Managing the "Doodle Zoomies": Why Your Puppy Goes Wild at Night
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It’s 7:00 PM. You’ve had a long day, you finally sit down to relax, and suddenly, your sweet Goldendoodle turns into a furry blur. They are racing around the sofa, growling at nothing, and snapping at your ankles.
Welcome to the "Zoomies."
While it looks like pure madness, the "Frenetic Random Activity Periods" (FRAPs) are actually a biological release valve. In this guide, I’m explaining why this happens and how to "off-ramp" that energy so you can actually enjoy your evening.
1. The Science of the "Evening Spike"
Most owners think the Zoomies mean the dog has "too much energy" and try to take them for a long run. This usually makes it worse.
Goldendoodles often zoom because they are over-tired and over-stimulated, not under-exercised. Their Poodle brain has been processing the world all day, and by evening, their "impulse control" tank is empty. It’s the canine equivalent of a toddler having a meltdown at a birthday party.
2. The Zoomie Trigger Checklist
Before the chaos starts, look for these "Early Warning Signs" in your Goldendoodle:
The Wide-Eyed Look: Their eyes get "wild" or show the whites (whale eye).
The "Tucked" Tail: They run with their hindquarters tucked under them.
The "Hitty-Bitty" Phase: They start play-biting or "hitting" you with their paws.
3. The "Off-Ramp" Strategy: Mental vs. Physical
When the Zoomies hit, you don't need a treadmill; you need a puzzle.
4. Preventing the 7 PM Meltdown
The best way to stop the Zoomies is to catch them before they start. In the Goldendoodle Academy, I teach the "Pre-Zoomie Protocol."
Enforced Naps: Ensure your puppy is getting 18-20 hours of sleep. A puppy that hasn't napped at 4 PM will zoom at 7 PM.
The "Puppy Push-Up" Flow: Around 6:30 PM, do 2 minutes of the Push-Up Flow. This uses up the last of the "thinking" energy so the body is ready to settle.
Low-Light Transition: Dim the lights and turn off loud TV sounds 30 minutes before your dog's usual "witching hour."
5. Master the Calm: Join the Academy
The Zoomies aren't a sign of a "bad dog"—they are a sign of a dog that needs better energy management. If you’re tired of the evening chaos, I have built a specific sequence inside the Ironstone Goldendoodle Academy to help your dog find their "Off" switch.