🧠 What Is Early Neurological Stimulation (ENS)?

Early Neurological Stimulation (ENS) is a series of gentle, structured exercises performed once daily on each puppy between 3 and 16 days of age. Originally developed by the U.S. military’s “Bio Sensor” program for working dogs, ENS is intended to trigger early activation of the neurological system during a critical growth window. ENS usually includes these five exercises, each held for about 3–5 seconds:

1. Tactile stimulation – Gently tickling the puppy’s toes with a Q‑tip
   
2. Head held erect – Holding the puppy upright so the head is above the tail
   
3. Head pointed down – Positioning the head down toward the ground
   
4. Supine position – Placing the pup on its back, belly up
   
5. Thermal stimulation – Brief exposure to a cool, damp surface
   

It’s important to note: only one session per day, for no more than 5 seconds per exercise—overdoing it can actually be harmful Reddit+7American Kennel Club+7PubMed+7PubMed+2PMC+2Hanne Grice Pet Training & Behaviour+2.

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✅ Why Do We Use ENS at RiverSong?

At RiverSong Doodles, we integrate ENS into our Puppy Culture™ early life protocol, alongside early socialization, clicker training, and enrichment exercises. Here’s why ENS remains a foundational practice for us:

1. Encouraging Nervous System Development

ENS delivers targeted stimuli during a neurological “growth window,” helping build neural pathways linked to motor skills, balance, and body awareness .

2. Promoting Stress Resilience

Some studies suggest ENS delivers moderate stimulation that may prime puppies to better cope with future stress—especially if their environment is less enriched PubMed.

3. Enhancing Exploratory Behavior

Puppies who undergo ENS tend to be more curious and willing to explore new scenarios than their non-ENS counterparts Purdue Extension+7PMC+7ScienceDirect+7.

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🔬 What Does the Research Say?

The scientific record on ENS is mixed—but has some interesting takeaways:

• A Purdue University study on 76 commercial-bred puppies found no clear behavioral or stress-coping advantages from ENS alone, though all puppies were healthy and socialized RedditPubMed+1Purdue Extension+1.
  
• Early ENS research by Battaglia (Bio Sensor, 1991) and others indicated:
  
  • Improved cardiovascular performance
    
  • Stronger adrenal response
    
  • Increased stress tolerance
    
  • Higher disease resistance
    
  • Better performance on problem‑solving tests Hanne Grice Pet Training & Behaviour+5PMC+5Reddit+5Reddit+2American Kennel Club+2highlandpethospital.net+2
    
• Subsequent follow-up found no large-scale differences, especially when ENS was combined with other social stimulation—a reminder that ENS is one part of a bigger picture Hanne Grice Pet Training & Behaviour+4PubMed+4ScienceDirect+4.
  
• A more recent sciencedirect study hints that ENS can lead to higher acceptance in training dogs, though more research is needed ScienceDirect+1ScienceDirect+1.
  

TL;DR: ENS has demonstrable benefits, especially when combined with enriched environments. It’s not a cure-all—but it sets a solid developmental foundation.

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🏡 How We Do ENS at RiverSong

We follow Penny Leigh’s AKC-endorsed ENS guidelines American Kennel Club+1Purdue Extension+1—careful, consistent, and always gentle. Here’s what a day of ENS looks like:

1. Between days 3–16, each puppy is taken aside once daily.
   
2. We perform the five key exercises, 3–5 seconds each: tactile, head erect, head down, supine, thermal.
   
3. Puppies are warmed and returned to Mom & litter promptly.
   
4. Detailed records are kept to track behavior, appetite, and responses.
   
5. Afterwards, they join additional Puppy Culture™ sessions—textures, sounds, early commands, problem-solving.
   

Each ENS session is part of an integrated development roadmap.

