Why Do Dogs Get the Zoomies?

Does your dog suddenly burst into a flurry of energy? It’s crazy time! Termed as the Zoomies, this behavior can occur whether your dog is young, old, and during daytime or night.

Our Fancy, a long-hair Chihuahua, is turning 12 years old. She sleeps often during the day. But there are special moments when she jumps like a rabbit and takes off like a racehorse. With a big grin and wagging her fluffy tail, Fancy makes it evident that she is having a blast!

An expression of happiness

The American Kennel Club (AXC) explains why your dog is happy and wants to interact when playing Zoomies.

“Zoomies, or Frenetic Random Activity Periods (FRAPs), refer to those unmistakable explosions of energy that dogs have on occasion. Zoomies often feature frantic, repetitive behavior such as running in circles or spinning around. A frequent cause of zoomies is an excess buildup of energy that dogs hold on to, which is then released in one big burst.

Certain times of day may trigger zoomies in dogs more than others, such as the first thing in the morning or in the evening after spending much of the day in a crate. Some dogs get zoomies after a bath, while others are triggered by stressful situations like visiting the vet. Zoomies most often occur in puppies and younger dogs, but the phenomenon can strike dogs of all ages and breeds at times.

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. However, constant zoomies 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 reasons.”