Revealed: The everyday household items dogs are oddly afraid of
New research by comparethemarket.com reveals the household appliances that our precious pooches are most afraid of.
According to the study, four in five (85%) of dogs have been found to have some sort of fear, with one in five (21%) resulting in misbehaviours such as excessive barking, chewing, or chasing the appliance.
Of course, nobody wants to see their beloved dog afraid or unsettled, as well as having to fork out for new appliances due to damages, so why not consider helping them overcome these worries and avoid expensive costs?
Here are the appliances our furry friends dislike the most:
- Hoover (45%)
- Hairdryer (24%)
- Lawnmower (21%)
- Washing machine (15%)
- Food blender (13%)
- Sweeping brush (10%)
Looking into the level of fear experienced, the study found that nearly two in five (38%) will leave the room entirely until the appliance is no longer being used, whereas over one in five (22%) dogs will go and hide under something, such as a table or sofa.
Other reactions include shaking (21%), excessively barking, chewing, or chasing the appliance (21%), as well as crying or whining (20%).
Not only that but rather worryingly one in twelve (8%) dogs were found to pant in response to certain household appliances which is a rather serious fear reaction compared to leaving the area.
So, what can doggy parents do to help ease their dog's fears? Dr. Heather Venkat, a veterinarian consultant, says that fear-related accidents in the home are not uncommon but that it is possible to help avoid them. Here are her five top tips:
- Pet owners can ease their dog's fears by giving them space to move away from the noise. If your dog chooses to avoid the appliance, leave them be.
- Should your dog be part of the 21% that become destructive and cries or chases after the appliance then further separation and boundaries may be needed, such as putting your dog in a kennel or X-pen.
- Extremely noise sensitive dogs may need further attention including natural supplements such as probiotics or even anti-anxiety medication from your veterinarian.
- Pet owners can also play calming music when using loud appliances to try to drown out the scary noise and help their dog to not worry as much.
- 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.
Also commenting, Chris King, head of home insurance at comparethemarket.com, says: "As our research highlights, one in five dogs misbehave and can become destructive in response to various common household appliances, something many pooch parents will have experienced.
"It has been found that 62% of owners said their dogs had caused damage to their home at some point, averaging a cost of £165.47 each year! In fact, a fifth of homeowners (20%)2 haven't even informed their home insurance provider about their dog, meaning they risk their claim being rejected should their pooch cause any damage.
"Ultimately, it's inevitable that your dog is going to be near these items daily, so owners must try to ease their worries and avoid any potential accidents or damages that may arise due to them being frightened. Therefore, having the right home insurance policy in place and checking what is and isn't covered will give you that extra peace of mind, just in case."
We recently researched other common misbehaviours of dogs in the home, and tips on dealing with separation anxiety if your pooch is home alone, find out more here: https://www.comparethemarket.com/home-insurance/content/dog-proof-your-home/
