Page 37 - Chow Life - Winter 2025
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the pup between the toes on any one foot using 1. Improved cardio vascular performance (heart
a Q-tip. It is not necessary to see that the pup rate)
is feeling the tickle. Time of stimulation 3 - 5 2. Stronger heart beats
seconds. (Figure 1)
3. Stronger adrenal glands
2. Head held erect - using both hands, the pup is 4. More tolerance to stress
held perpendicular to the ground, (straight up),
so that its head is directly above its tail. This is 5. Greater resistance to disease
an upwards position. Time of stimulation 3 - 5 In tests of learning, stimulated pups were found to
seconds. (Figure 2) be more active and were more exploratory than their
3. Head pointed down - holding the pup firmly non- stimulated littermates over which they were
with both hands the head is reversed and is dominant in competitive situations.
pointed downward so that it is pointing towards Secondary effects were also noted regarding test
the ground. Time of stimulation 3 - 5 seconds. performance. In simple problem solving tests using
(Figure 3) detours in a maze, the non-stimulated pups became
4. Supine position - hold the pup so that its back extremely aroused, whined a great deal, and made
is resting in the palm of both hands with its many errors. Their stimulated littermates were less
muzzle facing the ceiling. The pup while on its disturbed or upset by test conditions and when
back is allowed to sleep. Time of stimulation 3-5 comparisons were made, the stimulated littermates
seconds. (Figure 4) were more calm in the test environment, made fewer
errors and gave only an occasional distress sound
5. Thermal stimulation—use a damp towel that when stressed.
has been cooled in a refrigerator for at least
five minutes. Place the pup on the towel, feet SOCIALIZATION
down. Do not restrain it from moving. Time of As each animal grows and develops, three kinds
stimulation 3-5 seconds. (Figure 5) of stimulation have been identified that impact
These five exercises will produce neurological and influence how it will develop and be shaped
stimulations, none of which naturally occur during as an individual. The first stage is called early
this early period of life. Experience shows that neurological stimulation and the second stage is
sometimes pups will resist these exercises, others called socialization. The first two (early neurological
will appear unconcerned. In either case a caution stimulation and socialization) have in common a
is offered to those who plan to use them. Do not window of limited time. When Lorenz, (1935) first
repeat them more than once per day and do not wrote about the importance of the stimulation
extend the time beyond that recommended for process, he wrote about imprinting during early
each exercise. Over stimulation of the neurological life and its influence on the later development of
system can have adverse and detrimental results. the individual. He states that it was different from
These exercises impact the neurological system conditioning in that it occurred early in life and
by kicking it into action earlier than would be took place very rapidly producing results which
normally expected, the result being an increased seemed to be permanent. One of the first and
capacity that later will help to make the difference perhaps the most noted research effort involving
in its performance. Those who play with their the larger animals was achieved by Kellogg &
pups and routinely handle them should continue Kellogg (1933). As a student of Dr. Kellogg's, I
to do so because the neurological exercises are not found him and his wife to have an uncanny interest
substitutions for routine handling, play socialization in children and young animals and the changes
or bonding. and the differences that occurred during early
development. Their history-making study involved
BENEFITS OF STIMULATION raising their own newborn child with a newborn
primate. Both infants were raised together as
Five benefits have been observed in canines if they were twins. This study, like others that
that were exposed to the Bio Sensor stimulation followed attempted to demonstrate that among the
exercises. The benefits noted were:
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