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Just when you think your puppy should be settling down for the night, boom, your puppy jumps up and starts running around the house like there’s a squirrel to chase. But there’s no obvious reason for the behavior. There’s nothing ahead of them to chase and nothing behind chasing them. What’s gotten into your pup? New dog owners are often surprised and even alarmed by this strange dog behavior. But there’s nothing to be worried about. Although it seems like your puppy is hallucinating imaginary playmates, it’s just a case of the zoomies.
Zoomies are also known as “frapping” which comes from the acronym “F.R.A.P.” or “Frenetic Random Activity Period.” And that sums them up perfectly. Your puppy will show intense and random activity for a short burst of time. Your pup might run in circles or start and stop on a dime. Play bows are often included in the display as well. This completely normal behavior is a way for your puppy to get rid of excess energy.
Because frapping releases energy, you can expect to see it when your dog is particularly excited or playful. Get that tennis ball out for a game of fetch and your puppy might start zooming all over the backyard. It will look like your puppy can’t contain their glee. At other times, a dog will get the zoomies after a stressful event, like after a bath. It’s as if they’re discharging the nervous tension that had built up. Or perhaps they’re simply delighted the event is over.
Zoomies also happen quite often at night. Especially with puppies who have been crated all day or have not been given enough opportunities to exercise. As soon as they get the chance to run around, they take it.
Even adult dogs get the zoomies, although the younger the dog the more frequently it seems to occur. Why is this such a common puppy behavior? Although puppies nap a lot, they also have huge bursts of activity each day. In general, they are more energetic than older dogs. As a dog ages and their energy level drops, the frequency of frapping usually drops too.
You might be wondering if the zoomies are safe for your dog. There are only two concerns: obstacles and frequency. First, make sure there are no obstacles in your puppy’s path while they zoom. A fenced yard is a great place to let them get their energy out rather than a cluttered living room. Carpeted areas are safer too, so your puppy doesn’t wipe out and take a tumble. Also, make sure you keep any breakable knickknacks or delicate ornaments away from your puppy’s zooming path. If they bump a table leg, your heirlooms might go flying.
Second, watch the frequency of your puppy’s zooming. Most of the time it’s a harmless behavior that dogs appear to wholeheartedly enjoy. But if your dog is frapping all the time, you might be looking at something more serious. It could be an obsessive behavior that indicates a bigger problem. Your puppy might be dealing with a compulsive need to zoom or might be experiencing a high amount of stress. If you have any concerns about your puppy’s behavior, consult a behavior professional for help.
More likely, frequent zooming is a sign that your puppy isn’t getting enough exercise. Although puppies shouldn’t participate in strenuous exercise or activities like jumping that can damage their growing bones, puppies need physical and mental stimulation. Daily walks, playtime, and training sessions can give puppies a chance to release their energy. The more you meet your puppy’s physical and mental needs, the less they will need to frap.
What do we mean when we say a dog is hyper?
If you’ve ever had a dog explode in a fit of hyperactivity, you’ll know what we are talking about. Brace yourself for an incoming PUPPY TORNADO of energy!
Some dogs tend to have sudden energy releases, racing around the house or yard in a seemingly chaotic manner.
This is often referred to as the ‘zoomies’ or ‘puppy witching hour,’ as it is pretty standard behavior at night, especially in puppies. Scientifically, this behavior is known as FRAPS: Frenetic Random Activity Periods.
What causes dogs to be hyper at night?
There is a whole range of reasons why dogs become hyper at night. Pay attention to your dog’s behavior, the timing of their hyperactivity, and if there are any apparent triggers to determine why they might be acting in this way.
Here’s a list of the most common causes for a dog being hyper at night.
Getting hyper at night can simply be a way for a dog to burn excess energy. This is especially common in active breeds, like German Shepherds, if they are not getting enough daily exercise. It also might happen if you haven’t had a chance to walk your dog that day or give them their typical physical workout. Puppies especially are likely to get the zoomies if they haven’t been sufficiently tired out through the day.
The need to expel excess energy isn’t always caused by a lack of physical exertion. Sometimes, dogs get hyper at night because they aren’t getting enough mental stimulation.
Like with people, there are ways to exercise and tire the body, and there are ways to exercise and tire the brain. If a dog’s brain has not been engaged, they are likely to get bored, and this may keep them wide awake, even at night.
Try to incorporate some mental stimulation into their daily routine by playing games or exploring new places. This way, your dog is more likely to be mentally satisfied when it comes to sleep time.
There are simple indoor games and acitvities you can play with your adult dog or pup to tire their brain and also help with dog training.
Hyperactivity is often associated with excess energy, but the opposite can also have the same effect. If a dog becomes overtired, it might struggle to understand the sensation.
The resulting outcome is random bursts of crazy energy. The good news is that if they are hyperactive at night due to being overtired, they’re likely to crash pretty quickly!
Sometimes we reward our dogs for behavior without meaning to. This can undoubtedly be the case with the zoomies.
The first time we see our dog act in this way, we are amused. We might laugh, call the dog over, even give them a pat once they’ve managed to stop.
We might try to distract them with attention or food, not realizing that we are rewarding and encouraging annoying behavior. If a dog receives positive reinforcement for a behavior, they will likely do it again to receive the same reaction.
This means that a pet dog might become hyperactive for no reason other than to evoke a positive response. Always be aware of your actions and reactions to ensure your training is consistent.
You don’t want to reward behaviors that will become problematic in the long term.
Why is my dog HYPER at night!? (Hyper Puppy Meaning)
It’s an amazing experience having a puppy at home but there are occasions when you might feel a bit overwhelmed due to their playful and energetic nature. This especially applies at night when you are trying to get some sleep. Here are some tips on handling a puppy that gets energetic at night.
Puppies tend to exhibit a short-term natural behavior we call zoomies (or Frenetic Random Activity Periods). This is when a dog suddenly exhibits a short but explosive amount of energy and becomes super hyper by running around like crazy. This tends to happen quite often at night.
It’s not a concern if your puppy is doing the zoomies every once in a while but if he is doing it every night and every time there’s a stressful situation then it may be worth a visit to the vet. One way to reduce the occurrences of zoomies is by doing some mental exercises.
For example, when your puppy does the zoomies, you can try to teach him like lie down and play dead. Any trick that gets him to calm down a little will work well. Make sure to offer plenty of praises and treats when you are training your dog.
Make sure your puppy is getting plenty of exercise throughout the day. Ideally, your puppy should have a walk or play time once in the morning and once in the early evening. If, for whatever reason, you aren’t able to get your dog enough exercise then consider using a flirt pole.
These simple sticks are a great way to burn all your puppy’s energy in a short space of time. To use a flirt pole, you can stand in one area and wave the pole around to get your puppy to chase after it. The flirt pole is the perfect accessory for indoor dog exercises.
What if your puppy is already getting a sufficient amount of exercise? In this case, you might be dealing with what people like to call the witching hour. One way to do this is to put your puppy in the crate assuming he is crate-trained. The puppy may initially bark a bit while in the crate. This will limit the amount of stimulation available to the dog and teach him it’s time to “switch off”.
It might drive you crazy now but do note that your puppy will eventually grow out of the energetic night behavior. If your puppy continues to do this even after a few months have passed then we suggest you check with the vet for consultation.