EARLY NEUROLOGICAL STIMULATION (ENS)
Early Neurological Stimulation
Here at Sterling Hollow Labradors, LLC we know that your puppy will be a huge part of your family for years to come. Therefore, it is important that we make it our priority that your puppy is both healthy and well socialized. To ensure this, all of our parents are DNA tested and OFA hip, elbow and eye tested. We also embrace ENS (Early Neurological Stimulation) and ESI (Early Scent Introduction).
ENS introduces mild stressors to young puppies with optimum results. We start Early Neurological Stimulation as young as 3 days old. The program includes Tactical Stimulation (between toes), Holding the Head Erect, Head Pointed Down, Supine Position, & Thermal Stimulation. These stressors stimulate the neurological system which improves growth and development. The benefits of ENS include Improved cardio vascular performance, Stronger heart beats, Stronger adrenal glands & Greater resistance to disease.
We also make sure that our puppies are snuggled, cuddled, socialized and introduced to all different sights, sounds, noises and experiences.
Early scent introduction (ESI)
Early Scent Introduction
Early Scent Introduction helps puppies with their nose awareness and confidence and enhances their ability to identify and react to scents creating a more aware and alert dog.. Like Early Neurological Stimulation, ESI is introduced at days 3-16.
During ESI we expose each puppy to a different scent daily. While holding the puppy close to us, we let them smell each item and then we chart their reaction. If they move toward the scent and show interest, we chart as a positive reaction. If they try to move away from the scent, we consider this a negative reaction. A neutral reaction is when the puppy is neither interested or uninterested in the item.
Studies have shown that stimulating puppies scent ability early on can dramatically improve scenting ability later in life, enhance confidence and stability as adults, and reduce behavioral issues long term.
HEALTH TESTing
Health & Genetic Testing
DNA- All of our breeding dogs are DNA health tested and puppies are guaranteed not to have any genetic diseases common to Labradors. Among the diseases we test for are: PRA (Progressive Retinal Atrophy), RD/OSD (Retinal Dysplasia-retinal folds), EIC (Exercise-Induced Collapse), DM (Degenerative Myelopathy), CNM (Centronuclear Myopathy), HPNK (Hereditary Nasal Parakeratosis) & SD2 (Skeletal Dysplasia).
OFA Screenings- All of our breeding dogs have OFA recommended testing
Spay and Neuter
Research sponsored by the AKC states that there may be benefits to spaying or neutering dogs after having passed through both sexual and physical maturity. Benefits include reduction in hip and elbow problems as well as a possible reduction in cancers. There are also indications of improved behavior.
Hormones contribute to bone growth plates, so the removal of these hormones may result in an increase in hip and elbow dysplasia as well as CCL (cranial cruciate ligament) tear.
A well known study by Dr Benjamin L Hart on the early neuter of Golden Retrievers (prior to 12 months of age), and those intact, shows:
- An increased likelihood of hemangiosarcoma, lymphoma, mast cell tumors, and canine cruciate ligament (CCL) rupture in neutered dogs.
- The risk of development of hip dysplasia doubles, and disease occurs at a younger age in the early-neuter group compared to both the intact and late-neuter group.
- No occurrence of CCL disease was observed in intact male or intact female dogs, or in late-neutered females. In early-neutered dogs, the incidence of CCL was 5.1 percent in males and 7.7 percent in females, suggesting that neutering prior to sexual maturity significantly increases a dog’s risk of developing CCL disease.
- With respect to cancer, cases of lymphoma were 3-fold greater in the early-neutered males. Interestingly, incidence of mast cell tumors (male and female dogs) and hemangiosarcoma (female dogs only) were highest in the late-neuter group.
- Recent data also shows early neuter may lead to increased tendency towards shyness and insecurity.
Research conducted by the vet school at the University of California, Davis also arrived at the same conclusion for large breed dogs: wait until after 12 months of age to spay or neuter your dog. Their study of 3000 deceased dogs with full health records showed an increase in hip joint disorders in early spay/neuter of 4x the rate in late spay/neuter or intact dogs.
01488-A: Health Implications of Spay and Neuter: Golden Retriever and Labrador Retriever, Research Grant July 1, 2010-June 1, 2011, Dr. Benjamin L. Hart, DVM, PhD
Sterling Hollow Labradors, LLC we highly recommend not spaying or neutering your labrador until they are at least 12 months of age, and we prefer waiting until 18 months of age.