Is your dog so energetic that he runs around your home uncontrollable? It might come from nowhere.
You might expect him to sprint back and forth in an unsteady manner with his bottom and tail down as if he is being chased, sometimes stopping and bow down to tease you up.
The zoomies are a common term used by dog owners to describe this strange behaviour.
Dogs of all ages and types may exhibit this kind of behaviour at some point in their lives. If he doesn’t do any harm to himself or your property, you may relax and enjoy him play.
But if it is causing harm, you should know how to train a dog to not run away like crazy.
Why is My Dog Running Around Like Crazy?
Many people have firsthand knowledge on the topic known as “frapping” in dogs. This includes dog owners, dog trainers, researchers, and veterinarians.
Frenetic Random Activity Periods (FRAP) is the root word of frapping, which is affectionately referred to as the “zoomies.”
‘Frapping’ is the term for when your dog behaves wildly, like a wild animal.
Every dog in the zoomies displays the same stance as if they were being followed and bitten at the heels, with their bottoms and tails tucked under and their legs splayed out a little wider.
Sometimes they may be running around in circles, and other times they’ll sprint back and forth. They could bark at you or just bark loudly in general. It’s possible that he may bow to you with a smile on his face.
If you copy him, you’ll get another round of zoomies. The zoomies may occur at any time, although they’re most common in the morning, late at night, or just after a bath. Only a few minutes in and the dog is already exhausted.
It is most probably that your dog has a lot of extra energy built up from being indoors all day or a stressful event like a bathing or going to the vet.
The combination of being in the house all day and your home arrival may cause him to get agitated and need to relieve himself. After a wash, dogs typically need to release its stress from being soaked in the tub.
A good FRAP may also help ease the tension of a trip to the vet. You may find that your dog still has the zoomies even after a long walk if you are sticking to predictable pathways that are solely for sniffing and not travelling at a fast speed.
3 Ways to Stop Your Dog from Running Around The House
Owning a dog is a wonderful experience. As a dog owner, you will experience a lot of highs. However, it is not all walks in the park and fuzzy cuddles. A dog is a living animal and you are expected to take care of it for all of its foibles.
Zoomies
One of the things you’ll notice when owning a dog is they can be very hyperactive. They can go from zero to sixty in just a second. You can see a relaxed dog suddenly jump up and run around your house at a hundred miles per hour.
People call these sudden periods of activities the “zoomies,” which release all of the pent-up energy that they have.
When a dog is in zoomies mode, then it is frantic and excited for a burst of time. They’ll ignore getting hit or any obstacles and will just keep on running.
This is not much a problem when you live in a home with a yard, but if you live in a small apartment in can cause a mess.
In dog training parlance, zoomies are called frap. This is short for Frenetic Random Activity Period.
It is possible to train your dog to not get the zoomies and there are three popular methods that would be able to greatly help you in training this habit out of them.
1. The Leash Method
• The first step to this method is to get a short leash and to keep your dog tied to it. This should help ensure that it is in control when inside your home.
• Next, you are going to get him used to slowly walking around your home.
Just lead him from room to room. If he remains calm, then you should do your best to reward him with treats. The constant praise will ensure that the dog knows that behaving indoors brings rewards.
• Always be quick to react. When they start running, you need to pull in the opposite direction.
Be firm about it and show the dog that you are in control. Constantly doing this reinforces that they can’t just do what they want.
• Constant practice is also the key. You need to keep walking them around with a leash regularly.
The best is to do it daily. The more time that you use the leash, the more they become acclimated and they will soon break the habit of running around.
• After a week, then you should try without a leash.
The treats should also be slowly eliminated. Just start praising the dog on his calmness so that their behavior can be reinforced.
2. The Door and Leash Method
• Another method for teaching discipline is to use a long leash.
When the dog is inside the house, have them wear a long leash. This is just one part of the method though. The goal is to teach the dog that zoomies will only end up with them stuck and bored.
• Next, wait for the next time they get excited and stand by their favorite door.
When dogs get zoomies, they often follow a pattern. Just stand by the door and when they pass, close it with the leash getting caught. Just be careful about it so that they don’t get hurt.
• Now you need to wait a bit. This is the dog’s punishment for running around.
The time out period will help get them to calm down. Start off with 30 seconds and then let them go. Just repeat this procedure every time they start running around the house.
• After a few weeks, you should start increasing their time out period.
