Why do dogs get zoomies before pooping?

Dog zoomies are a natural canine phenomenon. It's when dogs, for seemingly no reason at all, suddenly burst into movement—racing around, spinning in circles, bouncing up and down, or parkouring over the couch. Although there appears to be no cause, those sudden bursts of energy may actually serve a purpose, experts say.

But too many zoomies may signal that your dog needs more physical activity or mental stimulation. "Zoomies can happen regardless of how much you exercise your dog," says Wieber. "But if your dog is having more and more zoomies and it feels like it's becoming unmanageable, your pooch may need more exercise."

All dogs, from basset hounds to Great Danes, get the zoomies. Puppies and young dogs may zip around more often simply because they have more energy to burn than older dogs. But pups in their golden years can still get zoomies too.

Dogs frequently get zoomies at certain times. And although we can't know for sure why they do it, here are some likely reasons:

Dogs frequently zoom around after bath time, which is probably a way for them to get rid of anxious energy. "When there's been some event that's happened and it was stressful or exciting, like taking a bath, zoomies help dogs release that built-up tension," says Lisa Radosta, DVM, a board-certified veterinary behaviorist at Florida Veterinary Behavior Service.

Dogs who jet around the house after a walk or coming in from the outside may be trying to warm up. This could also be the case for dogs that do mad dashes after getting out of the bath, pool, or lake.

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Many pet parents note that their dogs get zoomies after pooping. "It's like they just unloaded something major and it's time for a whacked-out celebration," says Radosta. "But sometimes if dogs have a little bit of poop stuck to them, they may also run around to escape from the poop. That might look like zoomies, too."

It's common for zoomies to happen at specific periods during the day, says certified professional dog trainer and Daily Paws Advisory Board member Irith Trietsch Bloom. It may have to do with their built-in biological rhythms. "Dogs tend to have a burst of energy in the morning and in the evening, which probably has to do with hunting cycles," she says. "For example, coyotes hunt at dawn and dusk because that's when prey is waking up and falling asleep and they're more vulnerable."

Almost always, dog zoomies are a positive event. But occasionally, it could be triggered by a sharp but passing pain in the hind area, says Radosta. For example, pain from a flea bite or arthritis that's acting up may spook your pup, who then runs to escape it.

Sometimes dogs whiz around when something happens to rev them up, like seeing a special person or another dog. "They just can't contain their excitement," Bloom says.

Dog zoomies are hilarious and entertaining and Radosta encourages pet parents to make the most of it. "When my own dog gets the zoomies, I act like I'm stalking him," she says. "That makes him a lunatic. He's like a category-five hurricane all over the place and jumping around. So you can really have a good time with the zoomies."

They can happen when you expect them, and when you don’t. They can happen before a walk, or after a poop, a bath, a snowfall, or a vet visit. They’ve been surprising, confounding, and, let’s be honest, delighting, dog owners since our two species became inseparable—we’re talking about zoomies. 

What are dog zoomies?

Accelerating in seconds from zero to cyclone, many dogs will run frantic laps of the yard or living room for no apparent reason. Zoomies often involve sharp turns and leaps onto elevated surfaces (the nearest couch, commonly). Animal behaviorists classify zoomies as a type of frenetic random activity period, or FRAP. Such bursts compare to champagne uncorking: Energy is trapped within and explodes when finally released.

For more on why dogs do the adorably odd things they do:

Why do dogs get the zoomies?

We don’t fully understand why dogs have zoomies; there are no peer-reviewed studies devoted to FRAPs. But the best explanation is that zoomies are actually a release of energy, and, possibly, an expression of joy. Though most associated with young dogs who have lots of energy to expend, zoomies can occur in dogs of just about any age. The zooms are common first thing in the morning when dogs are rested and raring to go, and after long periods of idleness or being stuck inside. You might even see a zoomie after your dog has a poop. 

Zoomies may also release stress, which is why they are also common after a semi-stressful event like a bath. 

Like many experts, Andrea Y. Tu, DVM, medical director of Behavior Vets of New York, believes that zoomies are a playful behavior, and, indeed, they’re sometimes preceded or punctuated by play bows. But perhaps zoomies can serve as a reminder of dogs’ amazing physicality, and how much they need and love to run around. 

Why do dogs get zoomies before pooping?

If you’re seeing constant zoomies, it could be a signal that your dog might appreciate more, or more vigorous exercise. Trainers say they can occur in dogs who are lacking exercise, but they also emphasize that zoomies do occur in dogs who get plenty of exercise, so there is no one cause of this weird, but lovable phenomenon. Zoomies aside, it’s always a good idea to ensure your dog is getting plenty of daily exercise in the form of walks, and, ideally, activities that allow them to run and play.

Should I stop my dog doing zoomies?

If you’d like to reduce zoomies, say to avoid a wet mess after a bath, try a vigorous walk or game of fetch. beforehand. If you know a zoom session is inevitable and you’d like to actually try to provoke it (say, if you’re outside in a safe space and want the zoom to happen there rather than indoors) you can try mimicking a dog’s play bow. 

But overall, zoomies are generally nothing to worry about provided you’ve dog-proofed the zoomie area to prevent injury to the dog or something/someone in their path. Let a zoomie run its natural course (it’s a good idea to refrain from joining in or chasing your dog, or otherwise “egging them on” when they’re zooming). 

See a vet if the behavior seems obsessive-compulsive (for example, if there’s a repetitive motion like chasing their tail) rather than joyful.

Conclusion: If your dog is racing around like a rocket, it likely means they’re releasing some energy (and having fun doing it). As long as they’re in a safe space, enjoy this display of sheer dogness.

I like to call it his poopoo dance. He’ll be acting normally in the backyard and then start running around like he’s stressed he won’t find the bathroom in time...

Do any of your dogs have obvious (or not) tells?

Not all dogs decide to spin before relieving themselves, but it is rather common. When a dog circles round and round before he poops, he is doing several things. He is ensuring his safety, cleaning his spot, and leaving his calling card. Dogs communicate a lot of messages through their excretions and setting it up is important. Consider it wording their latest status update on social media. If you only have 140 characters to get your message across, you choose your words carefully.

A dog makes circles before he poops for his hygiene. Fido might enjoy a clean area, and circles and stomps to ensure he has prime real estate to relieve himself. Your dog might be stomping the grass in the area to make his poop more prominent and clearly seen. If a dog was ever in a grassy field, he would circle to make sure all the other dogs knew where his prized message lay. This also helps in marking his territory.

Another reason Fido might spin around a few times is to check the area for threats, like predators. Going to the bathroom puts anyone in a vulnerable position, and if a dog is squatting, he cannot protect himself from predators. To secure the area, he makes a few circles while surveying for any potential problems before he does his business.

There is another reason dogs circle. Researchers have concluded that dogs like to align themselves with the Earth’s magnetic poles, particularly the North-South axis. Czech and German researchers studied 70 dogs’ bathroom behaviors and learned that dogs align their bodies with the magnetic field before they poop. However, the researchers couldn’t determine if this behavior was conscious or unconscious behavior. It’s unknown if they feel better when aligned on the North-South axis or if it’s a physical reaction. Dogs aren’t the only animals to align themselves to the magnetic poles when pooping.