I have an almost 2 year old akita and I got her at 6 weeks. It is obvious that was too young to take her from her mother - she is the BEST dog I have ever had or even met in my life but she is terrified of weird things - I can't turn the vaccum on without her literally pooping all over the house in terror. Suggestions??

Hi, I'd like to help but have some questions to understand the situation more, hope you don't mind.

Did you take any training classes?
Did you socialize?
How is he/she with people? Other dogs?
Is the fear of the vacuum when you turn it on or only when you get near them?
Fear of anything else?
Has the breeder helped you at all?

Thanks!

maybe you can try to vacuum when she is in a room on the opposite side of the house doing something fun with someone she likes. Like maybe they can play with her favorite toy or get her some very yummy treats? I would also suggest try to only do it a little at a time when she is getting used to it. The other times you need to vacuum maybe you can let her outside to play until you are done if the weather is not bad.

Then you can get her used to vacuuming one baby-step at a time:

A) Whenever you're at home, leave the vacuum out all the time in the main room where you & your Akita hang out the most, so she gets used to seeing it day in & day out -- Wherever you feed her, bring the vacuum & sit it right next to her food bowl BEFORE putting the food in it...

B) While you actually DO the vacuuming, set her crate up in the bathroom, put her in it, with a sheet draped over the top & sides, and keep the bathroom door closed...

C) After she gets used to that, you can move her crate (with the cover-up sheet on it) into any room where you're NOT vacuuming, but she can hear the machine running in another room...

D) After she gets used to that, you can vacuum in the room where she's in her crate...

E) If she never gets de-sensitized to the machine running, then just put her out in the car while you actually vacuum & write it off as the way you do things at your house <:-)

Which I didn't know was too young, since the breeder was willing to give him to me. Live and learn

We did a lot of socializing with Mikko, so he isn't scared of anything like that. I actually have to bump with the vaccuum to get him to move. SO, I cannot help you much.

I would listen to the others though, and just take baby steps. Does you pup get scared at the site of it, or just when it's on?

I don't think she likes it as she jumps away if its near her but she brings it her toys and runs around doing zoomies as i vacuum but if its in the room off she doesn't care at all about it.

So your dog literally craps when its on or just runs freaking?

Magnum thinks the vacuum is awesome. He loves to have me suck his coat with the nossle. And I have to bump him to move or he likes to bring me toys and place them in front of the vacuum. Mom doesn't think that game is very fun. :-(

Any idea what could have scared her so bad?

I never had a problem with this, so I pretty much pulled this out of my butt. Please take with a grain of salt.

I would try and leave the vacuum cleaner in the center of the living room or wherever your pooch can investigate it. "off of course". I would then try and vacuum with it off. Just push it around the floor. "not toward the dog yet!". Give lots of praise take breaks leave the vacuum and go love on your pooch then go back to fake vacuuming. Then maybe if the dog becomes comfortable and ignores you doing that then try and play games with it. Chase your dog around it and have your dog chase you. If all goes well, maybe simply turn it on then off again real quick. If the pooch runs scared half to death then call the dog over and giving lots of encouragement and praise. Rinse and repeat. I guess what I'm trying to get at in all of this is to build your dogs confidence that the vacuum will not attack and its safe. I don't think this will be an easy over night fix. I think it will take time and baby steps no matter how you get your dog used to it. Be patient, Be consistent.

The only other option I can think of is to put pooch outside while you vacuum. I would personally try and help your dog overcome its fears first though.

Once again this is just my humble opinion of what I might try and do if I were in your shoes.

Jimmy has given great advice. Just be careful that you are not praising the fear. It is a very fine line sometimes. For example, my Elkhound is afraid of thunder. I cannot cuddle, praise, or soothe him for it only encourages the behavior. Nor can I yell at him for his fear. If it starts to thunder, I calmly pick him up and put him in his crate with a cover and leave him alone until it over.

Wish you all the luck as this is a tough one.

You are 100% correct. Thanks for the input