Socializing / Desensitizing

[TXDawg]

Question regarding the good old VACUUM.... Today my wife had to vacuum, it's the first time since the pup has been around. (we just got him).

So I told her that she should crate the pup in our bedroom (where he always crates) while she vacuums the living room and other rooms.

Then we have an old play pen that belonged to my daughter (which we usually put him in if we can't supervise him while we're around) that we put him in (in the living room) while my wife vacuumed the bedroom.

Is this the proper way to slowly introduce him to the sound or should we just let him run around while vacuuming?

I've gotta say, he's a pretty tough little guy and is used to some mean thunder sounds. Even last night when we had a bad thunderstorm (Texas has some bad ones), and the thunder sounded like it struck in our back yard, the house rattled and the neigborhood was lit up by lightning, yet the pup showed no fear and just went about his business as if nothing was going on.

Anyhow, just wondering what the right way is to properly introduce a dog to new sounds if I can help it... such as the vacuum around the house.

[Cheyenne Indians AST]

We have always vacuumed with all the pups there , its a daily job and its part of the dogs socialization.
Dogs and pups needs to understand that those sounds are normal , but with putting the pup away from this sounds , it might associate this sound with something unpleasant.
While you put the pup into the crate and doing the vacuuming , the dog might think that its something bad or unpleasant.
Or think that everytime this sound is there , he must go into the crate - maybe even think its punishment.
We always include the pups with all kind of sounds ...from loud music to trains and cars sounds ,,, just everything we can think of.
Even the sound of firecrackers if its that time of year .

john