During the Neonatal period of the puppy’s life, there is a lot of development happening that will be the baseline for the future abilities, temperament, and physiological wellbeing. I first learned the basis of this when I was in my twenties working with horses by doing imprinting training on foals. Much of what can be done to enhance your pup’s future and capacity has a window of time -Day 3-Day 16 as identified by scientific means with several researchers. I have a link to a great informative Puppy Culture video below.

Each day, not complicated by an already stressful encounter, like dew claw removal, we are practicing the stroking and handling to help lower the stress and blood pressure, doing the toe tickle (tactile stimulation), the head up hold, the head down hold, holding the pup in a supine position, and providing thermal stimulation on a cold surface. It takes us about 20 minutes from start to finish at the most, and I do it at the same time we clean their pen out. They quiet quickly with consistent handling and Ruby watches closely and is there to nuzzle and comfort and she feeds them right away when they go back in the pen and there is a great nap period following that which we all enjoy.

As a preservation breeder, it is vitally important to me that your future pup has the best start possible so you can bond, train, and enjoy your dog no matter what discipline you choose to do with your dog. Many of the dogs in surrender or rescue situations are there because a backyard breeder or puppy mill operator bred for cash, color or off-coats. They seldom take the time to research pedigrees to ensure they were not breeding in potentially fatal health conditions, and they don’t know or care about the Early Neurological Stimulation and as a consequence, they give new owners a sensitive or handicapped dog that might not adjust well to stressors and may be reactive or aggressive in addition to not being an example of the AKC Breed Standard.

Its amazing how this simple daily practice over a 2 week period helps ensure a positive outcome, and how a puppy’s development in this time frame cannot be made up later.