Have you ever seen your dog running around at full gallop indoors and outdoors? It’s funny when that happens, but sometimes it can’t be helped but to feel your heartbeat speeds up for a moment because of worry. What’s happening to him? Is a swarm of bee after him? Has he gone completely crazy?
But then you notice his face with those gleeful eyes, tongue hanging out of his mouth as if gasping for oxygen due to the wildness of his activity, and the big smile that tells you he’s just having some fun. You tell yourself, there’s no need to worry – he’s merely having a bout of dog zoomies.
Dog Zoomies: Defined
Zoomies, or Frenetic Random Activity Periods (FRAP) if you want to be technical about the term, is a sudden outburst of contained energy in dogs.
Zoomies typically last for a few minutes, and this behavior is typical to a lot of dog breeds. While there are many reports that zoomies often happen in young dogs, this behavior affects all dogs regardless of age.
Senior dogs may tend to sleep more than the younger ones and have less energy to catch FRAP, but sometimes they also feel the need to let their contained energy out. That’s why getting zoomies is not selective of age unless an old dog is so too weak to experience this kind of dog behavior.
When Does FRAP Happen?
The fact that FRAP is a behavior through which dogs release pent-up energy, it’s not surprising that it usually happens in the morning after they have slept all night. Some episodes also occur in the afternoon or before sunset when it’s time to walk them after having been confined in a doghouse.
Moments of zoomies also happen when a dog becomes too excited or overwhelmed with emotion. This wild behavior is infectious, and it can affect other dogs around until all of them wild-eyed dogs go bonkers while thundering down back and forth, running down in circles, and jumping all over the place.
A refreshing winter morning, a pleasant spring day or a long summer evening can also be an ideal time for dogs to get their pent-up energy out by wildly running around the yard. I also noticed that dogs also get into FRAP mode when they are on the beach or a dog park with soft grassy grounds. It seems that that’s their favorite type of ground to zoom around.
Zoomies also happen out of a dog’s routine. It can occur in the morning right after waking up or at night before sleep. Sometimes it happens during mealtime or while their pet owners are hanging around the sofa watching TV.
Bathtime can also send your beloved furry pets into an episode of FRAP. After getting a refreshing bath, most dogs will zoom around the place as if they have lost their mind. They will wipe their body on the floor or shake the remaining water off their body once they’re out of the tub.
Are Zoomies Normal and Safe?
Getting zoomies is normal for most dogs. As mentioned previously, FRAP happens to puppies and older dogs, male and female dogs, small breed, and large breed dogs. However, you should ensure that they are safe while they’re experiencing zoomies.
For instance, you should get them in an open yard while they’re in FRAP mode. Don’t let them run around inside the house where furniture and obstacles get in their way. Not only that they might damage the things in the house, but they might also get harmed if they run into solid objects in there.
Don’t let your dogs run around a slippery floor as they might get injured if they slip or fall. It’s vital that you let them experience their zoomies, but you should see to it that they won’t get harmed in the process.
Yes, it’s indeed a fun sight looking at your beloved pets when they’re having a FRAP. Still, you should monitor or track the pattern of their zoomies. In this way, you’ll know when this behavior usually happens and understand why they’re happening.
Dogs that get frequent zoomies could be dealing with some mental health issues. In such a case, it’s essential to consult a veterinary behaviorist to look into the problem.
Ways to Control Dog Zoomies
Although they’re normal and entertaining, frequent episodes of zoomies can be a problem on your part and your dogs. Sometimes they occur at the most inconvenient of times, and you want to calm your dog down.
If this behavior happens frequently, and at the wrong time, there are ways that you can do to control dog zoomies.
Take Your Furry Pet for a Walk
I’m sure you already know that FRAP is a way of dogs to release pent-up energy. In this case, you can take them for a few minutes walk or run to help them get that contained energy in their system out. After vigorous physical activity, for sure, they’ll relax.
Give Them Signs That It’s Not Playtime
Most of the time, your dogs take cues from you when is the right time to do something. So, if they’re to go into FRAP mode at the most inconvenient of time, you should know how to avoid engaging with them to stop their impulse to do it.
Avoid chasing them around or reacting to their frenetic behavior. Otherwise, they’ll think it’s playtime when it’s not. If you give them signals that it’s not the right time to play, they’ll try to calm down and forget their run-and-jump impulse altogether.
Give Your Dog Some CBD
Dog zoomies are sometimes caused by too much stress. If this is the problem, you should give your pet a CBD extract to calm down their stress-related restlessness and frantic behavior. However, you should consult a veterinarian before you administer CBD on your dogs.
It’s also essential to keep in mind that should only give them CBD to relax when they’re already having frequent zoomies in a day.
Takeaway
Now you know that having zoomies or Frenetic Random Behavior Periods (FRAP) is healthy for dogs. You should only make sure that their environment is safe when they’re experiencing episodes of it, and control their frenetic behavior when it already goes overboard.
Author Bio:
Izabelle Horn is a writer and a blogger who focuses on health and wellness topics. She loves to stroll around the web like on CBDnerds, to look for fresh ideas that could help her create new content for the readers out there.