Don’t Worry, Dog Zoomies are Normal

Get out of the way! Is my dog possessed? Nope, he just has dog zoomies.

This crazy dog behavior is witnessed by pet owners every day. Dogs will randomly run through the house like a speeding missile that leaps, runs, bounces, nips and turns circles so fast they resemble a blur. This sudden burst of energy is lovingly called zoomies, and is normal canine behavior. Technically, zoomies are called frenetic random activity periods, or FRAP, for short.

Thankfully, zoomies end just as quickly as they start up, but many pet owners wonder what causes dog zoomies and how to best handle them.

What are Dog Zoomies?

Zoomies refer to a dog’s random burst of energy that can last seconds or several minutes. Easily excited dogs, or dogs with extra bouts of energy, may zoomie more than other dogs. However, I’m not certain this is completely true. I’ve watched senior dogs zoomie for a few seconds when their human comes home. They do this out of excitement.

One thing we can assume from this quirky dog behavior is zoomies are caused by excitement and powered by energy. Sometimes, when pet owners elicit play, this may cause their dogs to zoomie around the house. When we come home from work, our Bull Terrier does somersaults on top of our bed, which we lovingly call huckle butting. 🙂

What Should You Do?

Just step out of the way, and let your dog enjoy his or her zoomies. Some pet owners will clap or speak in a high-pitched voice while dog zoomies happen. This will ensure zoomies carry on for several more minutes.

Let Him Outside

For larger dogs that knock over furniture or people during zoomie time, let them out into the backyard to enjoy their zoomies. Remember, dog zoomies are powered by excitement, so allow your large dog to celebrate your arrival home in a safe place. Nothing ruins a good zoomie than getting into trouble.

If your large dog gets too excited, ask him to play a game of “touch” or play a quick game of fetch. Asking your dog to “sit” or “down” when he’s excited won’t happen and isn’t fair. It’s equivalent to asking a young child to stand completely still when walking through Disney World gates. It’s impossible. 🙂

Don’t Chase

Now, refrain from chasing your dog during zoomies, as this will teach your dog to run away from you. While it’s fun it the moment, it can turn into a game of “keep away,” which isn’t fun when trying to catch your dog.

Too Many Zoomies?

A few zoomies are fun, but several zoomies a day means your dog needs additional exercise. Plan to walk younger dogs for 30 minutes per day. During walks, make sure your dog has plenty of sniffing opportunities too. This uses up excess energy. Also, feed daily meals from food puzzles and provide plenty of chewing opportunities too.

Enjoy zoomies with your dog. Celebrate together!