From: "Developing High Achievers"
by Dr. Carmen Battaglia
May 1995 AKC Gazette
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 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 no 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. Tactile stimulation - holding the pup in one hand, the handler gently
stimulates (tickles) the pup between the toes on any one foot using a Q-tip. It
is not necessary to see that the pup is feeling the tickle. Time of stimulation
3 - 5 seconds.
2. Head held erect - using both hands, the pup is held perpendicular to the
ground, (straight up), so that its head is directly above its tail. This is an
upward position. Time of stimulation 3 - 5 seconds
3. Head pointed down - holding the pup firmly with both hands the head is
reversed and is pointed downward so that it is pointing towards the ground.
Time of stimulation 3 - 5 seconds
4. Supine position - hold the pup so that its back is resting in the palm of
both hands with its muzzle facing the ceiling. The pup while on its back is
allowed to sleep struggle. Time of stimulation 3-5 seconds.
5. Thermal stimulation - use a damp towel that has been cooled in a
refrigerator for at least five minutes. Place the pup on the towel, feet down.
Do not restrain it from moving. Time of stimulation 3-5 seconds.
These five exercises will produce
neurological stimulations, none of which naturally occur during this early
period of life. Experience shows that while sometimes pups will resist these
exercises, others will appear unconcerned. In either case a caution is offered
to those who plan to use them. Do not repeat them more than once per day and do
not extend the time beyond that recommended for each exercise. Over stimulation
of the neurological system can have adverse and detrimental results.
These exercises 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. Those who play
with their pups and routinely handle them should continue to do so because the
neurological exercises are not substitutions for routine handling, play
socialization or bonding.
Five benefits have been observed in canines that were exposed to the Bio Sensor
stimulation exercises:
1. Improved cardio vascular
performance (heart rate)
2. Stronger heart beats,
3. Stronger adrenal glands,
4. More tolerance to stress
5. Greater resistance to disease
In tests of learning, stimulated pups were found to be more active and were
more exploratory than their non- stimulated littermates over which they were
dominant in competitive situations.