How to Keep Your Robot Vacuum and Pets Living Harmoniously

Having a robot vacuum and pets in the house should make sense right?

While our pets can give us companionship, unconditional love, and a sense of responsibility — all of which are good for our mental health, they can also cause a mess that we need to clean up. Especially if we have a furry one.

Fortunately, we are living in the modern age and robot vacuums have already been invented for our convenience. You will have a clean floor without breaking a sweat and you can do other things while your robot vacuum mops the floor for you. It is really awesome to have them in our house.

Unfortunately, our pets do not have the same sentiment. So how do we make our robot vacuum and pets live harmoniously? Find out below.

Why Do Your Pets Hate Your Robot Vacuum?

One of the common reasons why your pets show aversion to your robot vacuum is because they are scared.

To better understand why they can’t bear your robot vacuum, let us first try to see the world through the eyes of your pets. They probably have no idea what to make of the weird machinery unless they were exposed to vacuums in a safe atmosphere when they were young. Robot vacuums, in particular, have the appearance and scent of a normal stationary item, yet they move as if they are alive. Many animals will be intimidated by this strange technology and fear will be their automatic response.

Vacuums also produce a lot of noise, which can cause stress in animals. If you have a dog, you probably already know that a dogs’ hearing is considerably sharper than humans’. If your robot vacuum sounds loud to you, it will be especially overstimulating for your dog. Additionally, animals who have had bad encounters with these appliances, such as being chased or slammed by one, are more likely to be afraid of them.

Animals deal with fear in a variety of ways. Your pets may fight your vacuum as if it were an invader, or they may hide under your bed or a corner in your house where they feel is a safe place. Regardless of their reaction, you can always find ways to make your pets be less fearful of your robot vacuum.

Tips for Making Your Pets Feel at Ease With Your Robot Vacuum

Since fear is the root cause of your pets’ dislike for your robot vacuum, here are some things you can do to help your pets be less fearful and more comfortable with your robot vacuum.

Try to Leave the Unused Robot Vacuum in the Open

You’ll need to condition your pet that the robot vacuum is harmless so that they will be comfortable around it. Exposing your pets to the robot vacuum when you’re not using it is one way to do this. This also allows your pets to get to know the robot in their own time and in a less stressful environment. Your pet will eventually begin to regard the robot vacuum as a “housemate” rather than a stranger.

Don’t Force Your Pets

If your pets are not ready yet, don’t forcibly hold them or put them too close to the robot. This will only build more tension and make your pets more fearful, which may lead to aggressive behavior. Be patient and try to calm your pets. Be their comfort and assure them that the robot vacuum will not cause them harm.

Positive Reinforcements

The key to training your pets to connect the vacuum with pleasurable experiences is positive reinforcement. Begin by giving them rewards and praising them whenever they approach the robot vacuum on their own. Whenever your pets feel anxious, whether they’re right next to it or hearing it from another room, calm them down and give positive reinforcement once they do so. It’s a good idea to use your pets’ most valuable treats as a reward to help them feel more at ease.

Don’t Punish Your Pets

Punishing your pets for their reaction is the worst way to deal with their robot vacuum phobia. Resist the urge to scold them if they respond with unwanted behavior, such as whining or attacking the robot vacuum. This will simply serve to strengthen your pet’s aversion to your robot vacuum.

Make a Schedule for Your Robot Vacuum and Pets

It will take time to train your pets to be more comfortable with the robot vacuum. But this does not mean that you won’t be able to use your robot vacuum while you are training your pets. You can move your pet to a separate area of the house if you need to vacuum during the training process. This will alleviate their anxieties and also make your life easier. If you put your pet in a different room, make sure they have their favorite treat or toy with them to keep them occupied. This will also help develop positive associations.

You can also schedule outside activities with your pets or run errands with them if possible. For example, if you have a dog, you can program your robot vacuum to clean only when you and your dog are out walking, at the park, or when you bring your dog to doggy daycare. The good thing is that most robot vacuums in the market allow you to control cleaning schedules ahead of time. Thus, it will be easier for you to organize your robot vacuum cleaning time while doing errands or activities with your pets outside the house.

Look for a Low Noise Vacuum

Our pets’ hearing is more sensitive than ours and robot vacuums create sounds that may be too loud for them. But how do we know what sound levels they can tolerate? The loudness or intensity of a sound is measured in decibels (dB). For humans, sounds at or below 70 dB are considered safe but for animals, since they have more sensitive hearing, the decibel level that they can tolerate is lower.

Thus, if you are considering buying a robot vacuum, it is advisable to check the sound level indicated in their product description. One good option is the Eufy Robovac.

Final Note

Having a robot vacuum at home is a lifesaver for most of us who want to keep our surroundings clean with little to no effort, while also saving us a lot of time. Even though our pets may not think the same way at first, we can always persuade them to accept our robot vacuum as part of the pack in the house instead of their enemy.

With our above tips, remember to be patient with your pet as it may take time for them to fully be comfortable with your robot vacuum. But in time, your robot vacuum and pets will be able to live harmoniously and you will have a clean and peaceful home.