Pet hair gets clogged bottom corner where hose goes up very hard to get out blocks air ways and dirt from going into dyson

SOURCE: Dyson DC17 blockage

You need to "click" off the cone part it fits tight but a little pressure will pull it (no screws holding it) off revealing more screws under. The you should be able make this apart pretty easy. Top tip :- When it's in pieces put the parts in the dish washer to get all the grim off! Don't forget to remove the black gasket it doesn't like water so much :) Good luck

SOURCE: Dyson Dc-17 Animal Doesn't ****

I had the same problem and today I finally called Dyson. They were very helpful. I disconnected the hose from the handle using the red release button. If you hold the handle up to the light and can't see light on the other side, there is a blockage. A wire coat hanger worked great to dislodge our blockage and it's working perfectly again!

SOURCE: clogged filter

hi if you turn vac over and look at the cover that hides the brush roller and remove the cover ? it is held by nylon twist 45 degree left type screws ? then you may find the brush housing clogged as well as the channel flow tube below the brush ? lift brush out and release from belt to enable to clean of hairs/carpet strands etc ? then reassemble next remove the clear canister and clean you will then see the cone/air filter ? it has hundreds of holes that get clogged due to vacuum created in cyl use a small implement and poke every hole clear ? if these are clogged vacuum remains in operative resulting in no vac at pickup head/brush beater roller assume you have replaced the disposable filters? hope this helps not an uncommon/fault and easy remedy

SOURCE: Dyson D15 Animal is clogged, both in hose and in bottom

take pipe off and push a bamboo or somthing simular down hose

SOURCE: 8 holes in root cyclone are clogged

There is no real solution other than to call Dyson provided still under warranty.

IMHO, DC17 Animal has a flawed design with the sealed canister (at least as purchased in December 2006 purpotedly has been corrected at this time).

The rubber gasket (where you close the bin at the bottom) is so delicate, that even the routine maintenance of emptying the bin can dislodge it (or even crimp it) so that debris (carpet lint, pet hair, etc) enters the cyclone itself eventually clogging it.

After going throught their recommended solution on their web site without fixing the problem, it was a typical customer service experience on calling. But with persistence in explaining their faulty design to them (particularly with regard to the fact that it's caused by routine maintenance), they'll break down and send you a new cylone unit at no charge - from there on out ensure that the thing is sealed after emptying or performing normal maintenance.

Although the original question is somewhat dated, hopefully this will save others some aggravation in dealing with the problem.

A grumpy old guy who simply insists that companies put service/care back into the customer service/care hotlines....