Why I Use Early Neurological Stimulation With Every Puppy
When people ask me how I raise such confident, easygoing puppies, I tell them — it starts when they’re just a few days old.
Eyes closed, ears still sealed, snuggled up with their littermates… and I’m right there, gently introducing them to the world with something called Early Neurological Stimulation (ENS).
I like to think of ENS as a little “superpower training” for newborn puppies. Between day 3 and day 16, I do a series of five tiny exercises every day. They take less than a minute, but they give puppies huge benefits for life.
Here’s what it looks like:
Toe Tickle – A gentle cotton swab touch to the toes to wake up their nerve endings.
Head Up – Holding them upright so their head points to the sky.
Head Down – A slow tip so their nose is toward the floor.
On Their Back – Cradled like a baby, learning that being handled is safe.
Cool Touch – Their paws rest on a cool, damp cloth for a few seconds.
You might be thinking, That’s it? Yep. And it works.
These little challenges help puppies grow up with stronger hearts, better immune systems, and a higher tolerance for stress. They bounce back quicker when life throws something new at them — whether that’s meeting your cousin’s big dog or hearing the vacuum for the first time.
For me, ENS isn’t just a “breeding protocol.” It’s a love letter to their future.
It’s one more way I can send each Boise Doodle Co. puppy home not just healthy and adorable, but truly prepared for the big, exciting world waiting for them.
