Why does my husky run in circles?

If your husky has been running in circles, you might be wondering why and what can be done about it.

This post will show you a number of reasons why your husky might be doing it and what you can do to stop it.

So, why does my husky run in circles? Possible reasons are that it is releasing excess energy, a lack of exercise, a problem with its diet, excitement or that you have inadvertently rewarded the behavior.

There are actually a number of things that you can consider when trying to figure out why your husky does it. Once you have a good idea of the cause, it will become a lot easier for you to get it to stop.

Why your husky runs in circles

Each of the different reasons that your husky runs in circles will likely come with a number of clues in the way that it does it.

Below, I will mention a number of reasons why your husky might run in circles and what would make them more likely.

Release energy

The reason that your husky runs in circles could be that it does it to release excess energy that it has. This would be more likely if it suddenly starts sprinting around the house or yard which is known as “Zoomies”.

It would also be more likely if it does it when it has been sedentary for a while such as in the morning.

Not enough exercise

Huskies are a breed that are meant to be getting a lot of exercise on a daily basis. When they do not get enough exercise it can cause them to behave abnormally and to become a lot more energetic around the house.

Generally, it is recommended for huskies to get an hour of exercise daily. If yours is not getting that much then it would help to make sure that it does.

Diet

It could be the case that there is a problem with its diet that is causing it to become energetic. This would be more likely if it started doing it when you changed its diet and if it started to act differently in other ways as well.

You can look here to see what you should and should not be feeding your Husky.

Releasing nervous energy

The reason that your husky does it could be that it is releasing nervous energy. This would be more likely if it does it right after something that might cause it to be nervous goes away.

For example, if it does it right after you had guests over and it had to be well behaved then it might be doing it to release nervous energy.

Excitement

Sometimes dogs will start running around when they are excited and it might be why your husky runs in circles. This would be more likely if it does it at times where it is likely to be excited such as when you are about to take it for a walk, when you’re playing with it or when you come home.

Related: Why is my husky so attached to me?

You have been inadvertently rewarding it

It could be the case that you have inadvertently trained it to run in circles by giving it things that it wants when it does it.

Instead of giving it things like treats, toys or attention when it does it, try to reward it when it is well behaved and to give it lots of exercise so that it is less likely to want to run around.

Related: Why does my husky sit at my feet?

Consider how much it does it

It would help to consider how often your husky runs around in circles and if it often does other things such as chase its tail or shadows.

If it does those things multiple times per day then it would be compulsive behavior and the best thing to do would be to seek the guidance of a vet.

However, if it only runs around in circles occasionally then it would be more likely to be normal behavior.

Consider when it started

It would help to consider when your husky first started running around in circles since it could be the case that something happened that triggered it to start doing it.

It would help to think about what else changed at around the same time that your husky started doing it. Some things to consider would be:

• If it started getting less exercise
• If you started working longer hours
• If you moved home
• If its diet changed

Consider when and where it happens

The timing and location could also be helpful to consider.

If you notice that it tends to do it more on days where it has not gotten much exercise then it would be more likely that it does it to release some energy. Whereas, if it does it more when you get home then it might be due to excitement.

How to stop your husky from running in circles

Below, are some things that you can do to reduce how much your husky feels the need to do it.

Give it lots of exercise

As mentioned above, it could be the case that your husky is not getting enough exercise. You can give it more exercise by walking it, playing fetch with it or having a dog walker do it for you.

If it is already getting about an hour of exercise daily then getting it to play fetch could be a good way to wear it out even more.

Avoid negative reinforcement

As mentioned above, it is important to avoid rewarding the behavior. If possible ignore it when it does it, reward it when it is well behaved and give it lots of exercise so it doesn’t have as much excess energy.

Let it do it if it is not compulsive

It is not unusual for dogs to run around in circles especially when they have been inactive for a while. Unless your husky is doing it constantly then it is unlikely to be something to be concerned with and it would be ok to let it do it.

Source https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/lifestyle/what-are-zoomies/