This allows them to realize that running around is not going to be exciting. The long time outs will also ensure that they start learning to behave.
3. The Distraction Method
• Distracting your dog can be done in a variety of ways.
This is the longest method though and can be very difficult. First, there is exercise them. Just exercise the dog by giving them a walk or run everyday.
A lot of dogs don’t get enough exercise so they end up having a lot of energy. This is the main reason for dogs going on zoomies.
• You can also buy some food puzzles.
These are feeders that provide dogs with mental and physical stimulation. They are also pretty cheap and can ensure that dogs stay occupied for hours.
• You can also install baby gates.
If you have a baby, these should already be there. If you don’t it can be hard to put them up. What bay gates can do is to limit your dog’s movement all over the house.
• Another way to reduce their energy is to do short and frequent walks.
Regular exercise is the key to tiring dogs out, especially if they are puppies. A short walk should be enough. Long walks can be bad for puppies since they can damage the joints and bones.
• The key to this method is to be very patient. You will need to combine all of these methods before you start getting results.
Implement each method on their own or you can use them with conjunction with each other. A week of training and exercising is not going to be enough. You are going to need to be prepared for months before they start slowing down.
Other Factors to Consider
It’s possible that your dog gets the zoomies at regular intervals or in the same kinds of scenarios. Using a food-filled toy as a distraction might help you keep him from rushing about.
Exercise is essential for a dog’s emotional and physical well-being, since a fatigued dog is less likely to run and more likely to rest. In the mornings, try taking him for a jog or short training session before he starts acting off.
When he frappes at night, it’s usually because he’s had a long day at home alone. Hiring a dog walker may help alleviate this problem. The zoomies are the outcome of your dog’s fear.
In theory, he is no longer terrified while he is with you but still needs to release the energy he has stored up because of that dread.
It is important to remember that not all dogs who display the habit of frapping are frightened, and that it might be due to a variety of different factors.
Is it normal for puppies running in the house?
It’s quite normal to do the zoomies. You can frequently get them started by bowing and smiling at your dog with a somewhat insane smile if you find them amusing. He is likely to take the hint, bow back, and then speed away.
If you’re out and about and want to have some fun, go ahead and chase him around. He’ll enjoy the attention and have a good night’s sleep as a result.
A dog’s size, as well as the layout of your home, may have an effect on how quickly you can zoom in and out of the house. Your best bet would be to stop him from zooming in if it’s damaging the furniture or walls, or if it’s putting himself in danger.
Do not laugh, pursue, or pat him if he starts zooming and you don’t want it to happen since he may interpret such behaviours as reward for the conduct. If at all feasible, let him out into a secure space like a big pen or a fenced yard by opening the door.
Try to make the baths as brief as possible and have a large towel on standby to dry him if he likes to zoom afterward. You don’t want your wet speeding puppy getting all over the place.
Helpful Tips for Dog Owners
Here are some helpful tips for dog owners to take remember:
• Ascertain whether your dog is acting out of fear, pain, or hormonal imbalance.
• Maintain a healthy amount of physical activity for your dog each day. It’s best to go for a run with your pet. To foster social skills in your pet, take him to a park where he may meet and play with other animals.
• Professional dog training sessions may help modify erratic behaviour that’s accompanied by biting or hostility.
• Fearful animals may frequently be educated to overcome their phobias. Excessive agitation may be reduced by taking prescribed medication.
• Dog’s spray should be avoided. It will only increase the trauma or stress of your dog.
• During zoomies, pet owners should keep an eye out for strange signs that might indicate a health issue. Regular playing for pets may help control pets’ zoomies since most dogs grow weary after only a few minutes of daily activity.
Start Training
These three training methods should give you a solid method to keep your pet well-behaved and in good condition. Try them out to see which works best.
There is a lot of energy in dogs, and they can’t help but release it in some manner. Your dog is frapping or experiencing the zoomies if he is pacing around the house.
You may save your floorings and furniture by exhausting your dog’s energy through intense training, walking or playing with your dog. This is a great way to stop your dogs running around the house.
However, zoomies shouldn’t be prevented – it’s natural dog behavior and just a symptom of pent-up energy.
You will need to learn how to direct that energy properly so that it won’t cause you problems at home. It is going to take some patience and dedication but a well-behaved dog is its own reward.
Is your dog running around the house like crazy? Share your experience by commenting down below!
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