Bio-Sensor and Early Neurological Stimulation

The Bio-Sensor program is a program that was started by the US Military to give their dogs the leading edge in training for guard, protection, detection and other areas.  It consists of stimulation in several different areas for about the first 14 days of life.  This stimulation is performed once a day, for only a matter of seconds, but research has shown that this early stimulation can actually make a world of difference in the puppies lives. 

As breeders we work very hard to keep our puppies safe and sound.  We make sure that they don't get too hot or too cold, that they are fed and that they are rarely unattended.  It's gotten so that perhaps we have made our nest environments TOO safe.  In the wild, bitches would need to leave their pups periodically if only temporarily to relieve herself and to seek nourishment and hydration.   During this time, the puppies would experience a drop (even if not significantly unpleasant) in nest temperature, as well as the knowledge that they can't find mom.  So to make sure that there is SOME controlled stress added to the nest environment we perform very small amounts of stressful activities daily to ensure that the puppies nervous, endocrine and immune systems are properly stimulated during crucial growth stages.  The Early Neurological Stimulation consists of 5 exercises that have shown, when used correctly to help dogs combat stress more effectively, to recover from stress more quickly and to be generally more healthy than dogs that don't receive any form of stress in the whelping box.  We have used this method on several litters already and are delighted with the results. 

The exercises consist of holding the puppy on it's back (supine position) for 5 seconds, holding the puppy head over bottom for 5 seconds, holding the puppy bottom over head for 5 seconds, tactile stimulation consisting of a q-tip wiggled between the toes of one foot for 5 seconds, and thermal stimulation, where the puppy is placed on a cool damp rag for 5 seconds.  These exercises may seem negligible but they offer just enough stimulation to make important neural connections and jump start the immune and endocrine systems.  These exercises are ONLY done one time a day, until the pups are about 14 days old.  We also add to this the addition of olfactory (smell) stimulation.  Each day, when the puppies bedding is changed, a new scent is dabbed on their blankets and then the puppies are replaced into the whelping box.  This helps to make better neural connections in the brain via scent and helps our puppies to make excellent tracking, utility and SAR dogs since they are literally "born" knowing how to use their noses. 

Additionally, as the puppies grow older, we initiate handling exercises (a little bit more involved version of the ENS exercises above) visual and auditory stimulation at appropriate times as well.  We also move the puppies out into an "enrichment" pen for the majority of the day as they are starting to be weaned.  This pen consists of obstacles, different textures, and beginning agility equipment (puppy dog walk, and teeter, tunnels, etc) all of which gives our puppies a head start on all the wonderful performance events that we hope they will be competing in some day.  In addition, from the time they are old enough to move around, they are never without a tennis ball!  You never can foster toy drive too early! 

Our puppies are also used to being handled, having nails trimmed, ears fooled with, mouths and gums examines, being bathed, standing on the grooming table and more.  We also start crate training as early as 8 weeks so that when you take your puppy home you can actually ENJOY him, rather than having to work through all these things yourself. 

We think our puppies are worth it and hope that you will too!  If you are interested in any of our puppies, or young adult dogs, contact us today to start that relationship.  We look forward to working with you!

Bettina Rister and Katherine Rogers  ~Vanity Australian Shepherds