At times, it may seem like your dog is possessed, running to and fro, or round in quick, frenzied circles. This sudden burst of energy is actually common behavior, widely known as the zoomies, and is scientifically known as Frenetic Random Activity Periods (FRAPs).
“It’s like a sudden outburst which looks like excitement where your dog runs really fast,” says Lili Chin, author of Doggie Language: A dog lover’s guide to understanding your best friend. “They might jump up and down and bark. It’s like a frenetic activity that happens very suddenly and involves a lot of speed.”
Dogs young and old can undertake these frantic running periods, but it is most common in puppies. It isn’t entirely clear why FRAPs occur, but some suggest they stem from overexcitement, boredom or simple happiness.
“At first I thought are they playing? Are they really happy? But that is a bit of a myth there,” Chin says. “With zoomies, that type of body language, it usually means that they are releasing pressure of some kind.”
