Socialization

ENS stands for Early Neurological Stimulation. As a responsible breeder of Shih Tzu puppies, I use the ENS protocol with all of my litters because it is very beneficial regarding newborn puppy development. ENS helps to improve heart and adrenal performance by stimulating the endocrine system. Early Neurological Stimulation also helps to create stress-tolerant puppies that have greater disease resistance. Furthermore, puppies that take part in ENS protocols are more willing to explore than their counterparts that didn’t receive Early Neurological Stimulation.

Carmen Battaglia is the pioneer responsible for creating ENS protocols. The ENS program was originally put together to enhance the performance of military dogs. The “Super Dog Program” or The “Bio Sensor program” are some early terms used to describe ENS protocols.

There are five steps in the ENS procedure. Breeders perform the five steps from the third day of birth until day 16. The procedure is done once a day for approximately 3-5 seconds per step. It is imperative not to put too much stress or handle newborn puppies too often during this vulnerable stage of development. The ENS activity is usually kept short and to the point.

Five Steps of ENS

1. Hold the puppy’s head up.
2. Gently hold the puppy’s head down
3. Hold the puppy on his/her back.
4. Set the puppy’s belly down on a cool towel.
5. Gently rub in between the puppy’s toes.

To sum things up, Early Neurological Stimulation is just another stepping stone that I use in my responsible breeding program to help create bulletproof puppies. After all, I am partially responsible for bringing these puppies into the world. It is my ethical duty to do everything in my power to give each puppy the very best start in life. I owe this to my Shih Tzu puppies and my future puppy owners.

Creating Resilient Puppies Through Curriculum

Puppies that take part in a developmentally appropriate curriculum are shown in studies to be more intelligent emotionally and intellectually. Puppies raised on a first-class puppy curriculum are also more resilient to stress. Who doesn’t want a bulletproof puppy ready to take on the world?

To create bulletproof puppies a responsible breeder must have a proper educational background to properly socialize the puppies. There are plenty of puppy curriculum programs on the market today. I have taken classes from many reputable programs including Puppy Culture, Empowered Breeder, and AviDog. I currently raise all my puppies using key elements from these three amazing programs.

A first-class puppy curriculum doesn’t consist of just throwing random toys into a small playpen and walking away. Each item that the puppies interact with must be developmentally appropriate and serve a purpose. For example, if I’m working on sound desensitization it’s not enough for me to just play a recording of a police siren daily. The puppies need to hear different sounds in different locations at different times. Hearing a police siren on a recording device is a lot different than hearing a police siren outside. It’s important to recreate real-life situations as often as humanly possible.

I keep all of the Shih Tzu puppies in my responsible breeding program until they’re 10 to 12 weeks old. Puppies go through a critical period of development during the early weeks of life that cannot be replicated. As a responsible Shih Tzu breeder I must make sure that the puppies from my breeding program receive all the tools necessary to be successful in life. At Arizona Sunrise Shih Tzus, I make it my mission to produce bulletproof puppies that are ready to take on the world!