{"id":2326,"date":"2024-09-30T16:57:51","date_gmt":"2024-09-30T21:57:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/daboyzcanecorso.com\/Staging\/?p=2326"},"modified":"2024-11-10T17:12:36","modified_gmt":"2024-11-10T23:12:36","slug":"puppies-and-early-neurological-stimulation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/daboyzcanecorso.com\/Staging\/puppies-and-early-neurological-stimulation\/","title":{"rendered":"Puppies and Early Neurological Stimulation"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Our last <a href=\"https:\/\/daboyzcanecorso.com\/Staging\/puppy-life-the-6-critical-stages-of-development\/\">blog post<\/a> was dedicated to the six crucial stages of puppy development. Today, we\u2019ll examine puppies&#8217; <strong>early neurological stimulation<\/strong> (ENS) and why it matters.<\/p>\n<h2>Puppies and Early Neurological Stimulation (ENS): Why It Matters<\/h2>\n<p>If you\u2019ve ever wondered how to give your puppy the best start in life, you\u2019re not alone. Puppy parents want to ensure their new furry family member grows up happy, healthy, and well-adjusted for their world.<\/p>\n<p>One way to help with that is through <a href=\"https:\/\/www.extension.purdue.edu\/extmedia\/VA\/VA-24-W.pdf\">Early Neurological Stimulation<\/a> (ENS). (<strong>Source:<\/strong> Purdue University, Veterinary Medicine) Don\u2019t let the fancy name scare you &#8211; it\u2019s simply a method of introducing puppies to <strong>mild<\/strong> and <strong>short-term<\/strong> stressors <strong>early in life<\/strong>, which can benefit their overall development, including:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Enhancing<\/strong> the puppy&#8217;s physical and mental development.<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Improving<\/strong> their immune system.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Increasing<\/strong> their ability to properly cope with stressors.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>So, <strong>what<\/strong> is ENS, <strong>why<\/strong> is it essential and <strong>how<\/strong> does it work?<\/p>\n<h3>What is Early Neurological Stimulation?<\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pupstartsbreeders.com\/puppy-raising-tips-ens-and-esi\/\">Early Neurological Stimulatio<\/a>n is a series of <strong>gentle exercises<\/strong> for puppies (<strong>Source:<\/strong> PupstartsBreeders.com) during the first <strong>three to 16 days<\/strong> of their life (the \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/daboyzcanecorso.com\/Staging\/puppy-life-the-6-critical-stages-of-development\/\">neonatal period<\/a>\u201d). These exercises introduce <strong>mild stressors<\/strong> to help stimulate their nervous system during a critical developmental period. Small amounts of stress &#8211; early on &#8211; can make puppies healthier, stronger, and better equipped to handle challenges later in their life. (<strong>Source:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/abs\/pii\/S1558787809001555\">ScienceDirect.com<\/a>)<\/p>\n<h3>Why is ENS Important?<\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Just like human babies, puppies\u2019 brains grow and change <strong>rapidly<\/strong> during their first few weeks. <strong>This period is critical for their physical and mental development.<\/strong> By exposing puppies to controlled, positive, and short-term stressors, ENS helps them develop resilience and adaptability.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">This early stimulation can lead to a range of benefits, including:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Improved cardiovascular performance<\/strong> or heart health.<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Stronger immune system<\/strong> making them less prone to illness.<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Greater stress tolerance<\/strong> helping them stay calm in new or stressful situations.<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Better problem-solving abilities<\/strong> making training easier.<\/li>\n<li>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Enhanced physical strength and coordination.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<figure><a href=\"https:\/\/daboyzcanecorso.com\/Staging\/our-dogs\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><br \/>\n<img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/daboyzcanecorso.com\/Staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/BubbaOurBlueCaneCorsoMale.jpg?resize=768%2C960&#038;ssl=1\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.daboyzcanecorso.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/BubbaOurBlueCaneCorsoMale.jpg?resize=768%2C960&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.daboyzcanecorso.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/BubbaOurBlueCaneCorsoMale.jpg?resize=240%2C300&amp;ssl=1 240w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.daboyzcanecorso.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/BubbaOurBlueCaneCorsoMale.jpg?resize=819%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 819w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.daboyzcanecorso.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/BubbaOurBlueCaneCorsoMale.jpg?resize=1229%2C1536&amp;ssl=1 1229w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.daboyzcanecorso.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/BubbaOurBlueCaneCorsoMale.jpg?w=1440&amp;ssl=1 1440w\" alt=\"Our Male Cane Corso Bubba\" width=\"768\" height=\"960\" \/> <\/a><figcaption>Our Male Cane Corso, Bubba (Courtesy: DaBoyzCaneCorso.com)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3>How Does ENS Work?