Turn ‘Zoomies’ into Focus

Zoomies aren’t random. They feel spontaneous—like your puppy suddenly decided to launch into orbit. But behind every zoomie is a buildup of energy that didn’t have anywhere else to go.

That burst of speed is self-reinforcing. It feels good. And the more often it happens, the more your puppy learns that the best way to deal with excitement, frustration, or even boredom is to run full tilt until the feeling burns off.

From an applied behavior analysis (ABA) perspective, zoomies are a classic example of operant conditioning. The behavior (running wildly) increases because it consistently leads to reinforcement (feeling better, releasing energy). It’s no different than chewing for teething relief or barking for attention. The behavior works, so it continues.

But here’s the key—zoomies aren’t the problem. They’re the symptom.

The behavior is the expression of unmet needs—mental stimulation, physical exercise, or even emotional release. Addressing zoomies doesn’t start by stopping the running. It starts by looking at the conditions that trigger them and reinforcing alternative behaviors before that energy bubbles over.

In ABA terms, this is antecedent intervention. Instead of waiting for the zoomie to happen and trying to redirect it mid-flight, you shift the conditions leading up to it.

You manage the environment. You shape the behavior.

And most importantly, you catch those micro-moments of impulse control before they’re swallowed by excitement.

This starts long before the zoomies begin.

Puppies build energy like a slow boil. The cues are subtle—a shift in body language, the way their attention starts flickering between objects, or the moment they break eye contact and suddenly seem “somewhere else.”

Behavior doesn’t explode without warning.

But recognizing the antecedents (the triggers leading up to zoomies) requires watching your puppy closely. What happens right before the zoomies start? Does it follow rough play? Boredom? Unsuccessful attempts to engage you?

This is where you start. Not at the point of explosion, but in the quieter moments leading up to it.

Catch the pause, not the sprint.

Zoomies can’t be extinguished by chasing your puppy down and trying to stop them mid-run. If anything, that turns it into a game—another reinforcement loop. Instead, reinforce the pause before the takeoff.

The second your puppy’s body tenses or their eyes widen in that telltale pre-zoomie expression, mark and reinforce. Give them something else to do—something that feels just as rewarding.

It doesn’t have to be complicated. A quick game of tug, a scatter of treats, or a cue that leads to movement like “spin” or “go find it” can redirect that energy.

The important part isn’t what you offer—it’s when.

If you wait until the zoomie starts, you’ve missed the window. But if you intervene at the moment where excitement hasn’t tipped into action, you shape the behavior without suppressing it.

That’s the difference between redirection and functional replacement.

Suppression stops the behavior temporarily. Functional replacement teaches your puppy a new pathway—one that still lets them move, but in a more controlled way.

Over time, this builds a pattern. The moment they feel that energy spike, they’ll offer a different behavior because the reinforcement history tells them it’s worth it.

This isn’t about stopping zoomies altogether. It’s about teaching self-regulation.

Zoomies will still happen, especially during puppyhood. But with enough reinforcement in those pre-zoomie moments, the frequency drops. And the best part? The same impulse control that stops zoomies starts showing up everywhere else—on walks, during greetings, and in those moments where your puppy used to lose focus.

Impulse control isn’t about less excitement. It’s about channeling it.

The more you reinforce stillness and controlled movement, the more your puppy learns that calmness feels just as good as chaos. And that’s where the real shift happens—not by forcing them to stop, but by teaching them how to slow down on their own.