Do Golden Retrievers Get the Zoomies? Here’s What You Need to Know

Have you ever seen your Golden Retriever running in circles or dashing around the house or yard?  Does he run as fast as he can throughout our living room and the hallways, flying up onto the couch and jumping over his bed? 

This might be a method of releasing excess energy, and is sometimes referred to as “Zoomies.”

You may be deliberating why this is happening and what you can do about it. so let’s go over the basics real quick;

Do Golden Retrievers Get the zoomies? Golden Retrievers can get the zoomies; the Zoomies may be due to excess energy, a lack of exercise, a problem with its nutrition, enthusiasm, or that you have unwittingly encouraged the behavior. It is not uncommon, so unless your dog does it regularly, it is unlikely to be a cause for concern.

Continue reading to learn more about zoomies, the various factors to consider when determining the root cause, and the various remedies available. 

Do Golden Retrievers get the zoomies?

 In general, Golden Retrievers and all dog breeds are prime to getting the zoomies for various reasons, either pent-up energy, excitement, frustration, extreme feeling of happiness, or even attracting your attention and urging you to hand out treats.

Zoomies are more common with puppies and young ages golden retrievers, but even as they grow, it’s not uncommon to happen. Goldens are very energetic dogs in general, and if they don’t get enough daily exercise, they will have to find another way of releasing this energy.

What are zoomies? 

Zoomies, or as scientifically called “Frenetic Random Activity Periods” (FRAPs), refer to frantic, repetitive behavior displayed all of a sudden by dogs; they entail abnormal energetic actions such as running in circles or spinning around that dogs do on occasion.

A frequent cause of zoomies is an excess buildup of energy that is released in one big burst.

Zoomies, or “Frenetic Random Activity Periods” (FRAPs) as they are technically known, are frenzied, repeated behaviors shown all of a sudden by dogs; they include aberrant energetic activities such as racing in circles or spinning around that dogs conduct on occasion.

An overabundance of energy that is released in a single large burst is a common cause of zoomies.

Certain times of day, such as first thing in the morning or after spending much of the day in a crate, may be more likely to cause zoomies in dogs than others.

Some dogs have zoomies after a bath, while others are caused by stressful events such as going to the clinic.

Zoomies are most common in puppies and younger dogs, but they can occur in dogs of all ages and breeds at times.

Are zoomies common in Golden Retrievers? 

Golden Retrievers are energetic by nature, which makes zoomies common in this breed. They constantly need to let out their energy, and without regular activity, your dog will probably be sprinting around the house and jumping over anything and everything.

Make sure your dog’s aerobic activity is increasing, add additional activities that wear him/her out and leave him/her panting, and even alter your routine/schedule to ensure he/she is getting exercise every day to maintain your dog healthy and lean, and even immune to ailments.

If walking doesn’t do it anymore, you can try running or hiking with your dog. You can learn how to hike with your golden retriever here.

When do dogs get the zoomies? 

Here are some of the most common reasons why your Golden Retriever might be getting zoomies:

Releasing pent-up energy

It’s possible that your Golden Retriever runs in circles to expend excess energy.

It’s also more likely if it does it after being sedentary for a while, like in the morning while you’re at work.

Excitement

Dogs, especially golden retrievers, are energetic and excited by nature, so he/she will start running around when they are excited. This would be more likely if it happens at times, such as when you are about to take it for a walk, when you’re playing with it or when you come home.

Nutrition-Related Factors

It might be a dietary issue that is causing him/her to feel energetic. If you recently altered your dog’s diet and he/she began to act differently, or if he/she tends to do it more when eating particular foods, you will notice this.

Not getting enough exercise.

Golden retrievers should receive a lot of exercise every day. When they do not receive enough exercise, it might lead them to behave more energetically than average.

When Golden Retrievers are healthy adults, it is recommended that they get an hour of activity every day. If yours isn’t getting enough, it’s a good idea to make sure he/she does.

Releasing nervous energy

The reason may be that your Golden Retriever feels nervous, so he/she is releasing nervous energy. If you have just had guests over, then this is a sign. They could also be stressed by recent changes; for example, if you have moved houses recently.

You have been rewarding the behavior unintentionally

You may have unintentionally strengthened your dog’s behavior by rewarding him/her when he/she does it. If you offer your dog treats, additional attention, or toys when it starts running in circles, they will most likely do it more to receive more rewards.

Instead of rewarding it with treats, toys, or attention when he/she does it, try rewarding when he/she is well behaved and giving it plenty of exercises to make it less likely to want to run about.

Are zoomies the sign of a happy dog?

Zoomies may be an action that exhibits a dog’s excitement, but they are not always a sign of a happy dog. Causes of zoomies may vary, but they are a natural habit that is usually not a reason for concern as long as your pup has enough space to run around without harming themselves.

What age do puppy zoomies stop?

There’s no definite answer to when puppy zoomies stop. A dog’s zoomies may last until one year, maybe three years, or even never stop at all. Yet, it’s commonly known that most dogs settle down considerably by three years.

Related Questions 

Why do dogs get the zoomies after a bath?

Dogs get the zoomies after a bath as a method to express their dissatisfaction with taking a bath, or perhaps they don’t enjoy smelling clean, in which rubbing and rolling might be an attempt to recover their former aroma.

Other causes might include drying off and completely expressing their delight.

Why do dogs get zoomies after a walk? 

Dogs get zoomies after a walk because they react to a particular sensation; this might be exhilaration, extra energy, relief, or dissatisfaction towards the end of their walk. Zoomies after a walk will most likely take the shape of running in circles, up and down or leaping repeatedly.

Why do dogs get the zoomies at night?

Dogs get the zoomies at night because they might be using jumping and sprinting as ways to release energy; you can expect to see it when your dog is particularly excited or playful or if you haven’t let him/her do an exercise for the whole day.

Why do dogs get the zoomies when wet? 

Dogs get the zoomies when wet, simply because not all dogs are fans of the feeling of being wet; zoomies might be their method to dry themselves off. In contrast, other dogs get the zoomies as an expression of their delight.

Why do dogs get the zoomies before pooping? 

Dogs get the zoomies before pooping because they are either preparing for, relieving from, or perhaps bragging about their bowel movements. The zoomies can also aid with training as a cue that your dog needs to go. Your dog is most likely experiencing the poop zoomies to assist them in defecating.

Why do dogs get the zoomies after pooping? 

Dogs getting the zoomies after pooping may happen due to various reasons, either because they are proud of their achievement, marking their territories, or even forming a cue that will help them in making a statement that they need to go. 

Helpful Resources 

Zoomies: Why Your Dog Gets Hyper & Runs in Circles

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