Episode #189 Understanding Puppy Zoomies: Why They Happen and How to Handle Them

Ever wondered why your puppy suddenly dashes around like a mini tornado? In this episode of the Puppy Training Podcast, hosted by Amy Jensen, we'll uncover the mysteries behind the zoomies, scientifically known as frenetic random activity periods (FRAP). From understanding why these energy bursts occur to recognizing their role in your puppy's development, we promise you'll come away with valuable insights and actionable tips. Whether it’s after a meal, a nap, or a nerve-wracking bath, we break down the factors that lead to these joyful eruptions and how they contribute to your puppy’s growth.

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:00

This is the Puppy Training Podcast, episode 189,. What are the Zoomies?

Speaker 2: 0:10

This podcast is designed to help you on your journey of becoming best friends through love and learning, as you train your own dog from home, and I'm here to help you every step of the way. This is the Puppy Training Podcast, and I'm your host, amy Jensen.

Speaker 1: 0:25

Hi you guys, Welcome to the Puppy Training Podcast. It is summertime so it's kind of a we're here one week and not the next type of thing. But fall is coming and it will be more regular. Thank you for your patience. So today I want to talk about the zoomies. Do you guys know what those are? Most of you probably can envision this in your mind what your puppy looks like if they were to have what we call the zoomies. Do you guys know what those are? Most of you probably can envision this in your mind what your puppy looks like if they were to have what we call the zoomies. There's an actual name for it. It's called frenetic random activity periods, shortened to FRAP, but most people call them the zoomies, so I thought I would explain them today what they are, what we can do about them, why our puppy does this.

Speaker 1: 1:01

It's kind of a weird behavior. Sometimes we see it as very odd and strange. Phrenetic random activity periods are bursts of energy that puppies and sometimes adult dogs experience. These episodes involve rapid, uncontrolled movements, often accompanied by happy behavior, joyful, playful all of those good things. Now, understanding why the zoomies happen, what they look like and how to manage them can help us better care for our dogs. So let's start with why. Why do fraps happen? Fraps are natural and healthy behaviors in puppies, even though it looks kind of odd.

Speaker 1: 1:33

As we talked about, several factors contribute to these energetic births and before we dive into that, I like to think of these as a picture of a volcano. If you will Picture your puppy as a little tiny volcano and energy is building inside of them and then pretty soon it has nowhere to go, so it just explodes. Okay, that's what we're talking about today. So number one as far as these factors go is energy release. Puppies have a lot of energy and zoomies are one way that they burn it off. So you'll often see this happen after periods of rest or inactivity. Puppies may need to just get rid of that built-up energy. You may also see the zoomies after meal times, as that's when their energy is going to spike. Second, you might see this as part of excitement and joy.

Speaker 1: 2:16

Puppies often experience the zoomies when they are particularly happy or really excited. This can be triggered by playtime, seeing their favorite person or just being in a stimulating environment. The next one is stress relief. Zoomies can also occur as a way for our puppies to relieve stress that they are feeling. So after an event that causes stress, like a visit to the vet, a puppy might engage in fraps to cope with some of their anxiousness. You may see your dog run around like crazy after a bath or shower, especially if they're a little nervous about the bath or shower. You dry them off and set them loose, and off they go right. We've all experienced that, I think, as they run around like crazy after a shower.

Speaker 1: 2:55

Number four is developmental behavior. As puppies grow, they're learning to coordinate their movement and how to control their bodies, so they practice with movement. Phrenetic random activity periods can be part of this developmental process, which helps them build muscle and improve their motor skills. Now, what might you see during a phrenetic random activity period, or the zoomies? If you can picture the word zoomies in your head and what that might entail, you're probably right.

Speaker 1: 3:18

So during an episode, you might observe your puppy engaging in a variety of behaviors, including running in circles. This is common that puppies will just zoom around in tight circles or figure eights, indoors or outdoors. Okay, you'll also see them have a little sudden burst of speed where they dash back and forth at high speed, seemingly without a clear destination. They're just really running around, almost like they aren't thinking clearly or thinking at all. The next one would be playful movements. You might see exaggerated play such as play bows, leaps in the air, twists, as part of their energetic play.

