It's 6 in the morning and your dog is in the living room trying to set the land speed record for fastest doggo. Your pup has just hit maximum overdrive! ⚡️
Although it seems like a weird behavior, your pup is experiencing a normal case of the zoomies.
What are zoomies?
The technical term for "the zoomies" is called FRAPs - Frenetic Random Activity Periods.
The zoomies are a sudden outburst of built-up energy that is perfectly normal in all dog breeds and ages. Dogs with the zoomies often sprint around the room or yard, jump over furniture, run quickly back and forth, and/or spin in circles. They may also try to encourage you or another pet to chase them.
This random explosion of energetic behavior typically lasts no more than a few minutes. If you've been around dogs long enough, you'll recognize when your dog is about to burst into the zoomies. You may expect your pup to get the zoomies if he/she hasn't had the opportunity to release their natural energy levels.
You can recognize the first sign of the zoomies which typically starts with your dog lowering his front legs into the play-bow stance. Then he'll stare at you with wild eyes anxiously waiting for you to make a sudden move, and then BOOM! Maximum overdrive has been triggered.
What causes dogs to get the zoomies?
Dogs may get the zoomies for various reasons: when they need to release pent-up energy, when they're highly excited, aroused, after watching another pet play, or when they have nervous energy from being slightly stressed or confused. Younger dogs and puppies tend to have these bursts of energy more often than older dogs, but older pups still get the zoomies too!
Witnessing a dog with the zoomies can be very entertaining. You may be thinking, "is my dog broken?" or "did my dog find a Red Bull?" Don't worry, your doggo is normal. However, if you feel that your dog has been having these bursts of energy more frequently, you may want to assess if he/she is getting enough exercise.
Monitoring dog zoomies.
Since the zoomies are a very normal part of a dog's behavior and helps them to release bottled up energy, this activity doesn't need to be prevented as long as they are in a safe environment. "Dog-proofing" your yard or home can help to minimize the risk of accidents. For example, if your pup starts to zoom around on a slippery floor, try to direct him to a safer room or outside where there is a lower risk of slipping and injuring himself.
Sometimes when the zoomies takeover, a pup might try to ignore his training which can make it very tricky to control his behavior. If you're in a situation where you need to catch your dog quickly and he won't recall, do NOT chase your dog. If you try to chase your dog, he may misinterpret this as you playing with him, which will encourage him to continue running. Instead of chasing your dog, run in a different direction and encourage your dog to follow you to a safe place.
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GIF source: reddit.com