A busy day of tag-teaming a full treatment day with all of our free time being outside. It was a beautiful day and I was inspired to bring Puppy Playtopia outdoors! The pups loved it and took full advantage of the weather and the displacement of the basement equipment outside!
In spite of the warm weather they were reluctant to use the pool. This is a big one for me… water can be a funny thing for some dogs so getting over themselves and be comfortable (if not enjoy) getting a li’l wet would be ideal before they go to their homes. The key component here is allowing them to decide.
It would be easy to pick them up and plunk them in the pool however that could turn their uncertainty into a real fear that could stay with them for their lives. Is mammals are not fish so water poses a true drowning hazard and needs to be understood and respected. This is why I let the big dogs demonstrate the first day, jumping in and out and splashing about. It was good for the pups to see that their leaders were not bothered by the water however all that boisterous behaviour was at a level of escalation that was also too much for most of the young ones to consider engaging.
I initially tried to quietly lure them in with moderate success — they would lean in or put a toe in to grab the cookie and then jump out again. Instead, the four of them got to try a new game, “Bobbing for Liver Treats”. It worked brilliantly as everyone engaged so as not to miss out on snack time! I am quite sure that they will soon be jumping in and out with similar enthusiasm to their parents.
It is truly amazing how much 6 days of training makes such a huge difference with these guys. Here is an updated video of our Position Change Progress. If you need a reminder as to why this training is so important, take a look at DAY 56: The Importance of Obedience Position Changes. Officially Obedience Position Changes are Sit, Stand and Down however I have added in Spin and Twist as well for no other reason than they are fun for the puppies and gives them another way to obtain body awareness.
Puppies of all breeds tend to get “The Zoomies” or have a “Witching Hour” at night. This is a time usually before bed where they get a sudden burst of energy and run amok and do zoomies. Last night their witching hour was extra fun as they got to use Playtopia outside in the dusky-dark. I missed recording a bunch of it but I’ve shared a small snippet to give you the idea. It was F.U.N. to say the least!
Puppy zoomies — officially called FRAPs (Frenetic Random Activity Periods) — are sudden bursts of wild energy where puppies race around at top speed, often with a goofy expression, exaggerated movements, and lots of spinning or darting.
Why Do Puppies Get Zoomies?
- Energy Release
- Puppies build up energy quickly and need to let it out fast.
- Zoomies are a natural way to blow off steam — like a “reset.”
- Emotional Overload
- Excitement, stress, or even relief (e.g., after a bath, grooming, or poop) can trigger a zoomie burst.
- It’s a way of regulating emotion and excitement.
- Developmental Behavior
- Young puppies are still learning to regulate their bodies and emotions.
- Zoomies are part of healthy play and neurological development.
- End-of-Day Wiggles
- Often happen in the evening (the “witching hour”) when puppies get a final energy surge before bedtime.
They usually decrease in frequency as dogs mature, but even adult dogs can get the occasional FRAP.