Why Are Dogs Scared Of Brooms? (8 Reasons + Solutions)

Dogs are so much fun to have around. They make life more exciting and are always up for a good time. If you’re ever feeling down, your dog will almost always cheer you up. Most pet dogs are also very goofy and silly, but when necessary, will flip a switch and do their best to protect you no matter what.

Dogs have wide-ranging personalities too which means you never know exactly what you’re going to get when you adopt a new best friend. Luckily, with a little work and some research, you can usually figure out what your dog’s strange behavior means.

What about when your dog starts acting strange around the household chores you need to do? You should take the time to figure out what your dog’s behavior means. Sometimes it can signal something serious is going on while other times it means your dog is just as silly as ever.

So how about a fear of brooms? Why are dogs scared of brooms? There isn’t a quick and easy answer but here is a quick rundown of the likely reasons: Your dog is scared of the broom because he is anxious, he is confused, it is something new, he doesn’t like the motion of it, he was hurt by someone, he was shooed away with a broom, kids chased him with a broom, the broom is in a new spot and it startled him.

Anxiety

Anxiety is a common reason dogs are scared of things. It can be hard to tell if your dog is anxious about the broom because he doesn’t want you to use it or if there is something else going on. If your dog is generally anxious, it’s important to work with a trainer or veterinarian to help him through his fear.

Dogs that get anxiety from a broom may also be afraid of other things that move around quickly or make a noise like leaf blowers, mops, and even flies. If your dog is only anxious about the broom, it’s still a good idea to talk to your veterinarian though, with some work, you may be able to help him through his anxiety on your own.

Confusion

Some dogs are just plain confused by the broom. It’s something new that has popped up in his life and he doesn’t know what to make of it. This is especially true if you only get out the broom once in a while. Your dog may see the broom and think it’s something to play with only to be stopped by you, or he thinks it’s a threat because he only sees it occasionally.

If your dog is confused by the broom, the best thing you can do is to help him understand what it is and that it’s harmless. Show him the broom and let him sniff it.

Something New

Dogs are good with habits and routines and some dogs especially like things to stay the same. When you introduce something new into their life, it can be hard for them to adjust. They don’t know what the new thing is and they don’t know what to expect from it.

If your dog is scared of the broom because it’s something new, try to help him get used to it. Put it away and take it out again a few times so he can see that it’s not going to upend his life.

He Doesn’t Like The Motion Of It

Some dogs are scared of the broom because they don’t like the way it moves. It may startle them or they may think it’s going to attack them. If your dog is scared of the broom because he doesn’t like the way it moves, try to help him get used to it.

He Was Hurt By Someone

Some dogs are scared of the broom because they were hurt by someone with one. This is especially true if they were hit or chased with a broom. If your dog was hurt by someone with a broom, especially if it was repeatedly, you will probably have a long uphill battle to help your dog get over his fear.

Before that journey can even begin though, you need to make sure that whoever was cruel to your dog is no longer doing so, and if necessary maybe even not part of your dog’s life anymore.

Shooed Away With A Broom

If someone regularly used a broom to shoo your dog away, it’s no wonder he’s not a fan. He’s been conditioned to recognize the broom as something that he does not and should not want to be anywhere near.

Kids Chased Him Around

Realistically, kids chasing your dog with a broom could make your dog love the broom or dislike the broom. It will depend on how your dog interpreted the situation. Did he think the kids were playing with him, and everyone was having a good time? Then he’d probably want to play with you the next time you try to sweep.

If your dog or the kids were hurt or got in trouble then your dog probably has a strong negative association with the broom and wants nothing to do with it.

The Broom Is In A New Spot

Dogs are aware of how their homes are laid out, and will easily notice when something is amiss. If your broom spends its time in the closet but suddenly is leaning up against the kitchen countertop, it might startle your dog.

Things being out of place can upset some dogs and your good boy may think the broom is a threat and begin barking without taking the time to realize it is just a broom.

Maybe Your Dog Is Not Scared Of The Broom

It’s possible that it just appears your dog is scared of the broom, when in fact, something else is going on. If your dog is barking at the broom, you need to remember that dogs bark for a variety of reasons, and sometimes it’s hard to know why they are barking.

Predator Instinct

The motion of the broom could be making your dog’s predator instinct kick in. However, being the good boy that he is, he knows he shouldn’t attack your broom. This isn’t being scared of the broom like the other reasons I’ve gone over, but he may appear that way because he knows he can’t attack the broom without upsetting you.

Playful

If your dog loves to play, he may see the broom as a toy. He could be trying to engage you in a game of tug-of-war or fetch. If this is the case, you’ll probably be able to tell from his body language.

Being Helpful

Some dogs love to help. Or at least that’s the way it comes across. I think we could give all of our household chores to one of our dogs if he only had thumbs. Whenever we sweep, shovel snow, rake, or anything like that, he’s right next to us.

At first, it seemed he disliked us doing those chores because he’d bark and growl while we did them. However, over time we realized he was trying to participate and ‘help’ us with our chores.

What To Do For A Dog That Is Afraid Of The Broom?

If your dog is afraid of brooms and it is lowering his quality of life, then you probably want to correct the behavior. The first step is to figure out what caused your dog to become fearful of brooms. The above explanations should have helped you narrow that down.

Next, you can use one or more of the following techniques to help your dog get over his fear of brooms.

Let Your Dog Get Used To It

If your broom is hidden away in a closet except when you use it, your dog may never get a chance to familiarize himself with it. He might easily get over his fear of brooms if you just gave him a little bit to realize it’s not so scary after all.

Try leaving your broom out in a room of the house that your dog frequents. Be sure it is out long enough to give him a chance to smell it and get used to it.

You could also try moving it around a bit so he can see it’s not going to attack him. If your dog is still afraid, you may need to put the broom away and give it some more time before trying again.

Pair The Broom With Something Positive

You can help your dog get over his fear of the broom by pairing it with something he loves. If your dog loves treats, you can give him a treat every time he sees the broom. Do this enough times and he’ll start to associate the broom with good things instead of bad.

Don’t Encourage Him To Be Scared

It’s very easy to accidentally encourage our dogs to do things we don’t want them to. Maybe you meant your ‘good boy’ comment as a reassurance, but your dog likely took it as you telling him he is good for barking at and being afraid of the broom.

Try to pay extra attention to what you’re communicating to your dog when you’re around him and a broom. If you try the advice above (of pairing the broom with something positive) make sure you aren’t simply encouraging your dog to continue being afraid.

Work With A Professional

Whether it is severe anxiety or something else that is just as bad, sometimes you need the help of a vet or a professional dog trainer. If you’ve done all you can, don’t hesitate to ask for help. Your dog will greatly appreciate it!

Summing It Up: Why Is My Dog Scared Of Brooms?

There are some good reasons your dog may be afraid of brooms. He could be confused, it could be the motion of the broom, or it could be his history with brooms. If your dog is afraid of brooms and it is negatively impacting his quality of life, there are things you can do to help him get over it. Leaving the broom out so he can get used to it, teaming it with something positive, or working with a professional are all ways to help your dog out.