Parker's fears are making a mess!

[Katie, John & Parker pup]

So tonight we FINALLY took the Christmas tree down (I used the "we" loosely as I did 99% of the work) and then of course I had to vacuum all the needles that were behind the tree where I couldn't reach before. So I am using our vacuum and there were SOOOOO many needles from when we moved the tree that the stupid vacuum got clogged and wouldn't suck up anymore, prolonging the process! Well Parker doesn't like vacuums so he is huddled on the couch where DF (dear fiance) is sitting and watching football (not helping me!) and then when I had to borrow a neighbor's vacuum there were two vacuums in the house and I could see Parker getting more anxious...he was trembling....but what am I going to do???? I needed to clean....especially since he is a SHEDDING doodle! So he runs to the door to try and get away from the vacuums and runs into the clogged vacuum and I told DF to take him outside so I could finish without him freaking out....so he says "yah yah" and stands up like he's going to do something and then just stares at the tv while I am still trying to vacuum up the hair and trail of needles! So OF COURSE this was the last straw for Parker and he peed a FLOOD alllllll over my hallway floor, all over the bathroom....like 4 HUGE puddles of pee! So now on top of cleaning with the vacuum I had to clean up two gallon's worth of pee!

We don't have a yard so it isn't like I can send him outside when I need to vacuum...this is ridiculous! Everytime I vacuum, I should expect to sop and mop up pee as well???? He didn't used to be bothered by the vacuum and now all of a sudden it scares the pee out  of him! I am ready to kick them BOTH out and change the locks so I can get some peace and don't need to smell pee and hear football on the tv anymore!

UGH! (sorry...had to vent to someone before I scream!)

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

Aww Katie, I feel your pain. The good news is there are probably trainers or some desensitizing and training you can do to teach Parker to be less scared around the vacuum.
The bad news is, if DF is a sports fanatic and doesn't help take down the tree, or take Parker out when he needs to go, BEFORE your married, you can kiss any hope of that changing after your married, goodbye. Sorry, they don't have trainers for that behavior.
The only advice I can give you after 40 years of marriage, is my DH would be cleaning up that pee himself!

[Katie, John & Parker pup]

lol yah...I feel like sticking the DF in the crate for the night! I am taking back the tv now that I am done cleaning now...and I left the bathroom for him to clean!

[Jennifer,Chloe & Myla]

I agree Sue Dh get the pee because he didn't help get him outside when he needed too. TEAMWORK PEOPLE!!

[Donna K & Quincy]

Quincy used to be afraid of the vacuum and wouldn't even walk by it if it was just sitting there. I used to put him in his crate when I needed to vacuum. Now he is still leery of it but is more inclined to try and attack it even though he still runs from it if it is moving in his direction.

I'd make DF suffer through some really girlie movie and just crate Parker the next time you need to vacuum or at the very least take him out to potty before hand.

[Katie, John & Parker pup]

Yah, I have tried crating him but with such a tiny apartment, the crate is in the middle of it all and he still trembles...I think I may just tie him to the stairs in the hallway while I vacuum next time! Or I will take him for a walk and make DF vacuum for a change! The one we have now is clogged with tree needles though so Parker may be safe from this monster for now!

[Charlotte and Bo]

I left the vacuum sitting out while I went to lunch with a friend. Bo decided he would take care of that noisy thing.  When I got home I found that he had chewed a hole in the hose and chewed the plug off.

[Katie, John & Parker pup]

lol! The vacuum was vulnerable and he took advantage of that! Hit him where he was weak! Bad vacuum! haha! Parker is crated when he is alone because he has always had separation anxiety and he does much better in his crate than he does loose. When I go to check the mail or put the laundry in in the basement, I leave him loose because I am gone less than 5 minutes and all he does is run from window to door barking as loud as he can and then scratching and crashing into the door...he is MUCH calmer in his crate...so he does not have the opportunity to take care of the monster himself! lol

[Katie and Sophie]

Have you ever heard of clicker training? This is my method of choice for all of my training and I could not say enough good things about it. Is a positive reinforcement training method and it worked wonders for my doodles vacuum phobia. She had a similar reaction to the vacuum coming out, but we have been able to desensitized through clicker training. Now the only time the vacuum bothers her is when it wakes her up from a nap ;) if you choose to go this route and need any information or help let me know!

[Katie, John & Parker pup]

I have heard of clicker training and have seen the clickers at Petco but that is as far as my knowledge on the subject goes...How did you use it to desensitize your dood from phobias? lol Parker has so many! But the vacuum is our biggest monster right now!

[Katie and Sophie]

karen pryor is a great person to look up. Her website is a wealth of information. It should be the first one that comes up when you Google her name. Also there is a channel on youtube called kikopup. She has TONS of tutorials on how to clicker train for specific tricks or behaviors. I couldn't remember the exact titles of the videos but the information in these two will help a lot: http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=Jp_l9C1yT1g. And. http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=3-CCJxF-9U4. I know the stimuli is different and parkers reaction is different but it still works in the same way. I think both of these trainers call it counter conditioning. Before you go straight to that you will have to establish a basic foundation with the clicker and get them to associate the click with the treat. That part is really easy though. There should be a getting stated page on the pryor website. I too have a fearful dood and through clicker training she has overcome her fears. And learned some pretty cool tricks :) I love it and highly recommend it!

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

Daisy use to be afraid of the vacuum so we left it out and put her treats on it, the temptation was too much and she started to grab a treat and run, then come back and do it over and over again...eventually she stayed, I think it took a couple of weeks with some daily temptations, now the vacuum doesn't scare her anymore. It's a good thing it worked when she was little because now she doesn't care for many treats...only homemade jerky.

[Becka]

I've seen this method work on the show "It's Me or the Dog" with the addition of using a clicker when the dog approached the vacuum as well.