Early Neurological Stimulation For Puppies
Early Neurological Stimulation (ENS) is a process we started doing that introduces mild stresses to very young puppies in a controlled way. These stresses help stimulate the neurological system which improves the growth and development of the pup’s immune system, cardiovascular system, and stress tolerance.
Information About Early Neurological Stimulation
ENS is done for 2 consecutive weeks starting 3 days after the puppies are born. The process consists of 5 simple and harmless exercises, which are: tactile stimulation, lying in the supine position, held with head held up, tilted upside down, and thermal stimulation. Each exercise is done for 3-5 seconds the entire process takes about 30 seconds. Tactile stimulation is done by gently tickling or touching in between each of the pup’s toes with a Q-tip. The supine position is achieved by holding the pup in both hands belly up (some pups squirm in this position so a solid but gentle two handed hold is necessary). To hold the pup with head up simply hold the pup in both hands so that the tail is pointed to the ground and the head is above the tail towards the ceiling. From the Head held up position tilt the pup over and hold so the head is towards the ground and the tail is towards the ceiling. You’ll need a damp cool towel for the thermal stimulation. You lay the pup right side up with its belly on the damp cool towel. These 5 painless and simple exercises are done to prepare our pups for their life’s journey. Only 30 seconds a day for 2 weeks and we see a great improvement in their immune systems and stress tolerances. We will continue to do Early Neurological Stimulation on our pups because we see the benefits and know it helps them grown into lovable canine citizens.
Here is a demonstration of ENS on one of our puppies
Early Scent Introduction
Early Scent Introduction (ESI) is a procedure we do that helps puppies with their nose awareness and confidence. It enhances their ability to identify and react to scents. Similar to Early Neurological Stimulation, ESI is introduced at days 3-16 of a puppies life and is very benefical for their development.
ESI stands for Early Scent Introduction. Early Scent Introduction is performed in conjunction with Bio-Sensor training on the puppies from day three thru day sixteen. A pungent scent is introduced to the puppy each day for short intervals. Their reaction to the scent is then recorded. A positive reaction is when a puppy will try to move towards the scent with their nose highly engaged in the scent. A negative reaction will have the puppy pulling back from the scent. A neutral reaction will be when the puppy does not seem interested or disinterested.
So what does all this mean for our pups? With our focus is on pet, companion, therapy and service foundational training this is an exciting piece of our training. Many times with companion, therapy and early service dog training, the dogs scent abilities are a high characteristic that is required for the dog to have. For example, autistic children have the tendency to bolt or run away; therefore having a dog that is able to follow the scent and locate the child could sometimes be a matter of life or death. Often times, an elderly person can misplaces items, how wonderful would it not be to have the dog help them. Letting an elderly person know that something may have been left on the stove, or even a gas leak, early enough for safety issues, once again may save a life. Even more intense would be the dog that would be able to have the ability to determine the early onset of a seizure or diabetic reaction. All is possible and defiantly enhanced by doing early scent introduction.
ESI stands for Early Scent Introduction. Early Scent Introduction is performed in conjunction with Bio-Sensor training on the puppies from day three thru day sixteen. A pungent scent is introduced to the puppy each day for short intervals. Their reaction to the scent is then recorded. A positive reaction is when a puppy will try to move towards the scent with their nose highly engaged in the scent. A negative reaction will have the puppy pulling back from the scent. A neutral reaction will be when the puppy does not seem interested or disinterested.
So what does all this mean for our pups? With our focus is on pet, companion, therapy and service foundational training this is an exciting piece of our training. Many times with companion, therapy and early service dog training, the dogs scent abilities are a high characteristic that is required for the dog to have. For example, autistic children have the tendency to bolt or run away; therefore having a dog that is able to follow the scent and locate the child could sometimes be a matter of life or death. Often times, an elderly person can misplaces items, how wonderful would it not be to have the dog help them. Letting an elderly person know that something may have been left on the stove, or even a gas leak, early enough for safety issues, once again may save a life. Even more intense would be the dog that would be able to have the ability to determine the early onset of a seizure or diabetic reaction. All is possible and defiantly enhanced by doing early scent introduction.
Puppy Aptitude Tests: Choosing a Puppy That Best Suits You
Few events rival bringing home a new puppy, but did you know that the cutest puppy may not be the best one for you? Of course, all puppies are cute, but they also grow into adult dogs with their own personalities, quirks, and idiosyncrasies. What if you could see into a puppy's future to determine his future behavior? It's possible, thanks to puppy aptitude testing.
Puppy aptitude testing dates back to the 1930s, but it was in the 1970s that Wendy and Joachim Volhard, internationally recognized experts on canine behavior, developed the popular Puppy Aptitude Test (PAT). The sole purpose of PAT is to help breeders, trainers, and owners select the right puppy for the right home.
An alternative to PAT is P.A.W.S. Working Dog Evaluation, which evaluates possessiveness, attention, willingness, and strength (PAWS). Unlike PAT, which is geared primarily toward pet dogs, PAWS tests prey drive—a dog's natural desire to chase, capture, and kill prey. Prey drive is completely natural and forms the foundation for a wide variety of canine jobs, such as obedience, herding, search and rescue, and so forth.
