"DEVELOPING HIGH ACHIEVERS"

Originally published as

"Early Neurological Stimulation"

by
Carmen L. Battaglia

Methods of Stimulation

The U.S. Military in their canine program developed a method that

still serves as a guide to what works. In an effort to improve the

performance of dogs used for military purposes, a program called

"Bio Sensor" was developed. Later, it became known to the public

as the "Super Dog" Program. Based on years of research, the

military learned that early neurological stimulation exercises could

have important and lasting effects. Their studies confirmed that

there are specific time periods early in life when neurological

stimulation has optimum results. The first period involves a window

of time that begins at the third day of life and lasts until the

sixteenth day. It is believed that because this interval of time is a

period of rapid neurological growth and development, and

therefore is of great importance to the individual.

The "Bio Sensor" program was also concerned with early

neurological stimulation in order to give the dog a superior

advantage. Its development utilized six exercises which were

designed to stimulate the neurological system. Each workout

involved handling puppies once each day. The workouts required

handling them 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 handling of each pup once per day involves the

following exercises:

1. Tactical stimulation (between toes)

2. Head held erect

3. Head pointed down

4. Supine position

5. Thermal stimulation.