<\/h3>\n<p>ENS involves five simple exercises, each lasting <strong>just a few seconds<\/strong>, done once daily. These exercises include handling the puppy and providing <strong>small<\/strong> amounts of stimulation (<strong>just 3-5 seconds<\/strong>).<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Tactile Stimulation:<\/strong> Gently tickle the puppy\u2019s toes with a cotton swab for 3-5 seconds.<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Head Held Up:<\/strong> Hold the puppy upright so their head faces the <strong>ceiling<\/strong> for 3-5 seconds.<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Head Held Down:<\/strong> Hold the puppy upside down with their head pointing toward the <strong>floor<\/strong> for 3-5 seconds.<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Supine Position:<\/strong> Hold the puppy on <strong>their back in your hands<\/strong> for 3-5 seconds.<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Thermal Stimulation:<\/strong> Place the puppy on a cool surface, like a damp towel, for 3-5 seconds.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<figure><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wisconsindesignerdoodles.com\/ens-early-neurological-stimulation-esi-early-scent-introduction-wisconsin-doodle-breeder\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><br \/>\n<img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/daboyzcanecorso.com\/Staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/EarlyNeurologicalStimulation-WIDesignerDoodles.png?resize=768%2C768&#038;ssl=1\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.daboyzcanecorso.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/EarlyNeurologicalStimulation-WIDesignerDoodles.png?resize=768%2C768&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.daboyzcanecorso.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/EarlyNeurologicalStimulation-WIDesignerDoodles.png?resize=300%2C300&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.daboyzcanecorso.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/EarlyNeurologicalStimulation-WIDesignerDoodles.png?resize=1024%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.daboyzcanecorso.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/EarlyNeurologicalStimulation-WIDesignerDoodles.png?resize=150%2C150&amp;ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.daboyzcanecorso.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/EarlyNeurologicalStimulation-WIDesignerDoodles.png?w=1080&amp;ssl=1 1080w\" alt=\"A graphic of Early Neurological Stimulation for Puppies\" width=\"768\" height=\"768\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 768px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 768\/768;\" \/> <\/a><figcaption>Early Neurological Stimulation (Courtesy: WisconsinDesignerDoodles.com)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>CAUTION:<\/strong> These exercises are <strong>not<\/strong> meant to be stressful or harmful; they should be <strong>brief and gentle<\/strong> enough to activate the puppy\u2019s neurological system <strong>without overwhelming<\/strong> them.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>For puppies who will be trained for Tracking and Scent Work, <a href=\"https:\/\/trainingcanines.com\/esi-early-scent-introduction\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Early Scent Introduction<\/a> (ESI) can be used along with the ENS exercises during the same period of time.<\/strong><\/p>\n<h3>Benefits of ENS for Puppies and Owners<\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The benefits of ENS extend beyond physical health. Puppies that undergo ENS are often <strong>more confident and adaptable<\/strong>. They tend to be less fearful of new environments and noises, making them easier to train and better suited to busy households.<\/p>\n<figure><a href=\"https:\/\/daboyzcanecorso.com\/Staging\/cane-corso-puppies\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><br \/>\n<img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/daboyzcanecorso.com\/Staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/OneOfTheRugerLitterPuppiesPlaying.png?resize=487%2C453&#038;ssl=1\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 487px) 100vw, 487px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.daboyzcanecorso.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/OneOfTheRugerLitterPuppiesPlaying.png?w=487&amp;ssl=1 487w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.daboyzcanecorso.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/OneOfTheRugerLitterPuppiesPlaying.png?resize=300%2C279&amp;ssl=1 300w\" alt=\"One of the Ruger Litter Puppies Playing in the Grass\" width=\"487\" height=\"453\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 487px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 487\/453;\" \/> <\/a><figcaption>One of the Ruger Litter Puppies Playing Outside (Courtesy: DaBoyzCaneCorso.com<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">For dog owners, this means a smoother transition as your puppy grows and encounters new experiences. Whether it\u2019s the vacuum cleaner, car rides, or meeting new people or other animals, ENS helps puppies easily handle life\u2019s little surprises.<\/p>\n<h3>The Final Word<\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">ENS is a widely respected practice. If you\u2019re curious and want to dive deeper into the science behind ENS, check out these resources:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"text-align: justify;\">American Kennel Club (AKC) on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.akc.org\/expert-advice\/dog-breeding\/early-puppy-development\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Early Neurological Stimulation<\/a><br \/>\nBreeding Better Dogs: <a href=\"https:\/\/breedingbetterdogs.com\/article\/early-neurological-stimulation\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Dr. Carmen Battaglia on ENS<\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: justify;\">By using Early Neurological Stimulation, breeders and pet parents can give their puppies a <strong>head start<\/strong>, helping them grow into healthier, happier, more confident and adaptable adults.