Our Puppy Socialization Practices
We believe the key to a well rounded, calm family companion starts at birth, and that to help each dog develop, each puppy should be introduced to as many positive experiences as possible, as well as given a good start with proven early neurological stimulation programs.
Bio-Sensor Stimulation
The U.S. Military developed a program in the 1970's called "Bio Sensor." The program was developed to improve the performance of dogs used for military purposes.
The basic idea is that by exposing the pups to early "little stressors" it would help the pup develop more resilient responses to stress later on. By exposing the pups to a series of exercises from Day 3 to Day 16 you can influence neurological growth and development.
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The puppies are gently handled using a series of exercises to produce brainwave activity that might not naturally occur on its own. Early brain development is enhanced by creating more neuro synapses.
Each puppy is handled and worked through 5 exercises – each exercise for 3-5 seconds.
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The 5 exercises are:
1. Tactile stimulation – pup is gently cradled in one hand as you gently rub a Q-Tip between each of the pups toes
2. Puppy held in upright position – With both hands you hold pup so it's head in straight above it's tail
3. Head pointed down – using both hands you support the pup as you turn the pup upside down
4. Cradle position – you support the pup as you have them lay on their back in your hands
5. Thermal stimulation – taking a washcloth that has been cooled in the refrigerator for 5 minutes you place the pup on the cool washcloth with their belly touching the washcloth.
ESI "Early Scent Introduction"
Early scent introduction (ESI) is a training program for puppies designed to enhance their ability to identify, and react to, specific scents. Each day, the trainer introduces a strong scent to the puppy for brief intervals, and records the puppy’s reaction.
The reaction is considered to be positive when the puppy shows interest in the scent, moving toward it. A negative reaction is recorded when the puppy tries to get away from the scent. And finally, when a puppy is neither interested nor disinterested in the scent, this is a neutral reaction.
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For practical purposes, these results mean the potential for even better companion, service, and therapy dogs. Scent abilities are often very important. Just as an example, when a dog is a companion to a child with autism, his main function is likely to be a guardian of sorts, since children with autism can have a tendency to wander or run off. If the dog is able to easily follow the child’s scent and locate him or her, that could actually be a life-saving asset. Another situation in which scent abilities can matter a great deal might be alerting an elderly person to a gas leak, or to something burning on the stove – again, there is the potential for saving a life. Service dogs can also use scent to identify the early stages of diabetic reaction, or the onset of a seizure. All these skills enhanced by ESI. Of course, not all dogs are going to be service or therapy animals.
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Every day, we introduce a new scent. To do this, we pick up the puppy or sit on the floor with the puppy in our lap. We hold on to the puppy with one hand so that he does not squirm away before the scent is introduced. Then, with your other hand, we hold the scent-bearing object about half an inch away from his nose. If he wants to move toward the scent, we let him. By the same token, if he wants to move away from it, that is fine too. Then we note whether the reaction is positive, negative, or neutral. Then we repeat the procedure with the other puppies in the litter.
Mindful Socialization
We believe that to give puppies the best start in life, they should be introduced to as many experiences and activities as possible in their early lives and development. We are committed to exposing and socializing our puppies as much as possible, to as many.
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Whether that is handling, grooming and nail clipping, leashes, collars and harnesses, household sounds and activities, riding in cars, crate training, behaving at the vet and other public spaces, kitchen sounds, scary objects like vacuum cleaners and hair dryers, or safe introduction to livestock, we want to ensure our puppies are set up for success.