That said, the phrase puppy aptitude test is a bit of a misnomer. The process is not a test. No one wins or loses. It's not based on a pass or fail system, nor governed by any organization. Testers need not be board certified in animal behavior or possess a Ph.D. in genetics. The test is relatively simple to perform and anyone with commonsense can do it. However, it's helpful if you seek out an experienced tester—or at least someone with a bit of canine and testing knowledge.
Timing Is Everything
The concept behind puppy testing is that a puppy's brain is neurologically complete at 49 days of age—that is, he emits the brain waves of an adult dog. Yet his brain is a blank page, minimally affected by experience and learning. Aptitude tests performed at 7 weeks of age reveal the raw material of the puppy's individual temperament. At this age, puppies have learned to use the inherited behaviors that make them dogs, but they have not yet had a range of experience to influence the test results. In other words, they have not yet learned any annoying or undesired habits, so an experienced tester can objectively evaluate their personality and temperament.
If testing is done later, say at 8, 10, or 12 weeks, it's compromised by intervening experiences that may influence a puppy's responses. It then becomes difficult to ascertain a true reading of behavioral tendencies. For example, by 16 weeks a puppy may be well on his way to learning the annoying behavior of ignoring the "come" command. Or he may have been exposed to situations during the "fear period" (between 8 and 10 weeks) that affect his willingness to please, follow, approach strangers, or retrieve objects.
Of course, as with anything pertaining to dogs, different opinions abound. Opponents of PAT cite the potential lack of consistency and tester knowledge, while others pooh-pooh the entire concept. Many experienced breeders come up with their own system of evaluation, and they will tell you the best predictor of a puppy's future behavior are his parents. Because temperament is inherited, experts say your best source of "puppy temperament testing" is to look at puppy's ancestors.
What does this mean to you?
Puppy aptitude testing evaluates a puppy's behavioral tendencies ranging from social attraction (degree of social attraction to people, confidence or dependence), to retrieving, to sound and sight sensitivity. The test parts are done consecutively and in a specific order. The "scores" are tallied and a pattern of inherited behavioral tendencies becomes visible. Remember, it's not a pass or fail system, and no puppy test is absolute. But when applied correctly, puppy aptitude tests provide breeders and trainers with an objective approach for evaluation and understanding individual behavioral tendencies—a window, so to speak, into the puppy's future. For example, is he bossy? Bold? Independent? Does he charge into a room full of energy and self-confidence? Is he aggressive? Is he timid or aloof? Nervous? Is he inquisitive, curious, fearful or timid?
Many breeders characterize a puppy as sweet, faithful, lovable, quiet, and so forth, but such words don't give much objective information on the puppy's temperament, inherited tendencies, or working ability. In other words, how your puppy is likely to perceive and interact with the world as an adult dog. For example, a high-drive, high-energy dog may do well with an energetic, type-A owner who likes to hike, jog, swim, and so forth, but will most assuredly clash with a sedentary or novice owner. An extremely noise-sensitive dog may do well in a calm environment but would surely be terrified in a dynamic dog sport environment. Likewise, a fearful or shy dog is not likely to flourish in a home filled with rambunctious, noisy kids.
Doing Your Part
Puppy aptitude testing will help to evaluate a puppy's inherited behavioral tendencies, but it's important that you look at your own personality too. Are you outgoing? Quiet? Are you active, or more of a couch potato? Do you jump out of bed full of energy, or do you require a double latte before facing your day?
If a particular breed interests you, find out first what the dog was originally bred to do, be it herding, retrieving, going to ground, etc. Understanding a breed's history and origin will give you a good idea of his future characteristics. Remember, the majority of today's retrievers, hounds, terriers, and herding dogs descended from strong working ancestry. Most breeds were bred for a specific full-time job that required enormous amounts of energy, drive, stamina, courage, tenacity, and intelligence. The qualities that make them superior working dogs are the very qualities that can make them unsuitable as urban pets.
Keep in mind, the puppy you choose will be with you for 12 or 15 years. Be smart. Do your homework and pick a puppy (or adult dog) who meshes with your personality and lifestyle. Understanding a puppy's inherited behavioral tendencies will go a long way in making your life—and your dog's life—more enjoyable.
Puppy aptitude testing dates back to the 1930s, but it was in the 1970s that Wendy and Joachim Volhard, internationally recognized experts on canine behavior, developed the popular Puppy Aptitude Test (PAT). The sole purpose of PAT is to help breeders, trainers, and owners select the right puppy for the right home.
An alternative to PAT is P.A.W.S. Working Dog Evaluation, which evaluates possessiveness, attention, willingness, and strength (PAWS). Unlike PAT, which is geared primarily toward pet dogs, PAWS tests prey drive—a dog's natural desire to chase, capture, and kill prey. Prey drive is completely natural and forms the foundation for a wide variety of canine jobs, such as obedience, herding, search and rescue, and so forth.
