Zelda puppies 1 week old.

Puppy Socialization starts at birth.  A good breeder will expose their puppies to as much as they can before they leave for new homes.  Have you ever stopped to think about what sort of socialization an infant puppy might benefit from?  If you are interested, Dr Grace Blair, member of Versatility in Poodles, has a great article on the subject.  You can read all about it here:

Educating the Infant Puppy (Birth to Nine Weeks)

I’ve always socialized my puppies more than your average breeder, providing enriched environment and much handling.  However, infant puppies (3 weeks and under) I usually provide only the Bio Sensor Method, radio for sound stimulation, and general environment noises by moving the whelping box to a public area once their ears open and they can hear.

This will be my first litter using Dr Blair’s Infant techniques combined with Bio-Sensor. Upon reading Dr Blair’s suggestions a few years past, I decided it was something I really wanted to try.

How does Dr Blair’s plan differ from Bio-Sensor?  The Bio-Sensor method is very basic.  5 quick exercises that take 5 or less seconds each, starting at day 3 and going to day 16.  Dr Blair adds more, and gives you things to watch for with each puppy.  How a puppy reacts to a situation helps determine if they will make a good working dog.  Service dogs in particular have special demands and as I donate puppies to people in need, I would like to make sure I place the right puppy in the right situation

Bio-Sensor Explained:

Bio Sensor Method:  From: “Developing High Achievers”, by Dr. Carmen Battaglia.  May 1995 AKC Gazette

The U.S. Military in their 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 first period involves a window of time that begins at the third day of life and lasts until the sixteenth day. It is believed that this interval of time is a period of rapid neurological growth and development, and therefore is of great importance to the individual.

The “Bio Sensor” program was also concerned with early neurological stimulation in order to give the dog a superior advantage. Its development utilized six exercises, which were designed to stimulate the neurological system. Each workout involved handling puppies once each day. The workouts required handling them one at a time while performing a series of five exercises. Listed in no order of preference the handler starts with one pup and stimulates it using each of the five exercises. The handler completes the series from beginning to end before starting with the next pup. The handling of each pup once per day involves the following exercises:

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. Time of stimulation 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 upward position. Time of stimulation 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. Time of stimulation 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. Time of stimulation 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. Time of stimulation 3-5 seconds.

These five exercises will produce neurological stimulations, none of which naturally occur during this early period of life. Experience shows that while sometimes pups will resist these exercises, others will appear unconcerned. Do not repeat them more than once per day and do not extend the time beyond that recommended for each exercise.

These exercises impact the neurological system by kicking it into action earlier than would be normally expected. The result being an increased capacity that later will help to make the difference in its performance. Those who play with their pups and routinely handle them should continue to do so because the neurological exercises are not substitutions for routine handling, play socialization or bonding.

Five benefits have been observed in canines that were exposed to the Bio Sensor stimulation exercises:

1. Improved cardio vascular performance (heart rate)

2. Stronger heart beats,

3. Stronger adrenal glands,

4. More tolerance to stress

5. Greater resistance to disease

In tests of learning, stimulated pups were found to be more active and were more exploratory than their non- stimulated littermates over which they were dominant in competitive situations.

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Several of my litters were not provided formal early neurological stimulation.  The litters born away from my home I have to trust others to socialize appropriately.  Interestingly, the litter I produced with the poorest health had no infant stimulation.  It was co-bred / raised by someone, I found out later, who did not share my views on training, socialization, and care of animals.  I was told that she did not have the time to do the Bio-Sensor Method.  It takes less than 1 minute per puppy to do the above testing (before and after cuddle time included!!).  The litter in question was my Macy X Been litter.  Macy found a wonderful retirement home after one litter, and her previous owner and I have parted ways.  Thankfully, I talk to Macy’s new mommy every so often.  Sherrie and Macy are a wonderful team and I am blessed that Macy found Sherrie!

People like Macy’s previous owner are not common and I am now very careful to insure all puppies have Bio-Sensor exposure, be they born here or with dedicated co-owners / foster parents.  In addition, all future litters will adopt at least a few of Dr Blair’s suggestions.  I believe infant stimulation to provide very mild stress does jump start the dogs immune system.  We poodle breeders need all the help we can get when it comes to immune systems.  If you breed, please consider doing Bio-Sensor, if not everything Dr Blair suggest in her article with VIP.

Zelda taking a break from the puppies. Note the over sized squeaky tennis ball she stole from Flash this morning!

~Becky