08/28/2026
There is a trend currently going around on social media with people yelling at their vacuum cleaners or mops to stop it bothering their dogs. I can kind of see a logic there โ the people think they are showing their dogs they are handling the situation and so thereโs no need to be afraid.
Unfortunately, when we look at the dogs in these videos with an educated eye, we can see an all too different outcome. The dogs will hunch down or back away. Ears go further back, eyes go wide showing the white, and there is frequently lots of lip licking and yawning. All of these are signs of stress and show that the shouting is making the dog less comfortable, not more.
Shouting at household implements doesnโt tell the dog weโve got it all under control. Our yelling is little different to their barking, so now Mum or Dad are also yelling at the scary machine. Raised voices are something dogs struggle with most of the time anyway, so adding in shouting to the dreaded presence of the vacuum can make them even more certain there really is something to be scared of.
If your dogs struggle with the vacuum cleaner, broom, mop, or any piece of household equipment, we can help them to be more comfortable, with no need for yelling and without increasing their stress levels further. We can use desensitisation.
Start with the vacuum cleaner, switched off, somewhere the dog can see it but isnโt forced to be too close โ we want them to notice it but not be scared by it. We can maybe offer them some treats, a lick mat or a nice chew that they can enjoy in that spot.
Once the dog is clearly content at that level of exposure, we can move the vacuum closer (still not turned on) and, in steps, bring them closer together.
Once the dog is happy with the vacuum cleaner stationary and switched off, increase the distance again and start to move it a little while the dog is relaxed. Make sure to keep a close watch on the dogโs body language for signs of stress and stop if they are becoming worried again. Slowly increase the amount of movement until the dog is happy with the machine close by.
Increase the distance again and now switch the machine on. The above steps of getting the dog used to the machine while it is stationary and then introducing movement are followed again, resulting in a dog who is much more comfortable with the vacuum cleaner etc being used.
This does mean having to manage the environment when vacuuming or washing floors by having the dog in another room, but it is a process absolutely worth working through to reduce the stress on your dog and make those housekeeping chores less stressful for you both.
