QTK ENS & ESI Program

Early Neurological Stimulation “ENS”

       ENS is a training program that introduces mild stimulations to very young puppies (days 3-16) in a controlled way including five specific exercises with each puppy one time per day. This time period from day three to the 16th days is a period believed to be a time of rapid neurological growth and development.  Even though puppies are very immature during this time frame, they are sensitive and respond to ENS.

       The US Military developed this method designed to improve the performance of future military working dogs, according to the Breeding Better Dogs program developed by Dr. Carmen Battaglia (breeder, judge, seminar presenter, and AKC board member).

       ENS requires handling the puppies one at a time while performing a series of five exercises. Listed in order of preference, the handler starts with one pup and stimulates it using each of the five exercises. The handler completes the series from beginning to end before starting with the next pup.  The science proven by Dr. Carmen Battaglia, shows that this ENS training program benefits the puppies by encouraging neurological growth, which improves the development of the pup’s immune system, cardiovascular system, and stress tolerance. You can learn more about ENS (https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/dog-breeding/breeder-puppy-socialization-early-neurological-stimulation/).

What does ENS Do?

       When performed correctly, ENS is believed to impact the neurological system by kicking it into action earlier than would be normally expected, the result being an increased capacity that later will help to make the difference in its performance, according to Breeding Better Dogs. ENS is time sensitive and must be performed from the third to the 16th days of a puppy’s life. The exercises are not a substitution for daily handling and stroking of young puppies.

       Five benefits have been observed in canines that were exposed to ENS, including improved cardio vascular performance (heart rate); stronger heart beats; stronger adrenal glands; more tolerance to stress; and greater resistance to disease.  In tests of learning, ENS stimulated pups were more active and exploratory than their non- stimulated littermates, according to Breeding Better Dogs (Dr. Carmen Battaglia).

Early Scent Introduction “ESI”

       ESI is a training program for puppies designed to enhance their ability to identify, and react to, specific scents. Starting at day 3-16, we introduce a strong scent to the puppy for brief intervals, and record the puppy’s reaction.  Early Scent Introduction is performed in conjunction with Bio-Sensor training on the puppies from day three thru day sixteen.  As humans our primary sense is vision. For dogs it is believed their primary sense is smell. Essentially these exercises are used to enhance brain growth and development by taking advantage of this sensitive period of rapid puppy development.  A pungent scent is introduced to the puppy each day for short intervals. Their reaction to the scent is then recorded. A positive reaction is when a puppy will try to move towards the scent with their nose highly engaged in the scent. A negative reaction will have the puppy pulling back from the scent. A neutral reaction will be when the puppy does not seem interested or disinterested.

       The benefits of ESI have been studied in a seven-year breeding test. Gayle Watson PhD conducted the test with Gaylan’s Golden Retriever litters. They broke down the litters to the dogs that had early scent detection and those that did not. She began her testing by looking at results from sporting Golden Retrievers here in the United States. Gayle and her team charted the outcome of various events to determine the effect the ESI had on the pups. The results were astounding!  They found the dogs that had been involved in early scent introduction had more total scenting titles. Along with the titles were earned in more complex scenting categories. Another amazing fact that came from the research was that the dogs were achieving these titles two and a half to five years younger than the non-ESI pups.  

       These benefits include, improved cardiovascular performance (heart rate), stronger heart beats, stronger adrenal glands, higher tolerance to stress, and increased resistance to disease. ESI (early scent introduction) involves introducing each puppy to a new scent every day from days 3-16. This is designed to enhance their ability to identify, and react to, specific scents.

Why Perform ESI?

       Scent is the way puppies experience the world. Introducing natural scents early on can help:

  • Introduce puppies to new scents in a controlled way.
  • Improves scenting ability in later life.
  • Enhances confidence and stability as adults.
  • Reduce behavioral issues in the long term

       So what does all this mean for our pups?  We are trying to give every advantage possible to our pups from the moment they are born by providing them the very best of everything including their training starting at day three of their lives!  This training has proven to enhance the puppies scent recognition abilities which will only serve them and their owners better in all possible areas of focus that a dog can serve to include but not limited to: hunting, trialing, scent-work competition, companion, family pet, therapy and service foundational training.  If your puppy is likely to be used for a service role, detection role or perhaps as a working gun dog, then you can introduce them to “job specific” scents and increase their association with that scent, even at this age. This is an exciting piece of our training. 

       ESI is just another way that we at Quick Trigger Kennels are able to bring you the best possible puppy that starts out with the best possible advantages! Even if you don’t foresee an instant need, maybe in your future with your dog it will arise, and having your dog the inset skill, is like having money in the bank.

QTK SOUND Program

Sound Training

       Helping your puppy acclimate to different sounds goes a long way in helping them feel comfortable, less stressed when they hear a sudden noise, and prevent unwanted behaviors such as alert barking. Some sounds are more sustained, such as traffic noise, while others are shorter and more startling, like a car door slammed shut. Focus first on the sounds that are prevalent in your home environment.  Sound training is designed to help dogs get used to different noises that they will encounter. Here at Quick Trigger Kennels we start sound training and conditioning when the puppies are about 18-20 days old until they go to their forever families.

DID YOU KNOW THAT PUPPIES ARE BORN BLIND AND DEAF?

       Puppies are born with both their eyes and ears sealed shut. For their first two weeks of life, newborn pups experience the world entirely through touch and smell. During the third week their eyes and ears open, giving tiny pups a whole new way to experience life.

       At Quick Trigger Kennels, we start using sound as early as the dam starting to nest in the whelping room, we start to play what we call “Puppy Lullabies” which includes a collection soft calming music.  Just like music does for babies, we have seen it do for our dams and puppies … calms and soothes them.  Often times if you see a video from us, it will have some sort of music playing for them. 

       Now the puppies’ real sound training begins around when they are day 18, 19 and 20 days old.  Around that time, we conduct a brief noise exposure with the puppies.  At this early age, puppies do not fear sound, so we use this opportunity to get a jump start on desensitization of loud noises.

       We live in a world full of loud, new and unusual sounds. All of these sounds our dogs will encounter—from noises inside the home (such as the vacuum or dishwasher), to environments such as the dog parks (birds chirping or dogs barking), and the outside world (traffic, storms, fireworks). Teaching a puppy to be comfortable with all sorts of sounds is key to having a well-balanced and behaved dog.  We have entire program designed to introduce sounds to the puppies that includes noises of people talking, music, TV shows, farm animals, baby cries, barking dogs, fireworks, grooming, kids playing, city traffic, vacuum cleaners, dish washer running, and many more.  When it comes to nap and nighttime, we play the puppy lullabies for them which will signify quiet time and help them relax.  We have found that when pups go home, clients can do the same, and it helps with their nighttime routines as well in their new homes. 

       As breeders, we highly suggest continuing sound training once the puppies go to their new homes so they can continue to get used to different sounds that they will encounter.