ENS and ESI exercises

All puppies have officially started our ENS and ESI exercises. Below is more information and the benefits of ENS and ESI:

Early Neurological Stimulation (ENS) are exercises that are conducted once daily from the third to the 16th days, a period believed to be a time of rapid neurological growth and development. Even though puppies are very immature during this time frame, they are sensitive and respond to ENS.

The US Military developed this method designed to improve the performance of future military working dogs, according to the Breeding Better Dogs program developed by Dr. Carmen Battaglia, esteemed breeder, judge, seminar presenter, and AKC board member.

ENS requires handling the puppies one at a time while performing a series of five exercises. Listed in order of preference, the handler starts with one pup and stimulates it using each of the five exercises. The handler completes the series from beginning to end before starting with the next pup. The handling of each pup once per day involves the following exercises:

1. Tactile stimulation – Holding the pup in one hand, the handler gently stimulates (tickles) the pup between the toes on any one foot using a Q-tip. It is not necessary to see that the pup is feeling the tickle. Time of stimulation 3 – 5 seconds.

2. Head held erect – Using both hands, the pup is held perpendicular to the ground, (straight up), so that its head is directly above its tail. This is an upwards position. Time of stimulation 3 – 5 seconds.

3. Head pointed down – Holding the pup firmly with both hands the head is reversed and is pointed downward so that it is pointing towards the ground. Time of stimulation 3 – 5 seconds.

4. Supine position – Hold the pup so that its back is resting in the palm of both hands with its muzzle facing the ceiling. The pup while on its back is allowed to sleep. Time of stimulation 3-5 seconds.

5. Thermal stimulation— Use a damp towel that has been cooled in a refrigerator for at least five minutes. Place the pup on the towel, feet down. Do not restrain it from moving. Time of stimulation 3-5 seconds.

When performed correctly, ENS is believed to impact the neurological system by kicking it into action earlier than would be normally expected, the result being an increased capacity that later will help to make the difference in its performance, according to Breeding Better Dogs. ENS is time sensitive and must be performed from the third to the 16th days of a puppy’s life.

Five benefits have been observed in canines that were exposed to ENS, including improved cardio vascular performance (heart rate); stronger heart beats; stronger adrenal glands; more tolerance to stress; and greater resistance to disease.

Early Scent Introduction (ESI) is a method designed to enhance puppies' nose awareness and confidence, helping them better identify and respond to various scents. Similar to Early Neurological Stimulation, ESI is introduced between days 3 and 16 of a puppy's life and plays a vital role in their developmental progress.

Throughout this process, puppies are introduced to a different scent every day. We hold the puppy close and allow them to smell each scent, then document their reaction on their neonatal care chart. A positive response is noted when the puppy shows interest in the scent, moving their nose towards it. A negative reaction is recorded if the puppy tries to avoid the scent. If the puppy neither shows interest nor avoidance, the reaction is considered neutral.

What Are the Benefits?

This practice helps develop a more aware and alert dog, which translates into a better companion and a more effective service or therapy dog. Scent abilities are often a crucial skill in therapy and service dog training. Research has shown that stimulating a puppy’s scent abilities early on significantly enhances their scent recognition as they grow.

Here are some ways dogs use their scent abilities to help:

• Nearly half of children with autism tend to wander or go missing. Some dogs are trained to track and locate them by their scent.

• Diabetic alert dogs are trained to detect fluctuations in blood sugar levels by sensing changes in air odors.

• Certain dogs can even alert elderly individuals to dangers like an unattended stove or a gas leak.

While some dogs naturally have a stronger sense of smell than others, training and tracking their reactions during this process allows us to match the right puppy to specific needs.