Research Shows What Appliances Your Dog Hates

Lori Ennis
by Lori Ennis
New research done by Compare The Market shows that you’re not crazy in thinking your dog hates the vacuum. Turns out, he likely does, as over four in five dogs were found to be afraid or anxious about household appliances and the vacuum topped the list!


Coming in right after the vacuum was ….you guessed it! The hair dryer! With over four in five dogs (85%) being afraid of common household appliances, it’s important to know what causes anxiety and how to help your pup through it.


One in five of the dogs surveyed were found to have behaviors considered ‘misbehavior’ in response to the machines–for instance, barking excessively, chewing or chasing the appliance.


The study found the following to be the most disliked villains of the home:


  • Hoover (45%)
  • Hairdryer (24%)
  • Lawnmower (21%)
  • Washing machine (15%)
  • Food blender (13%)
  • Sweeping brush (10%)


Nearly 40% of the fearful dogs will simply leave the room until the scary machine is no longer being used and a fifth of the dogs will actually try to hide from the horrible cleaning and drying monsters. A fifth will also shake, chew or bark excessively, while another fifth will cry or whine. Sadly, nearly 10% would even pant, which vets say can be signs of serious anxiety.


So what’s a pet parent to do?


Dr. Heather Venkat is a veterinarian consultant and says that there are some tips we can use to help ease the issues. They include:


  • Giving them space to move away from the noise. Let them avoid the appliance if that makes them feel better.
  • If your dog is destructive and cries or chases after the appliance then consider putting your dog in a kennel or another room for their own protection.
  • Extremely noise-sensitive dogs may need further attention including natural supplements such as probiotics or even anti-anxiety medication from your veterinarian.
  • Try playing calming music when using loud appliances to try to drown out the scary noise.
  • To avoid dogs becoming afraid of home appliances when they’re puppies, pet owners should gradually introduce their pups to noises at a low volume or from further away. Pairing the noise with a treat also helps the puppy associate the noise with something positive.
Lori Ennis
Lori Ennis

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