Early Neurological Stimulation (ENS) is conducted from the 3rd through day 16 of a puppies life, to help encourage a stable temperament and better stress responses later in life. ENS was developed by the United States Military to improve the performance of service dogs. ENS training is believed to improve the dogs neurological system, and has shown increased growth, immune, and cardiovascular strength.
ENS consist of a series of five exercises performed once a day. Keep in mind that a puppies eyes do not open until around 10 days, and their hearing begins at around 14 days, so this is a period where their minds respond to gentle touch.
1. Tactile stimulation -gently tickling the pups feet with a Q-tip for 3-5 seconds each.
2. Head erect -supporting the pup with both hands, it is held in an upright position for 3-5 seconds.
3. Head downward -supporting the pup with both hands, it is held upside down for 3-5 seconds.
4. Supine position- cradling the pup with both hands, it rests on its back for 3-5 seconds.
5. Thermal stimulation -the pup is placed feet down for 3-5 seconds on a towel that has been cooled.
Refer to the following link for illustrations of each exercise.
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