Wild-eye, Zoomies, and Testing

Someone asked me about the wild-eye being a predictor of testing in northern breeds. This is the best picture of the non-aggressive testing wild-eye I've ever seen.

Wild-eye (showing large portions of the whites of the eye) is often associated with aggression, but I also see it non-aggressively in northern breed pups, adolescents, and adults being brats right before the zoomies or testing behaviors.

I have not seen a wild-eyed expression in high content wolf-dogs.

For the zoomies (a brief period of run-around crazy bliss to expend excess energy), it's best to ignore it and let it run it's course, unless there is a danger to the pup or a person.

Get infants, children and the frail or elderly out of harm's way because a pup in zoomie mode will leap and bound over and on anything, including baby carriers and furniture.

Zoomies also usually happen around the same time each day. If you know your pup gets zoomies after dinner or before bedtime, take them outside to a safe place, like a fenced yard to let out the energy.

As for wild-eye before testing behaviors, this is a cue. Each behavior must be dealt with individually. I find redirection and some structure with a trick drill and rewards will end most testing behaviors.