Kroki

Question

Why does my dog get the zoomies?

The short answer

Zoomies (FRAPs) are sudden bursts of wild running, normal especially in puppies and young dogs. Nobody knows the exact cause; they seem to release built-up energy or tension, often after a bath, a poo, a return home or in the evening. You do not need to stop them, just keep your dog away from stairs, slippery floors and roads, and do not chase it. Kroki, a reward-based training app for puppies and dogs, has steps for a rest and sleep routine and relaxing on a mat.

How to do it, step by step

  1. Let it run where it is safe

    An episode is usually over within a few minutes. Move breakables and chairs out of the way, and if you can, let your dog run on grass or a carpet rather than tiles, wooden floors or gravel.

  2. Steer it away from danger, not into a chase

    If your dog is heading for stairs, a busy road or an open gate, do not run after it: chasing makes the game wilder. Call it in a happy voice, turn and walk the other way, or toss a toy or a treat into a safe area.

  3. Learn your dog’s triggers

    Most dogs zoom at predictable moments: after a bath, after pooping, when you come home, after an exciting walk or late in the evening. Once you know them, you can plan a clear, safe space for those moments.

  4. Make bath time and greetings easier

    After a bath, towel your dog in a room with soft flooring and a closed door. When you come home, greet calmly at first and let it out into the garden or to its toys before the excitement builds.

  5. Check that its day has enough exercise and rest

    Frequent zoomies at awkward times can mean that a dog needs more activity and brain work, but an overtired puppy zooms too. Balance sniffing walks and short training games with a clear rest and sleep routine.

  6. Help it settle afterwards

    When the burst ends, invite your dog to its mat, offer a chew and reward it for lying down. Do not scold or try to grab a zooming dog: it is not misbehaving, and grabbing can frighten it.

Puppy or grown dog?

Puppies and young dogs get zoomies most often, often in the evening when they are tired. Give them soft ground and keep them off stairs and slippery floors, because their joints are still growing. In a grown dog occasional zoomies are normal too, but zoomies that appear for the first time in an older dog, or that look frightened rather than happy, are a reason to see a vet.

What vets know about zoomies, and what they do not

The official name is frenetic random activity periods, or FRAPs. A behaviour specialist at Cornell University’s vet school says there is no known specific cause. Zoomies seem to be a way to release pent-up energy or perhaps to relieve stress. They are most common in puppies and young dogs, though some dogs keep having them now and then all their lives (Cornell Riney Canine Health Center).

Typical triggers listed by Cornell include a person coming home, late evening, play, overstimulating training, after pooping and other exciting events. Happy zoomies look loose and wiggly, often with a play bow and a flapping tongue. A frightened dog looks different: tense, with wide eyes, a tucked tail, a low head and ears folded back (Cornell Riney Canine Health Center).

Zoomies themselves will not hurt a dog, but running at full speed can lead to injuries. Cornell advises keeping zooming dogs away from stairs, slippery floors, obstacles and roads, and says grass is the best footing, with carpet and packed earth also suitable (Cornell Riney Canine Health Center). For puppies, a Norwegian study adds a related point: puppies that used stairs before three months of age had a higher risk of hip dysplasia, while off-lead exercise on soft ground went along with a lower risk (Krontveit and colleagues 2012). That study was not about zoomies, but it supports letting puppies run on soft, even ground.

Happy zoomies or something else?

  • Happy: loose body, play bows, open mouth, short bursts, and your dog settles afterwards.
  • Worried: tail tucked, ears back, wide eyes, running away from something or hiding afterwards.
  • Uncomfortable: zooming with scooting, biting or licking at the rear end, or after every poo.
  • Repetitive: spinning or chasing the tail or shadows that you cannot interrupt is not the same as zoomies.

When to see a professional

Zoomies are usually harmless fun. Get help if:

  • your dog collapses, cannot stand, seems confused or unresponsive, or twitches or paddles its legs during or after an episode

    Emergency: get help now

  • your dog limps or yelps after running, zoomies are new in an older dog, or they come with scooting, licking the rear end or straining

    Have a vet take a look

  • the running looks frightened or frantic, or your dog spins or chases its tail and cannot be distracted

    Get support from professionals

The help pages list services in Germany, Austria and Switzerland only. Elsewhere, ask your vet practice who they recommend near you.

Frequently asked questions

Why does my dog get the zoomies after a bath?

Many dogs zoom after a bath, probably to shake off the wet feeling and the built-up tension of being washed. Towel your dog in a safe room and let it run on a soft floor.

Why does my dog get the zoomies after pooping?

Zooming after a poo is common and usually harmless; nobody knows exactly why. If it comes with scooting, licking the bottom or straining, ask your vet to check the anal glands and gut.

Why does my puppy get the zoomies in the evening?

Evening zoomies in puppies are very common and often mean the puppy is overtired rather than full of energy. A calm evening routine, a chew and an early nap in a quiet place usually help.

Should I stop my dog when it has the zoomies?

No, you do not need to stop zoomies; just keep them safe. Steer your dog away from stairs, slippery floors and roads, and let the burst run its course.

Do zoomies mean my dog is not getting enough exercise?

Not always, because many well-exercised dogs zoom too. Very frequent zoomies at awkward times can be a hint that your dog needs more activity, sniffing and brain work during the day.

Do older dogs still get the zoomies?

Some do, now and then, throughout their lives. If an older dog suddenly starts zooming when it never did before, ask your vet, especially if it seems restless or uncomfortable.

Is it fine to play chase with my dog during the zoomies?

It is better not to chase, because it winds the dog up further and can teach it to run from you. Calling it to you and running the other way is safer.

Sources