Bio Sensor/Early Neurological Stimulation for New Puppies

How many of you use Early Neurological Stimulation in raising your puppies?

I use the Bio Sensor/Super Dog Program which is a series of early neurological stimulation exercises done from day two or three to day sixteen of the puppies lives.

The U.S. Military .canine program developed a method that still serves as a guide to what works. In an effort to improve the performance of dogs used for military purposes, a program called “Bio Sensor” was developed. Later, it became known to the public as the “Super Dog” Program. Based on years of research, the military learned that early neurological stimulation exercises could have important and lasting effects. Their studies confirmed that there are specific time periods early in life when neurological stimulation has optimum results.

The “Bio Sensor” program is concerned with early neurological stimulation in order to give the dog a superior advantage. It utilizes five exercises, which were designed to stimulate the neurological system. Each workout involves handling puppies once each day, one puppy at a time while performing a series of five exercises. The handler starts with one pup and stimulates it using each of the five exercises from beginning to end before starting with the next puppy.

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. 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. 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. 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 struggle. 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. 3-5 seconds.

Five benefits have been observed in dogs that were exposed to the Bio Sensor stimulation exercises. The benefits noted were:

Improved cardio vascular performance (heart rate)
Stronger heart beats
Stronger adrenal glands
More tolerance to stress and
Greater resistance to disease.

Stimulated puppies were found to be more active and more exploratory than non- stimulated puppies.

Secondary effects were noted regarding test performance. In simple problem solving tests using detours in a maze, non-stimulated puppies became extremely aroused, whined in distress a great deal, and made many errors.

Their stimulated litter mates were less disturbed by the test environment, were more calm in general, made fewer errors and gave only an occasional distress call.

Thank you Dr. Carmen Battaglia for publishing an article on this subject. Thanks to his article, many breeders have started implementing early Neurological stimulation in their breeding programs.