Inside the Puppy Pen - Day 4

One thing you’ll see us doing very early with our puppies is ENS, or Early Neurological Stimulation. It’s brief, gentle, and always done during a very specific window of development, but it plays a powerful role in how the nervous system matures.

ENS is performed during the first couple of weeks of life, when a puppy’s brain and stress response systems are rapidly developing. Research originally conducted through the U.S. military’s canine program showed that puppies exposed to these mild, controlled stressors early on often develop improved stress tolerance, stronger cardiovascular responses, and greater adaptability later in life.

In simple terms, ENS helps teach the nervous system how to respond and recover. These tiny challenges support resilience, confidence, and regulation as the brain wires itself. It does not replace genetics, environment, or training, but it helps build a stronger foundation for all of those things to work together.

Each session lasts only seconds, and every puppy is handled calmly and intentionally. We follow the science closely and always let the puppy’s comfort guide the process. This is just one of the many ways we invest in thoughtful, intentional early development long before training ever begins.

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