Mabel the Rescue Dog

3 min read (Articles narrated by Mabel)

When your dog gets a sudden burst of energy, it’s adorable and something we all laugh about. But when we do this, it’s not always as random as you’d think. Oftentimes, “zoomies” as humans call them have a specific reason. Sure, sometimes they’re just for fun, but believe it or not, running around like crazy can be well thought out too.

What are Zoomies?

“Zoomies” refers to an explosion of energy that your dog has. It most commonly happens right after they take a bath. The technical name for this is Frenetic Random Activity Periods (FRAPs). When your dog gets the zoomies, they’ll suddenly start running around like crazy, often spinning in circles.

It’s a normal behavior that nearly every dog experiences at some point. I usually get them whenever Molly comes home after being gone for a while or whenever I’m wet from a bath or rain.

Why Might Dogs Get Them?

Like most scenarios, all dogs do different things for different reasons. So, there are a few explanations as to why your dog might get the zoomies after a bath. Which one seems the most likely for your dog?

Releasing Energy

During a bath, your dog has to sit still for a long period of time, and they’re probably not enjoying themselves. So, during that time, they’re gathering a lot of pent up energy that eventually needs to be released. Thus, you’ll probably notice them take off as soon as you allow them to. It’s like the adrenaline you get after doing something you’re afraid of. This explanation is most commonly the case for anxious dogs and dogs who cannot seem to sit still.

Drying Off

Unless you have a professional dog hair dryer, it’s difficult to fully dry your dog after a bath. No matter how many towels you use, your dog will probably still feel damp afterwards. So, running can help your dog dry off faster. If your dog is bothered by being damp, you’ll probably also notice them roll around on the carpet whenever they stop running. It’s like a natural hair dryer that’s also fun!

Feeling Free

Bath time is frightening for many dogs, and it makes us feel trapped for the time being. If that’s the case for your pup, they might take off running due to relief. They’re just so overjoyed that they’re done doing something they hate, so they have to run around. They can’t go out and buy themselves something nice to celebrate like humans can, so they celebrate in any way that they can. For dogs, running around and playing with toys is the equivalent of a human going out and buying a drink.

Regaining Normal Scents

As much as you dislike your dog being stinky, your dog loves their natural funk. When you clean them, they might not be happy about your flower-scented dog shampoo. So, they might run around and roll on things to try to get their old scent back. Some dogs try really hard to stink as much as they do, so you giving them a bath is like forcing them to start all over. If only humans could understand the amazing smells that dogs experience.

Does your dog get the zoomies after a bath? Why do you think they do it?

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