It happens almost every time. Your dog needs a bath, and afterward, they go crazy, racing around your house, rolling on the ground, and shaking their fur. It can be a chaotic time and sometimes, a little frustrating. However, these post-bath zoomies are completely normal dog behavior. But, why do dogs go crazy after a bath? Here’s what you need to know:

What Are Zoomies?

When dogs, cats, or other animals start to tear around the house or act absolutely crazy, it’s called the “zoomies” because they are zooming around your home or yard. This activity helps your dog release a bunch of pent-up energy. This often happens when they’ve been overstimulated, extra excited, or even stressed out.

While it can happen at any time of the day, certain times seem to bring out this behavior more. This common dog behavior is completely natural, although some breeds or dogs seem to be more prone to it sometimes. Certain events can also trigger this behavior, including bathtime.

Why Do Dogs Go Crazy After a Bath?

If your dog tends to zoom around after a bath, there might be a few reasons for this behavior. Here’s why dogs might go crazy after a bath:

1. They Are Stressed or Uncomfortable

While there are plenty of dogs, like Labradors, who absolutely love being in the water, not every dog does. Even dogs who typically love being in the water might not enjoy bath time. This is because bathtime can be fairly overstimulating with lots of scents, fluctuating water temperatures, and weird feelings like getting scrubbed or hosed down.

There are some helpful dog bathing tips you can try to make bathtime go as smoothly as possible, but it’s important to know that you can try your hardest, and your dog still might not enjoy bath time. If that time stresses them out, running around the house is a great way to release some of the tension they’re feeling.

As soon as they are out of the bath, they likely feel a huge sense of relief, so they run around the house to celebrate their freedom. It’s almost like a kid leaving school on the last day of the year before summer vacation starts!

2. They Are Excited

Yes, there are plenty of dogs who hate or barely tolerate bath time. However, you may have a dog who loves bath time. Some dogs love all the attention of being fussed over! That time means spending a lot of time with you, which can build a bond with your dog. So if that bathtime with you is an activity they love, running around the house is another way to release some of that pent-up energy and excitement!

3. They’re Trying to Dry Off

Wet fur is not a sensation many dogs enjoy. It can make them feel cold, and some dogs with an undercoat may not be used to the feeling of wet fur right against their skin. Even with a good towel-rubbing, they probably still feel damp. Running around and rubbing up against furniture or on carpeting is their way of trying to shake off any excess water so they can get dry faster.

4. They Might Have Water in Their Ears

This might not be a common cause, but sometimes, if a dog gets water in their ears, running around can be an attempt to clear the water from their ears. Water in their ears can be uncomfortable, so they are highly motivated to get rid of that sensation.

You will see this behavior more often in dogs that have shorter ears, clipped ears, or upright ears. Getting water in the ear is not typically dangerous unless they are not able to get it out of the ear. If they’re able to dislodge that extra water after running around, your dog will probably calm down.

5. Your Dog Might Be Trying to Get Their Scent Back

Not all dogs necessarily want to smell like a bit of fresh roses, or like something other than themselves. While you might want that, your dog probably wants to smell like themself. The reason they prefer this is due to their instinct when they were wild animals.

Smelling a little bit unpleasant was a great way to deter any predators, and their distinct scent was a way to mark and identify territory. This is probably the reason your dog wants to roll around on the carpet or grass after a bath. They’re trying to bring back a little bit of their natural scent to make themselves feel much more secure.

However, if your dog smells so bad, even with regular bathing and not rolling around in dirt and mud constantly, it could be that your dog has a chronic condition. When dirt and oils from the skin build up, it can produce a foul-smelling odor. It could also be an indication of a skin infection or irritation. If the problem persists, schedule an appointment with your veterinarian. They can help assess the situation and offer any advice or solutions.

6. They’re Trying to Regain Control

Sometimes, bathtime can be overstimulating for a dog. Running around is a great way to release some of that energy and help your dog regulate themselves. Some dogs get overstimulated fast.

Bathtime can be loud with lots of sounds from the water splashing, the water might be too hot or too cold, they may not like the sensation of being scrubbed down, and oftentimes they are restrained to avoid big messes.

Try to make bathtime as relaxing as possible so your dog does not become too overstimulated. Make sure the water is a nice lukewarm temperature, and make sure the bathroom itself is nicely warm, as well. This can help maintain their body temperature, which may help them stay calm during bathtime, but also after bathtime.

How To Make Bath Time More Comfortable For Your Dog

While making bathtime as comfortable as you can for your dog might not eliminate the zoomies after bathtime, it might help in some small ways. Here’s how to make bath time more comfortable for your dog:

1. Try to Keep It Short and Sweet

Making sure you do enough prep work before bathtime can help make bathtime move much faster and smoother, and is an essential dog bathing tip. Make sure you groom your dog very well beforehand so you don’t have to spend as much time working through any clumps of fur while your dog is in the bathtub or under running water.

Make sure all of your supplies are easily accessible, so you’re not scrambling around, wasting time. It might take some practice, but if you can streamline your routine, your dog may be much more comfortable during bathtime, leading to fewer zoomies.

2. Think About Their Comfort

No one wants to see their dog uncomfortable during bathtime. There are some things you can do that can make your dog feel safe and secure, so bathtime isn’t always stressful for them:

• Put down a nonslip mat.
• Keep water away from their ears.
• Towel them off quickly once they’re done.

Try placing a nonslip mat in the bathing area. When a dog feels secure, standing in the bathing area, they will be much more relaxed, and this can prevent injuries. Since dogs do not like having water in their ears, try to keep water away from their head. You may even want to try putting some cotton in their ears to block water.

Once your dog is out of the bath, make sure you towel-dry them quickly and thoroughly. This might be a little difficult with dogs that have a thick undercoat, but it can help your dog feel comfortable after bath time.

3. Reward Them With Treats and Praise

Dogs love two things: treats and praise, including attention. Making sure you have some treats for your dog to munch on during bathtime will go a long way and help them associate it with positive things.

Give them a treat when they sit calmly or don’t put up too much of a struggle. That way, they will learn that sitting calmly will get them a treat while running around like a maniac might not. Another option is to provide them with a distraction, like a lick mat.

If they are too busy enjoying licking some peanut butter off a mat, they won’t have time to put up a fuss during bathtime. Eventually, they’ll be more excited about the peanut butter lick mat and maybe will learn to enjoy, or at least tolerate, bathtime!

This is just an overview of why dogs go crazy after a bath. The zoomies are a natural dog behavior. When you see them after you’ve given your dog a bath, they are usually a way for your dog to release some energy and feel more comfortable.