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Comment by Matt Hayeslip on November 23, 2010 at 8:20pm

I will def try those techniques! I will have to work on it daily but he is very smart and learns quickly. He also tries to do it to the vacuum also. I'm glad to see I'm not the only one. I guess its part of the breed. Thanx everyone for the pointers!

Comment by Sarah Grider on November 23, 2010 at 6:04pm

mine does that with playing cards. and the vacuum, and the broom, and the hose..... if she hears the cards hit each other (like shuffling or dealing) she'll do whatever she can to get to them and DESTROY them. we've had to replace many decks of unfortunate cards.....

Comment by Chris West on November 23, 2010 at 3:56pm

We sort of had this problem with Frosty and the vacuum and lawnmower. He would just go crazy and try to attack them. To get him to stop, I would have him on leash while my husband ran vacuum/lawnmower. Whenever Frosty would start looking at it, get excited, bark, or pay any attention to them at all, I would give a little tug on the leash and make a calm "uh uh" sound. If that didn't work, I would reach down and poke him with my finger and make the noise. When he would ignore them, I would give a treat and/or praise. Frosty is pretty laid back, so that was really all it took. After working with him that way a couple times, all I had to do was say "uh uh" and he wouldn't even look at it. Then I moved to setting the leash down and walking around while Frosty had to stay on a down-stay command. It only took 3 or 4 sessions working with him and now he just watches them, but doesn't get excited or obsessive anymore.

Comment by Angela Kau-Forsberg on November 23, 2010 at 2:37am

You can desensitize him, but it would take quite some time. (This method is easier with clicker training. Click, then say good boy for all these steps if you do clicker training. You'll still be okay if you don't clicker train though.)

I'd suggest first just having the spray bottle in the room within sight. If you catch him looking at it, but not reacting negatively to it, give him a treat and say good boy. Once he's okay just seeing it, approach the bottle. If he doesn't react, say good boy and treat. Touch the bottle. If he doesn't react, treat and say good boy. If he does react, face away from him while still touching the bottle and ignore him. Don't scold him, don't look at him, just ignore him until he stops barking/reacting. When he stops reacting, good boy and treat. Try to use the bottle to clean something. If he reacts, do the same as when touching it. If he doesn't react, good boy and treat.

This is not a thing that can be fixed in one week, one month would be pushing it. It's just something you should inch your way towards a little each day.

Comment by Stephanie on November 22, 2010 at 8:47pm

I'm with John on this one - Bear despises all cleaning tools - included in this list are the broom, mop, vacuum, Windex bottle, Pledge can, Swiffer duster, toilet brush. All I could do was teach him NOT to bite them, he's only allowed to bark at them - especially since I got my New Refurbished Dyson - NO TEETH MARKS!!!! LOL

Comment by John Wolff on November 22, 2010 at 7:40pm

Foster this talent. Encourage his ambition. If this behavior can be transferred to the broom, the vacuum, and the garden hose, you'll have a great alibi for not doing housecleaning and yardwork ("...sorry, Honey, the dog was in the way again, I couldn't get it done....").
BE CAREFUL. Gwynn's fixation on the garden hose is safe, but if it was a spray bottle with, say, ammonia...! You have a potentially dangerous situation for eye injury.