That said, the phrase puppy aptitude test is a bit of a misnomer. The process is not a test. No one wins or loses. It's not based on a pass or fail system, nor governed by any organization. Testers need not be board certified in animal behavior or possess a Ph.D. in genetics. The test is relatively simple to perform and anyone with commonsense can do it. However, it's helpful if you seek out an experienced tester—or at least someone with a bit of canine and testing knowledge.
Timing Is Everything
The concept behind puppy testing is that a puppy's brain is neurologically complete at 49 days of age—that is, he emits the brain waves of an adult dog. Yet his brain is a blank page, minimally affected by experience and learning. Aptitude tests performed at 7 weeks of age reveal the raw material of the puppy's individual temperament. At this age, puppies have learned to use the inherited behaviors that make them dogs, but they have not yet had a range of experience to influence the test results. In other words, they have not yet learned any annoying or undesired habits, so an experienced tester can objectively evaluate their personality and temperament.
If testing is done later, say at 8, 10, or 12 weeks, it's compromised by intervening experiences that may influence a puppy's responses. It then becomes difficult to ascertain a true reading of behavioral tendencies. For example, by 16 weeks a puppy may be well on his way to learning the annoying behavior of ignoring the "come" command. Or he may have been exposed to situations during the "fear period" (between 8 and 10 weeks) that affect his willingness to please, follow, approach strangers, or retrieve objects.
Of course, as with anything pertaining to dogs, different opinions abound. Opponents of PAT cite the potential lack of consistency and tester knowledge, while others pooh-pooh the entire concept. Many experienced breeders come up with their own system of evaluation, and they will tell you the best predictor of a puppy's future behavior are his parents. Because temperament is inherited, experts say your best source of "puppy temperament testing" is to look at puppy's ancestors.
What does this mean to you?
Puppy aptitude testing evaluates a puppy's behavioral tendencies ranging from social attraction (degree of social attraction to people, confidence or dependence), to retrieving, to sound and sight sensitivity. The test parts are done consecutively and in a specific order. The "scores" are tallied and a pattern of inherited behavioral tendencies becomes visible. Remember, it's not a pass or fail system, and no puppy test is absolute. But when applied correctly, puppy aptitude tests provide breeders and trainers with an objective approach for evaluation and understanding individual behavioral tendencies—a window, so to speak, into the puppy's future. For example, is he bossy? Bold? Independent? Does he charge into a room full of energy and self-confidence? Is he aggressive? Is he timid or aloof? Nervous? Is he inquisitive, curious, fearful or timid?
Many breeders characterize a puppy as sweet, faithful, lovable, quiet, and so forth, but such words don't give much objective information on the puppy's temperament, inherited tendencies, or working ability. In other words, how your puppy is likely to perceive and interact with the world as an adult dog. For example, a high-drive, high-energy dog may do well with an energetic, type-A owner who likes to hike, jog, swim, and so forth, but will most assuredly clash with a sedentary or novice owner. An extremely noise-sensitive dog may do well in a calm environment but would surely be terrified in a dynamic dog sport environment. Likewise, a fearful or shy dog is not likely to flourish in a home filled with rambunctious, noisy kids.
Doing Your Part
Puppy aptitude testing will help to evaluate a puppy's inherited behavioral tendencies, but it's important that you look at your own personality too. Are you outgoing? Quiet? Are you active, or more of a couch potato? Do you jump out of bed full of energy, or do you require a double latte before facing your day?
If a particular breed interests you, find out first what the dog was originally bred to do, be it herding, retrieving, going to ground, etc. Understanding a breed's history and origin will give you a good idea of his future characteristics. Remember, the majority of today's retrievers, hounds, terriers, and herding dogs descended from strong working ancestry. Most breeds were bred for a specific full-time job that required enormous amounts of energy, drive, stamina, courage, tenacity, and intelligence. The qualities that make them superior working dogs are the very qualities that can make them unsuitable as urban pets.
Keep in mind, the puppy you choose will be with you for 12 or 15 years. Be smart. Do your homework and pick a puppy (or adult dog) who meshes with your personality and lifestyle. Understanding a puppy's inherited behavioral tendencies will go a long way in making your life—and your dog's life—more enjoyable.
How we do our testing at Shondel Puppy Paws
Test the puppies, see the response from the puppies, and score the puppies. Testing is done between 7 and 9 weeks of age depending on the breed. All puppies will have their own sheet and it will come home with him/her in their puppy folder. Once testing is done I will go over results with each buyer (if you've already picked your puppy) to make sure this is the right puppy for your family. The testing is going to help me, help you find the perfect puppy for your family. All dogs have a purpose so we want to ensure we are placing our puppies in right homes. They will be so excited to meet you at 8 weeks and run along to their new home. Please go through all your puppies paperwork in his/her folder as there is so much useful information to help you along the way!
What temperament traits we look for to help guide you
12 Traits:
Assertiveness
Confidence
Motivation Level
Nerve Strength
Touch Tolerance
Energy Level
Sound Sensitivity
Sight Sensitivity
Prey Drive
Human Focus
Tenderhearted
Dog Friendliness
Assertiveness
Confidence
Motivation Level
Nerve Strength
Touch Tolerance
Energy Level
Sound Sensitivity
Sight Sensitivity
Prey Drive
Human Focus
Tenderhearted
Dog Friendliness