Early Neurological Stimulation, also known as Biosensor Training is a series of simple but precise practices that you can do with a puppy for the first two weeks of life that have PROFOUND effects for the remainder of their life!
Originally developed by the U.S. Military for the "Super Dog" program, the results of the decades of research are now available to breeders worldwide. The program is simple, effect and not time consuming. So why don't all breeders do this? Simply put, there are many different calibers of breeders (but that is a subject for it's own blog post!).
The program is a series of short (several seconds) targeted actions to "wake-up" the neurological system of the puppy. Done daily, these neurological stimulation provide stimuli that is not naturally available during this time of their lives. The results are astounding!
Immediate and lifelong physiological results:
1. Improved cardio vascular performance (heart rate)
2. Stronger heart beats
3. Stronger adrenal glands
4. More tolerance to stress
5. Greater resistance to disease
In addition, long-term studies show that dogs who were raised with ENS show greater performance in problem-solving, exploratory skills, learning and performance potential. For our puppies that go on to become beloved family pets, this translates to a calmer, very trainable and resilient pup with superior health and temperament. For our pups who are destined to become Service dogs, this translates into all of the above PLUS a greater capacity for performance!
A caveat thought, Early Neurological Stimulation done incorrectly or too much can have the opposite effect! As with most things in life, there is a balance, and being sure to hit that perfect spot in the middle for these exercises is crucial to the long-term well being of the pup.
What if I already got my puppy and they were not raised with ENS?
You still have time to influence your puppy to be the best adult dog that they can be! The socialization window for puppies closes at about 15-16 weeks old. While it is too late to get the many benefits of ANS, you can still socialize the heck out of your pup in various settings and situations! Again - there is such a thing as "too much of a good thing", so do some research and make sure you are socializing correctly (Socializing 101 Blog post is coming soon!)
In conclusion, while searching for your perfect pup, the way they puppies are handled starting at only a few days old is crucial to the life-long temperament, resilience and health of your new family member.