sexual maturity sooner and were more
resistant to certain forms of cancer and
infectious diseases.
Subsequent studies of dogs and cats
receiving early stimulation used the
Electrical Encephalogram to measure the
electrical activity in the brains of puppies
and kittens. These EEG measurements
demonstrated that pups and kittens given
early stimulation exercises matured at
faster rates and performed better in
certain problem solving tests than non-
stimulated litter mates.
What the research studies have not
told us is exactly how much stress
is necessary to create young animals
that are superior psychologically and
physiologically. Actually, “it depends”
might best sum up their response,
because a certain level of stress might
be perfect for one animal but too much
for another. To further complicate the
matter, too much stress can retard
development. Therefore, studies prove
that early stimulation in puppies can
produce good results but must be used
with caution. The three to five second
stimulation time limit for each exercise
is designed to prevent the puppy from
receiving excess stress.
ESS m
EthodS
In puppies the first two weeks of
life provide a window of neurological
opportunity that begins at the
third day of life and lasts until the
sixteenth day. During that “window”,
there are five exercises that involve
early neurological stimulation. Each
exercise involves handling the pups
every day, one puppy at a time. The
handler completes the entire series
of exercises with one puppy before
moving on to the next one. The
exercises are as follows:
1.
Tactile stimulation (between toes)
2.
Head held erect
3.
Head pointed down
4.
Supine position
5.
Thermal stimulation
Tactile stimulation:
holding
pup in one hand, the handler gently
stimulates (tickles) the pup between
the toes on any foot using a Q-tip. It
is not necessary that the pup indicate
that it feels the stimulation. Time of
stimulation is 3-5 seconds.
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
is 3-5 seconds.
Head pointed down:
holding
pup firmly with both hands, reverse
the direction of the head so that it
is pointing downward. Time of
stimulation is 3-5 seconds.
Supine position:
hold the pup so
ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS
•
Sandra Murray
Figure 1 - Tactile Stimulation.
All photos
courtesy of Bijou Standard Poodles,
www.bijoupoodles.com
Figure 2 - Head Held
Erect
Figure 3 - Head Held
Down
“
A CERTAIN
LEVEL OF
STRESS MIGHT
BE PERFECT
for one animal but too
much for another”
102 •
S
how
S
ight
M
agazine
,
N
ovember
2012