Speaker 1: 3:54

Interactive behavior Puppies may try to engage with other pets or people in their zoomies, inviting them to join in the fun. Now, sometimes with new puppies, this one's hard, because our puppies are coming at our feet and trying to bite at our ankles or nip at us, and then they take off running again and then they zoom back and they try to grab us again and they're trying to engage us or invite us to play. But from our point of view it's no fun at all. And then, finally, they might have some vocalizations, so you might hear your puppy bark or make other excited noises when they're experiencing this high energy. Now how can we best help them? Well, fraps are generally harmless and a natural part of puppyhood. There are ways to manage and help channel this energy constructively. Now timing is going to be important as well.

Speaker 1: 4:37

So number one is to provide adequate exercise throughout the day. Just make sure that your puppy is getting enough physical exercise. That can help reduce the frequency and intensity of the zoomies. If they're getting a period here and five minutes there and 10 minutes there and you know a few minutes here of running around and playing, that can help detensify the zoomies right. They don't have those great big buildups of energy because they're getting them out throughout the day. So regular walks, playtime in the backyard, interactive toys, a little game of tug or a simple game of fetch or go find your food right, those scent games can be especially helpful, along with the scent games providing mental stimulation, that's next. So, along with physical exercise, mental exercise through puzzle toys, games and training helps. So mental exercise is just as important as physical exercise throughout the day. Giving your dog puzzle toys, doing little mini two to three to five minute training sessions and playing interactive games every so often can help tire out your puppy's mind, which will also reduce the likelihood of intense zoomies.

Speaker 1: 5:42

Number three is to practice calmness. Teaching your puppy to settle on cue can really be beneficial. We wanna use positive reinforcement to reward our dogs when they're giving us calm behavior which helps our puppy learn to manage their energy levels, and that settling is worth it. Right. They learn to just be, and that's important. While this won't fix the immediate frat behavior. Overall, it can help your puppy better manage their actions. Now, once your puppy has released their pent-up energy, you can work on practicing calm If they already have pent-up energy. Expecting our puppies to be calm while they have this energy is unrealistic. So do remember that dogs need regular downtime throughout the day and make sure they're getting enough sleep. Sometimes our puppies work themselves up into frenzies because they're so tired and they just need a nap. So the combination again of exercise, both physical and mental, and then sleep can make a huge difference in your dog's daily behavior in a good way.

Speaker 1: 6:36

The next one would be creating a safe environment. We want to make sure that, as our puppies are zooming around, that it's safe for them. So we might need to remove any fragile objects or obstacles that could cause injury. Let them run in an open space. If they're jumping and mouthing and that's bothering you, you may want to use some play pens where you stand inside the pen if needed, to just keep them from getting you until they calm down. These are usually very short periods, a couple minutes at the most. The next one would be engaging in structured play. So structured play sessions, fetch, training games, things that provide a controlled outlet for your puppy's energy, where they understand the rules of the game, can help both strengthen your bond and reinforce the good behavior that we are looking for. You can always, throughout the day, monitor patterns, so look for patterns in your puppy's behavior. Notice when your puppy tends to have the zoomies. Typically it's going to be pretty consistent during the day, depending on their meal time or when they've had a long nap or some downtime. That's usually going to be when they have some energy that they need to get out. So you can plan activities to preemptively manage their energy. For example, if your puppy gets the zoomies right after mealtime, be sure to plan in five to 15 minutes of physical playtime when the meal is done.

Speaker 1: 7:49

You guys, fraps are kind of funny. They're fun to watch. They bring a giggle to us, right. They're a delightful and sometimes bewildering aspect of puppy behavior. A lot of us are like what on earth? Where did this come from? But understanding what they are and that it's just a natural way for puppies to express joy, release energy and develop their bodies, it can just help us embrace these moments and not see them as such a negative thing Again, by providing appropriate exercise, creating a safe environment and engaging in a structured play, we can support our dogs as they navigate their little energetic outbursts that we call the zoomies. So again, embrace the zoomies as a normal part of puppyhood and then just work on building the bond between your dog and yourself, which will lead to a happier, healthier relationship, which is what we are all about here at Baxter and Bella. Thanks for listening. Have a great week and happy training.

Speaker 2: 8:41

If you have a question about anything you heard on this podcast or any other puppy training question, visit my site BaxterandBellacom to contact me.