Surely your dog has at some point started running around the house like crazy, and you’ve stood there watching, thinking, "Oh my, what’s happening? Where is all that energy coming from?" Well, that has a name, specifically FRAP (Frenetic Random Activity Period). And today at Ownat, we’re going to talk about it, so take note because it’s very interesting!
These are like little explosions of joy, and they don’t just occur in dogs and cats—rabbits do it too! It’s important to distinguish FRAPs from stereotypies (compulsive behaviors without any adaptive purpose); if the latter appear, they need to be well controlled as they can significantly affect the health of your pets.
Now, why do FRAP outbursts suddenly appea? It can happen for two clear reasons:
1. They allow them to release excess energy. When they spend a lot of time indoors or haven’t engaged in physical activity, they channel all that accumulated energy in this way and run at full speed.
2. In response to a positive stressor. When they feel intense joy from a surrounding situation (reuniting with a canine friend, seeing a human they really like, etc.).
These are not bad behaviors in themselves, as they allow pets to release high doses of energy quickly. However, if these outbursts occur on the street, near a road, or outdoors, you need to be careful that your pet doesn’t run away and suffer an accident. But as long as they occur in controlled and safe environments, there’s no problem with them.
But how can you identify that your dog is experiencing a FRAP? It’s very simple: generally, they start running in circles, and there are no signs of fear (no raised fur, dilated pupils, or tail between the legs). They usually last a few minutes or seconds (but can happen repeatedly), and once they’re done, they remain very calm and relaxed.
We mentioned stereotypies earlier because it’s very important not to confuse them with the behavior we’re discussing today. Stereotypies are caused by chronic stress and lead to behaviors that affect or harm the pet’s health: compulsively biting their tail or a limb, continuously licking a part of their body, or constantly spinning in circles.
What can we do to slightly prevent this behavior (FRAP)? Simply check your pet’s physical and mental activity. Physically, they may need to increase their daily exercise to burn off more energy, and visit places like parks or the countryside to be surrounded by more relaxing and natural scents. Mentally, anything related to activating their sense of smell in a relaxed way can help; in this regard, sniffing mats are a very good resource. Do you know them?
