosing to flee, while others may bark aggressively or even attack. At the heart of these behaviors lies a common denominator: dogs harbor a genuine fear of the vacuum cleaner.

Sound

Are vacuum cleaners and robotic vacuums loud? Absolutely, they are. While we humans may grow accustomed to the noise, it's a different story for our canine companions.

Adult humans can't hear sounds above 20,000 hertz, but dogs can detect frequencies ranging from 47,000 to 65,000 hertz. The hum of a vacuum cleaner may seem like just noise to us, but to a dog, it can be an unbearable折磨.

Moreover, dogs can hear many lowfrequency sounds that are inaudible to humans. Research by Yale University reveals that dogs can pick up on sounds below 0 decibels. Most household vacuum cleaners produce noise at around 75 decibels.

This means that in addition to enduring the noise, dogs are also subjected to a myriad of strange sounds emitted during the vacuuming process, such as the sound of a pebble being sucked in.

Odor

The working principle of a vacuum cleaner dictates that it must draw in dust while expelling air.

New vacuum cleaners are relatively odorfree, but after some time in use, the air they expel can carry the unpleasant scent trapped in the filter. While this smell may be offputting to humans, dogs with a keen sense of smell find it particularly peculiar, wondering, "Why is this thing both loud and smelly?"

So, the question arises:

Are robotic vacuums more suitable for dogs?

Not necessarily. Robotic vacuums also present their own set of challenges. Some dogs may view them as foes, while others might treat them as playmates, and the complexities can be more daunting than dealing with a traditional vacuum cleaner.

How can we desensitize our dogs?

When it comes to the noise, I've found some success. My dog is scared of the vacuum cleaner on high speed, but it shows no reaction at lower speeds. Therefore, we can start by letting our dogs get accustomed to the vacuum on lower settings before gradually increasing the speed.

As for the odor, there's no avoiding it. Cleaning the filter regularly is the best we can do.

Of course, if you're too busy to perform desensitization, that's understandable. The simplest solution might be to keep your dog in another room while you start vacuuming.