Frenetic Random Activity Periods (FRAPs) also known as ‘Zoomies’ are the explosive bursts of energy dogs often exhibit on occasion.
Zoomies often feature frantic, repetitive behavior such as running or spinning around in circles.
A frequent cause of zoomies is an excess buildup of energy that dogs hold on to, which is then released in one big burst.
Some dogs get zoomies first thing in the morning or often times in the evening after spending much of the day in a crate.
While others get zoomies after a bath or are triggered by stressful situations like visiting the veterinarian.
Puppies and younger dogs are more prone to zoomies, but the phenomenon can also strike older dogs of varied breeds.
Zoomies are a natural dog behavior that is most often no cause for alarm, so long as your pup has room to run without injuring themselves, in an open space. You as an owner need to be aware when your dog has the zoomies, and provide an outlet for them to run free.
Constant zoomies, however, may be a sign of a larger behavioral problem, so it’s a good idea to keep tabs on how often your dog is zooming and for what specific reasons.
Possible reasons your dog might be getting the zoomies
1.To act on primal instinct– they may feel this need to jet around just to get it out of their system.
2. To relieve pain, anxiety or depression– zoomies for the most part are a positive phenomenon, but sometimes your dog might be triggered to release pent up energy after an injury and sitting for long periods of time. As a pet parent you need to monitor them here and make sure that they don’t injure themselves too badly.
3.To show excitement– They might whiz up and down all over the place when they see another dog or human that they like, when they can’t contain their happiness or when you pull out a treat they can suddenly get the zoomies.
4. To celebrate a moment that feels good– sometimes when a dog relieves themselves after attending to nature’s call, they might feel proud of themselves for doing so, they suddenly might get the zoomies, run around, and show their pawrent how proud they are for going outdoors and getting the job done when it needs to be.
TIPS TO HELP YOU WITH THE ZOOMIES
-Make sure that when your dog gets the zoomies after a long car ride, or after a visit to the Vet or to a new place, they have plenty of space to run around and release pent up energy.
-Do not chase your dog when he gets the zoomies, as he will then think this is a game and it will tire him out even more.
-Ensure that your dog’s name recall is good, and he can obediently listen to you on command.
-Throw a toy to distract him from running in circles so he finds a new thing to focus on and break the cycle.
-Make sure that your dog is frequently physically and mentally stimulated to avoid sudden outbursts of energy.
-Do not let your dog zoom around if the weather is either too hot or too cold as this could tire them out even faster, leaving you with a dehydrated and exhausted pet.
-Always practice safety! Make sure that your dog is with you after a stressful event, and does not hit into furniture or other items in the household that can cause injury…
Dog zoomies are nothing to worry about, but it is important to understand why our dogs get them and when to keep them in check!
