Senior dog going blind and deaf proves there’s no age limit on “zoomies”

One senior dog has shown the world that there is no age limit on playtime.

Riley, a 15-year-old chocolate Labrador from Wales, U.K., was caught on camera gleefully racing around his home. And his youthful spirit and love for life were clear to see in a heartwarming video shared on TikTok by his owner.

“[He] still enjoys going on walks and has daily if not hourly zoomies but with plenty of sleep in between,” Riley’s owner Joshua Taylor told Newsweek. “We love his daily zoomies as it shows he’s still a puppy on the inside.”

Zoomies, officially called Frenetic Random Activity Periods (FRAPs), are sudden bursts of energy in dogs and cats, usually characterized by frantic and repetitive behaviors such as running in circles or sprinting around the house.

While in dogs they happen most often in puppies, “zoomies” occur in any age or breed. The serious excitement is often a way to burn off excess energy.

Despite the fact he is “90% blind and 90% deaf,” Riley has so much life in him, the video showed, and it sparked an outpouring of affection from viewers on TikTok, many of whom shared their own experiences with senior dogs.

1963davidhall wrote: “Our 13-year-old Chocolate Lab still has them.”

Wilburfixit said: “Equivalent of being 105 years young. Amazing wee poochie.”

“I love him with every ounce of my being,” said Natasha, while TikToker Ernie Riddiough called Riley “a handsome gentleman” and praised his energy.

Taylor was delighted by the reaction on TikTok and with how people shared their own stories and heartwarming pet moments.

“The reaction I’ve had online has been amazing,” he said. “People sharing their stories of their current old dogs doing their zoomies or bringing back memories for the dogs they’ve lost in the past who still had that burst of energy at their old age.”

Earlier this year another dog’s zoomies delighted the internet. In October a video of a service dog in training having a wild “zoomies” moment was caught on camera. The owner shared how, as part of her training, they were teaching their dog to be respectful even when she was running around.

While another dog saw his owner working out and immediately decided to join in with his own “zoomies” routine, much to the amusement of the internet.

Do you have funny or adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@newsweek.com with some details about your best friend, and they could appear in our “Pet of the Week” lineup.