As many of us know (and have experienced first hand) dogs have often been known to have somewhat troublesome relationships with conventional vacuum cleaners and the robotic variety are no exception! Maybe it’s the noise, the way they move, but few dogs appreciate their presence in the home.
Robotic Vacuum cleaners can have a number of benefits for dog owners:
Robot Vacuums are notably quieter than most upright, stick, and traditional style vacuum which is great for dogs as the volume is lower and therefore less stressful for their sensitive ears.
They are extremely easy to use. Once the vacuum is programmed it virtually runs by itself and cleans a multitude of services – great for when you have dogs as let’s be honest, they can be a bit messy at times plus you won’t be constantly cleaning up their hair as they shed!
Robot Vacuums are time saving so you can put your feet up…Or spend more time to playing with your dog!
Steps to Help your Dog Stop Fearing Robot Vacuums
So how can we introduce these super convenient appliances into our household whilst keeping our dogs happy? Below are some steps we can take that can potentially help integrate a Robot Vacuum Cleaner and make the process more stress free for everyone, including your dog!
Step 1: Introduce your pooch to the Robot vacuum cleaner
When you first get the new appliance, keep it out of the box in an open room where your dog can smell it, explore it and get comfortable with its’ presence within the household. This will show your
dog that it’s harmless and not there to invade anyones territory.
Step 2: Use Treats
Next, try leaving treats scattered around the vacuum so that your dog associates it with good things! This will encourage them to get nice and close to the appliance and build trust.
Step 3: Constant Exposure
Expose your dog to the Robotic Vacuum whilst it is still turned off. Let them see you move it around, leave it in different places and slowly let them know to expect to see it around different areas of the house.
Step 4: The big switch on
Finally, set the Robot cleaner to work just a small area at one end of the room. This will give your dog chance to see and hear it at work without feeling intimidated. Maybe your dog will want to go and explore which is a great sign!
If not, distract your dog with toys, treats and playtime whilst the vacuum slowly moves around at a safe distance away. This will be a big step in integration of the new appliance with your dogs routine.
Step 5: Your dog and Robotic Vacuum become…Friends!
By this time, you will hopefully have desensitised your pooch to the noise and movements of the Robotic vacuum cleaner. Your dog will no longer take interest in the appliance and won’t want to
chase, kill or hide from it anymore.
Always feel free to treat your dog when they respond favourably towards the vacuum, this type of positive reinforcement tends to work well and keeps them on top form.
Now you can all enjoy the benefits it brings the household..more free time and less mess!
