EARLY NEUROLOGICAL STIMULATION
S.O.S. KENNELS supplies the following info as they strongly believe in and performs the following 5 exercise on each pup.
    The U.S Military, in their canine progam, developed a method that still serves to a guide that 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.  The studies confirmed that there are specific time periods early in life when neurological stimulations has optimum results.  The first period involves a window of time that begins in the third day of life and last until the sixteenth day.  It is believed that because this interval of time is a period of rapid neurological growth and development that it is of great importance to the individual.
     The "Bio Sensor" program developed five exercises which were designed to stimulate the neurological system.  Each workout involved handling puppies once each day.  The workout required handling them one at a time while preforming the five exercises.  Listed in order of preference the handler starts with one pup and stimulates it using each of the five exercises.  The handler compleates the series from begining to end before starting with the next pup.  The handling of each pup once per day involves the following exercises:
                           
                            1. Tactile Stimulation(between toes)
                            2. Head Held Erect
                            3. Head Pointed Down
                            4. Supine Position
                            5. Thermal Stimulation
1. Tactile Stimulation - Holding the pup in one hand, the handler gently stimulates(tickeles) the pup between the toes on any one foot with a Q-tip.  It is not neccessary to see that the pup is feeling the tickle.  Time of stimulation, 3-5 seconds. 
Figure 1
Figure 1
2. Head Held Erect - Using both hands, the pup is held perpendicular to the ground.  Straight up so it's head is dirctly above it's tail.  This is an upward position. Time of stimulation, 3-5 seconds. 
Figure 2
Figure 2
3. Head Pointed Down - Holding the pup firmly in both hands the head is reversed and is pointing downward so that it's pointing to the ground. Time of stimulation, 3-5 seconds. 
Figure 3
Figure 3
4. Supine Position - Hold the pup so it's back is resting in the palm of both hands with it's muzzle facing the ceiling.  The pup while on it's back is allowed to sleep struggle.  Time of stimulation, 3-5 seconds. 
Figure 4
Figure 4
5. Thermal Stimulation - Use a damp towel that has been cooled in a refrigerator for at least 5 minutes.  Place the pup on the towel, feet down.  Do not restrain it from moving. Time of stimulation, 3-5 seconds. 
Figure 5
Figure 5
    These five exercises will produce neurological stimulations, none of which naturally occur during the early periods of life.  Experience shows that sometimes pups will resist these exercises, others will appear unconcerned.  In either case a caution is offered to those who plan to use them.  Do not repeat them more thnn once a day and do not extend the time beyong the recomemded of each exercise.  Over stimulation of the neurological system can have adverse and detrimental results.  These exercises impact the neurological system by kicking it into action earlier than would be normally expected. The results being an increase capacity that later will help to make a difference in it's performance.  Those who play with their pups and routinely handle them should continue to do so because the neurological exercise are not substitutions for routine handling play socialization, or bonding.
Benefits Of Stimulation
    Five benefits have been observed in canines that were exposed to the Bio Sensor stimulation exercises.  The benefits noted were:

          1. Improved cardio vascular performance (Heart Rate)
          2. Stronger heart beats
          3. Stronger adrenal glands
          4. More tolerance to stress
          5. Greater resistance to diseases

     In test of learning, stimulated pups were found to be more active and more exploratory then their non-stimulated littermates over which they were dominant in competitive situations.
     Secondary effects were also noted regarding test performance.  The simple problem solving test using detours in a maze, the non=stimulated pups became extremely aroused, wined a great deal, and made many errors.  Their stimulated littermates were less disturbed or upset by test conditions and when comparisons are made, the stimulated littermates were more calm in the test environment, made fewer errors and gave only an occasional distress when tested.
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