What kind of vacuum do you own?  

I use a Bissell Powerforce Bagless vacume cleaner at my house. I bought it at wal mart quit inexpensive and it works very well. I like it because you do not have to buy bags.I also have a carpet steam cleaner too, it is light weight and works real well. I do have an old electrolux vacume cleaner, but I never use it, The Bissell works much better and is much lighter and easier to use.

I don't have a vacuum cleaner at all. I have wood floors, and sweep instead.

My last vacuums have been Dysons. They could actually lift pet hair of carpets successfully.

The one i have at the moment is a cylinder one ,and its fine..it picks up the dog hairs well..but in actual fact i would prefer the one i had before..not a cylinder but an upright..it was much easier to carry about..

I own a Kirby G5, last year I noticed it was loosing suction too. When I took the bag out to check it, I saw the the hose that the bag attaches to had tore close to the base. I took it all apart and fixed it myself. I had to have plastic ties but it works beautifully now.

I could have had it repaired, but the cord alone cost me almost 60 dollars when I had it replaced. Besides, I can't be without my vacuum cleaner for more than acouple of days, I would go nuts.

My mother-in-law and I bought our Kirbys at the same time, and sure enough, hers tore in the same place mine did (I fixed hers too).

For a vacuum cleaner that is ten years old. I won't complain. It's a great cleaner. Of course if I ever replace it I'll try a Dyson. I do get tired of having to buy bags for it.

Sorry again I responded in the wrong spot