Early Neurological Stimulation & Early Scent Introduction- What is it and Why do we implement this protocol?

Early socialization is crucial to the development of puppies. Outside of usual puppy socialization protocols, these are two early puppy stimulation exercises that we implement with each puppy.

So what is ENS & ESI?

Early Neurological Stimulation (ENS) and Early Scent Introduction (ESI) are simple exercises which each last 3-5 seconds, to which we expose puppies once daily from days 6-18 to help aid their development, resilience and coping mechanisms. The benefits of implementing these practices include:

*boost brain development

*improve circulation and immune system

*stimulates the neurological system

*improves stress responses in later life

*encourages a daily physical check of each puppy

ESI is a practice of introducing both common and uncommon scents at an early age to introduce new scents in a controlled way and improving their scenting ability in later life. It enhances confidence and stability, and can reduce behavioural issues in the long term. We commonly choose 5-7 scents and allow each puppy 3-5 seconds to respond to each particular scent. We track each puppies response and progression throughout the allotted days, watching for positive, negative or neutral reactions.

ENS is a concept which encompasses tactile stimulation, thermal stimulation and exposure to mild stressors. This practice consists of holding each puppy in various positions for 3-5 seconds once daily and it helps introduce puppies to mild stressors in a controlled way, improving stress responses in later life, stimulating the neurological system and improving puppies growth, immune and cardiovascular system. We find that this practice also helps the transition into homes and the puppies reaction with smaller children and the occasional mishandling by toddlers. We hold puppies in the following positions: Head Down, Head Up, Supine Position (on back); followed by tactile stimulation and placing puppies on a cool towel to help their little bodies regulate their temperature. We continue the tactile stimulation method each day all the way up until they go to their forever home.