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">It\u2019s a simple, yet powerful, way to <strong>set your puppy up for success<\/strong>!<\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/daboyzcanecorso.com\/Staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/2024_CC_BWH_banner.jpg?resize=300%2C140&#038;ssl=1\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.daboyzcanecorso.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/2024_CC_BWH_banner.jpg?resize=300%2C140&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.daboyzcanecorso.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/2024_CC_BWH_banner.jpg?w=578&amp;ssl=1 578w\" alt=\"Graphic for the Bred with HEART AKC Program for Cane Corso\" width=\"300\" height=\"140\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 300px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 300\/140;\" \/><\/p>\n<h4 style=\"text-align: center;\">Cane Corso Breeding: For Us, It\u2019s Personal!<\/h4>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Looking for a Cane Corso puppy?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Complete and submit our <a href=\"https:\/\/daboyzcanecorso.com\/Staging\/litters\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Puppy Inquiry Form<\/a> for upcoming litters!<\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/daboyzcanecorso.com\/Staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/cropped-DaBoyzRealisticPNG-1.jpg?resize=325%2C314&#038;ssl=1\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.daboyzcanecorso.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/cropped-DaBoyzRealisticPNG-1.jpg?w=512&amp;ssl=1 512w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.daboyzcanecorso.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/cropped-DaBoyzRealisticPNG-1.jpg?resize=300%2C300&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.daboyzcanecorso.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/cropped-DaBoyzRealisticPNG-1.jpg?resize=150%2C150&amp;ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.daboyzcanecorso.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/cropped-DaBoyzRealisticPNG-1.jpg?resize=270%2C270&amp;ssl=1 270w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.daboyzcanecorso.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/cropped-DaBoyzRealisticPNG-1.jpg?resize=192%2C192&amp;ssl=1 192w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.daboyzcanecorso.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/cropped-DaBoyzRealisticPNG-1.jpg?resize=180%2C180&amp;ssl=1 180w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.daboyzcanecorso.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/cropped-DaBoyzRealisticPNG-1.jpg?resize=32%2C32&amp;ssl=1 32w\" alt=\"Blue and black logo image of Bubba and Dante Cane Corso Logo\" width=\"325\" height=\"314\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 325px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 325\/314;\" \/><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Our last blog post was dedicated to the six crucial stages of puppy development. Today, we\u2019ll examine puppies&#8217; early neurological stimulation (ENS) and why it matters. Puppies and Early Neurological Stimulation (ENS): Why It Matters If you\u2019ve ever wondered how to give your puppy the best start in life, you\u2019re not alone. Puppy parents want [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":2324,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[240],"tags":[244,253,252,251,21],"class_list":["post-2326","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-puppies","tag-cane-corso-puppies","tag-early-neurological-stimulation","tag-puppies-and-early-neurological-stimulation","tag-puppies-and-ens","tag-puppy"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/daboyzcanecorso.com\/Staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/DantePuppyClassGraduation.png?fit=1200%2C630&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/daboyzcanecorso.com\/Staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2326","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/daboyzcanecorso.com\/Staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/daboyzcanecorso.com\/Staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/daboyzcanecorso.com\/Staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/daboyzcanecorso.com\/Staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2326"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/daboyzcanecorso.com\/Staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2326\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5491,"href":"https:\/\/daboyzcanecorso.com\/Staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2326\/revisions\/5491"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/daboyzcanecorso.com\/Staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2324"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/daboyzcanecorso.com\/Staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2326"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/daboyzcanecorso.com\/Staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2326"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/daboyzcanecorso.com\/Staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2326"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}