stopping morning zoomies

[Anonymous]

My one year old dog is doing great with training but has an issue that I cannot seem to stop. He gets crazy morning zoomies including he will launch himself at you trying to get petted. I keep his leash near our best to reign him in but there has to be something better. The episode seems to happen just in the morning. He gets a lot of exercise and attention but wakes up like he is ready to roll and will do circles around our room (he sleeps in the bathroom) and the launching thing is a big issue because he is big. Imagine 70 pounds of dog jumping. Is this something that I should be medicating? What to do?

[Anonymous]

That's normal dog behavior. What you should do is make sure you don't have stuff in his usual path that will get broken or hurt him.

[Anonymous]

I don’t think you can stop it. That’s his body clock. You can adjust his activity window earlier.

[Anonymous]

No, you should not be medicating him. It's normal. I have a 115 lb dog who gets the zoomies. More exercise and time. If you don't like it, perhaps a lazier breed next time?

[Anonymous]

Put your shoes by the bed, set the coffee timer, and take him for a long walk first thing in the morning.

Get yourself big fuzzy boots and a giant parka for the winter. It makes it much nicer.

[Anonymous]

Put your knee up as he runs towards you so at least he learns not to run into you. Can he sleep someplace else? My dog sleeps in the family room which has a door to our backyard so he can always just go out if he has zoomies.
Also does he stop if you get down on the floor and greet him? Sometimes they are showing off with zoomies to impress you and get your loving attention.

[Anonymous]

I did the knee thing and my dog learned quickly not to jump!

[Anonymous]

Zoomies are adorable! What's the problem?

A big dog is going to be hard on the furniture, whether it's zoomies or hiding under tables during thunderstorms and fireworks. That's just how it is.

If jumping on you is the problem, then stop it with the knee-to-chest solution. They have control over where they zoom, even when they look like maniacs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No, you should not be medicating him. It's normal. I have a 115 lb dog who gets the zoomies. More exercise and time. If you don't like it, perhaps a lazier breed next time?

Even lazy dogs get the zoomies sometimes!

Gd I love dogs

[Anonymous]

Yep, I love the zoomies. Give him lots and lots of exercise. He'll outgrow it before too long.

[Anonymous]

I regularly wake up to our lab standing on my chest and nuzzling me awake. I can't breathe but it sure is sweet!

Is the dog waking before you are? If so, set your alarm ten minutes earlier and first thing you do is let him outdoors if you have a fenced yard, or quickly get dressed and take a walk.

Training him out of it might need some treats. Can you keep a bag of treats in your bedside table? As soon as you wake up, have him give you a sit or a down. Reward that with a few treats. If he gets the zoomies before you start, get his attention and then reward that sit or down. Continue for multiple days and he should eventually realize the zoomies get a knee to the chest, while a nice sit gets pre-breakfast treats.

[Anonymous]

When my large dog jumped on me, I’d catch him and hug him, which he didn’t like because he felt unstable on just 2 legs. He no longer jumps on me. He comes at me and then just does this teeny leap, so his front paws only come about 3 inches off the ground. It’s kind of pathetic looking. I miss his exuberance.

[Anonymous]

Please please please do not medicate him for this OP, or anyone else!

[Anonymous]

Speak of the devil:

https://people.com/pets/what-causes-zoomies-cats-dogs-vet-explains/

Zoomies may sound like a ridiculous word to some, but it can be an everyday occurrence to pet owners.

Dr. Zac Pilossoph, a consulting veterinarian at Healthy Paws Pet Insurance, defines the zoomies as "a dog's way of explaining they're excited and happy, enough to want to show it."

"It's their best expression of being happy. The term 'zoomies' is colloquial and describes behavior many pet parents have experienced. Still, your dog can get the zoomies during a few scenarios, like when an owner comes home or uses a favorite toy. The zoomies can best be defined as a dog's most excited expression of happiness," he tells PEOPLE.

To learn a bit more about what sets pets racing around the house and how pet parents can help turn a destructive case of the "zoomies" — which have been known to send breakables and people crashing to the ground — into a fun moment for all, PEOPLE talked to Dr. Pilossoph about this behavior.

[Anonymous]

WTF.
This is normal dog behavior. Why would you immediately rush to medicate?