Joseph Roetheli, PhD
Highlights:
Dogs sometimes speed around the house or yard for no apparent reason, a behavior known as “zooming.”
Zoomies happen for multiple reasons, including pent-up energy.
In addition to playtime and exercise, giving your dogs chewy treats can help them burn off excess energy and occupy their time.
For most pet owners, zoomies are viewed as funny behavior that their dogs perform on occasion, speeding throughout rooms of the house with or without a toy or a chase from another pet or human. Zoomies can happen at any time of day and last anywhere from a few seconds to half an hour, depending on a dog’s level of energy, age, and need for motion.
Together, we’ll talk about what zoomies are, what causes them, and what you can do to support your dog’s natural energy levels.
Frenetic Random Activity Periods (FRAP) or “zoomies” are short periods of time when your dog exerts a lot of excess energy. Dogs may run, roll around, or chase their tails when they have zoomies.
Zoomies are completely harmless and a natural part of your dog’s behavior. The younger the dog, the more frequently you may see zoomies, but older dogs may also have zoomies from time to time.
Zoomies are caused by many different underlying issues. The biggest reason a dog will have zoomies is due to pent-up energy that they need to expel quickly. These frequent bursts of energy may sometimes be followed by a nap or a period of rest. While zoomies can be normal for dogs, seeing them frequently may indicate that your dog needs more exercise or stimulation than they are getting.
Here are some of the reasons why dogs get zoomies.
All dogs that are physically well and able need exercise. When dogs do not get enough physical exercise, they build up energy that needs to be released.
The amount of exercise a dog needs will largely depend on their breed and age. Generally speaking, most dogs need between 30 minutes to two hours of physical activity per day.
Exercise can be broken down into small segments, like a short walk in the morning, a bit of play in the middle of the day, and another walk in the evening. Ensuring your dog is getting plenty of physical exercise will likely reduce the amount of zooming they do around the house because they’ll be getting their pent-up exercise out on their walks and during their playtime.
In addition to exercise, dogs need mental stimulation. Mental stimulation from toys, games, and exploratory walks helps improve their cognitive function, helping with brain development in puppies, keeping dogs happy, and improving positive behaviors.
If your dog becomes bored, they may erupt into more periods of zoomies, or begin displaying undesirable behavior like chewing on furniture or barking excessively. Even dogs who get plenty of exercise and stimulation may still get the zoomies on occasion. This is a normal part of dog life and is generally safe.
When your dog gets the zoomies they are usually not at risk of harming themselves. If the location where your dog is zooming has sharp corners or dangerous furniture, there’s a potential that they could hurt themselves because they’re going so fast that they aren’t paying attention.
Another consideration is whether or not your dog is healthy enough to run. If your dog has an underlying medical condition, like hip or back pain, or cannot walk or run properly, then taking measures to limit their zoomies is a good idea.
Some dogs zoom more than others, and for pet owners, it can be disruptive and problematic. You can take steps to ensure your dog doesn’t experience the zoomies as frequently.
If you aren’t regularly walking your dog, it’s a great time to start. Most dogs love walking, and if yours is resistant, a few regular walks should acclimate them to being on a leash and enjoying the outdoors.
There are plenty of tools and training guides available to help your dog learn to walk on a leash. Aim to take your dog for a morning and evening walk to help them expend energy and relieve themselves.
Not all dog toys are created equally. Some dog toys are only designed to occupy your dog’s need to chew or their need to chase.
Toys that are interactive, like ones that require your pup to uncover a treat, can help occupy a dog’s paws and brain, giving them the vital stimulation they need. You can make your dog’s toys more appealing by always keeping them hidden from them until playtime so that they do not have unlimited access to them.
Some treats are small and made for training. A small reward for a successful trick or potty training may be a single piece of your dog’s kibble.
However, if you’d like to give your dog a treat that will keep them occupied for a few minutes and stimulate their brain, you can give them a larger, sturdier treat. Treats can be problematic if you choose ones that are too large for your dog or aren’t nutritious.
Here are a few rules of thumb to follow when choosing treats that are safe, effective, and entertaining.
Treats, like toys, are not all made the same. Some treats offer empty calories that don’t supplement your dog’s nutrition. In addition, some of these treats may cause plaque to form more rapidly on your dog’s teeth. This is problematic because canine oral care is directly linked to systemic disease in dogs.
Many treats can become choking hazards. If your dog tends to gulp or swallow large pieces of treats, the potential for choking increases, as well as the potential for the treat to become a bowel obstruction.
Finally, it’s important to choose treats that are filled with nutrients. When you offer your dog treats, you’ll need to reduce their daily kibble intake to account for the calories they are consuming from treats. If your dog’s treats don’t contain protein and nutrients, it’s possible they may not get the vital ingredients they need to thrive.
Thankfully, there’s a simple solution.
Yummy Combs® are treats that help support your dog’s oral health and nutrition and satisfy that need for stimulation. Yummy Combs are formulated with ingredients your dog needs to maintain wellness and ensure there are no nutritional gaps in your dog’s diet. Our 44% chicken protein blend also contains 12 wellness ingredients to keep your dog satisfied and healthy.
The unique honeycomb design of Yummy Combs keeps your dog safe. The wide shape deters gulping, and the thin walls of the honeycomb dissolve rapidly in your dog’s mouth. Our proprietary Slick’M ingredient helps Yummy Combs treats dissolve quickly in your dog’s stomach to deter blockages further down the digestive line.
One of the biggest benefits of Yummy Combs is their ability to support your dog’s oral health. Yummy Combs is scientifically proven to remove up to 25% of hardened tartar from dog’s teeth, which could lead to gum disease or tooth loss. The deep pockets and thin walls of Yummy Combs treats scrub, polish, and floss all surfaces of your dog’s teeth while they satisfy their primal need to chew.
Giving your dog Yummy Combs offers them a multitasking treat that not only helps stimulate their brains and satisfy their bellies, but helps keep their teeth clean between dental visits as well.
Your dog isn’t going crazy — they just have a case of the zoomies. Zoomies are completely normal for dogs, but if your dog seems to be “getting the zoomies” more frequently or so often that it disrupts your home life, you can take steps to reduce their zooming.
Getting plenty of exercise, offering playtime and stimulating toys, and giving your dog Yummy Combs can help keep them engaged and reduce the amount of zooming around they feel they need to do.
Sources:
What are Dog Zoomies? Why Your Dog Runs Around in Circles
Don’t Forget to Walk Your Dog – This Month and Every Month! | American Humane
9 Cost-Effective Ways To Keep Your Dog Mentally Stimulated | PetMD
Teach your dog to walk on a loose leash | Animal Humane Society
Relation between periodontal disease and systemic diseases in dogs | ScienceDirect
Updates, coupons, deals, and more!
Always feed the right treat size for your dog’s weight category. Always supervise your dog when feeding treats. This product is an adult only dog treat. Always provide ample fresh water for your dog.
Type anything...
We use cookies to provide you the best possible experience on our website. You consent to the usage of cookies by continuing to view our website. See our Privacy Notice for more information.
