Dog owners are often amazed and even horrified the first time they witness a case of the dog zoomies.
The zoomies is quite common in Labradors, so today we are going to investigate this strange behavior.
Let’s find out what causes the dog zoomies, why dogs do it, and how you can reduce or manage your dog when he runs around like crazy.
Is this the dog zoomies?
Does your dog suddenly runs madly around the house like a wild animal, low to the ground with legs bent.
Do his eyes look a little crazy, is his butt tucked underneath him, and does he appear to have no regard for his own safety or your best china?
If so, you’re probably watching a case of the zoomies in action
The word zoomies really does sum up this crazy behavior very well.
What do dog zoomies look like?
A dog with the zoomies isn’t just clumsy or restless. The behavior is quite distinctive, as is the posture of the dog.
It’s almost a squatting kind of run – difficult to describe but you’ll recognize it once you’ve seen it.
You may also see play bows (where the dog goes down on his elbows with his butt in the air) interspersed with the running.
Another feature is the sudden way that the zoomies start.
A dog with a case of the zoomies will break into a flat out gallop from a standing start.
Sometimes right in the middle of your living room! There is often very little warning.
Why does my dog run around like crazy?
People often use the word ‘crazy’ to describe the dog zoomies. The dog will be oblivious to any damage, often crashing into tables and knocking chairs flying.
If he’s outdoors in your yard, he’ll often race in a big circle at break neck speed, leaning right over to turn as tight as he can. And perhaps stopping on occasion to spin around and set off in the opposite direction.
He may well not hear your pleas to ‘stop’ or ‘look out’
The zoomies don’t last long. But they can leave a trail of destruction behind them. And for a new dog owner, they can be quite shocking.
So what exactly is going on here. Has a dog with the zoomies got a problem? Or is the problem all yours?
Let’s discover what the scientists say
Frap dog behavior
Of course, biologists have come up with another name, so you’ll also hear zoomies referred to as ‘frapping’