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🎈 Beyond ENS: It’s All About Balance

While ENS is a powerful start, it’s only one aspect of RiverSong’s Puppy Culture vision. Here’s how it fits into the bigger picture:

Stage	Focus Area	Purpose & Benefit
Days 3–16	ENS	Nervous system kickstart; stress buffer
Weeks 3–6	Exposure/Habituation	Textures, sounds, novel items
Weeks 5–8	Socialization & Problem Solving	Puppy parties, clicker training, crate accustoming
Weeks 7–12	Recall, Vet Prep, Enrichment	Car rides, grooming cues, scent games

Each stage builds on the previous: ENS → exposure → confidence → life readiness.

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💡 Real-Life Benefits We See at RiverSong

1. Balanced Dogs – Puppies show less fear and sensitivity when exposed to new situations later.
   
2. High Trainability – Early clicker/manding ease transitions to smooth leash and recall training.
   
3. Solid Social Bonds – They learn to trust humans quickly—making the handoff to their forever families seamless.
   
4. Fewer Behavior Issues – Confident and curious puppies tend to be calmer, freer from reactivity or anxiety-related traits.
   

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🔄 Integrating ENS With Ongoing Puppy Care

At RiverSong, ENS is never done in isolation. Here’s how it complements our daily care:

• Raw diets & health checks – Nutrition and vet care support physical development.
  
• Puppy Culture™ – ENS is followed by exposure and socialization sessions.
  
• Family involvement – With ten kids in the home, each puppy benefits from daily human and social interaction.
  
• Parental testing – Parents are health-tested on hips, eyes, cardiac, and more.
  
• Lifetime guidance – We support adopters with training tips, resources, and community.
  

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🔍 ENS: The Controversy & Our Approach

Some studies, like the Purdue one, found no stark differences in ENS vs. non-ENS in healthy, socially enriched litters PMCHanne Grice Pet Training & Behaviour+4PubMed+4PMC+4. That’s why many breeders don’t see value.

At RiverSong, we view ENS as a low-risk, science-backed enhancement—one building block of a broader enrichment-based, human-oriented, Puppy Culture system. We believe it’s worthwhile, especially given the low cost and gentle nature of the exercise.

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💬 What Breeders & Experts Say

• AKC experts note ENS’s benefits in heart strength, stress tolerance, and exploratory behavior .
  
• Highland Pet Hospital reports ENS pups are more alert and exploratory highlandpethospital.net.
  
• Breeding Better Dogs reaffirms that ENS requires balance—it’s not enough alone, but valuable within a richer environment Purdue Extension+6breedingbetterdogs.com+6Reddit+6.
  

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🐾 Why RiverSong Doodles Chooses ENS

• We prioritize excellence: every detail matters when raising long-lived family companions.
  
• Enhancing without overload: ENS gives a gentle boost without stress.
  
• Scientific yet humble: we follow data, but don’t overpromise results.
  
• Holistic wellbeing: ENS is one step in a lifetime of support—for the pup and adopters.
  

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🌟 In Summary: ENS — A Primer, Not a Cure

ENS is an early neurological “kickstart”—a short, structured stimulus protocol during a critical period. Evidence suggests it may enhance cardiovascular response, stress resilience, and curiosity—but only as part of a complete Puppy Culture system involving exposure, training, proper nutrition, and socialization.

At RiverSong Doodles, ENS is standard practice. It complements our unwavering commitment to raising confident, loving, social, and happy Golden Mountain Bernedoodles—puppies ready to enhance family life, not just in looks, but in behavior and adaptability.

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📚 Want to Learn More?

• Explore Puppy Culture™ in depth on our website.
  
• Read Jane Killion’s Puppy Culture Exercise Booklet.
  
• Ask about our ENS records during visits—see how each puppy responds.
  
• Follow up with a live Q&A about ENS stages and techniques.
  

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🚀 Next Steps

Are you ready to bring home a RiverSong pup raised with ENS, socialization, structure, and heart?

1. Check our available litters page.
   
2. Apply for your next Golden Mountain Bernedoodle.
   
3. Schedule a puppy visit or meet-and-greet—see ENS in action.
   

Prepare for a gently confident family dog who grows with you.