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Our Curriculum
So, what is a service dog curriculum for puppies? and why does it matter?
Each Whoopsie Doodles puppy is raised on an advanced service dog program for puppies in our home which includes ENS, ESI, noise desensitization to things like fireworks and thunder, daily exposure activities, potty training basics, recall training and temperament testing. Even though not every puppy will make the cut to be a service animal, every puppy (and every client!) will benefit from the methods we use. Continue reading below to learn more about our program.
ENS
Starting at just 3 days old, we begin a gentle handling routine called Early Neurological Stimulation (ENS). We briefly stimulate the puppy's feet with a Q-tip for 3-5 seconds and then touch each paw to a cold surface. In addition, we hold the puppy in various positions such as head up, on their back and head down. The five benefits that have been observed in dogs exposed to ENS are improved cardiovascular performance, stronger heart beats, stronger adrenal glands, more tolerance to stress and greater resistance to disease.
ESI
Early Scent Introduction (ESI), also starts at just 3 days old. Every day for two weeks, we introduce each pup to a new smell during their handling exercises and record their response. Some of the scents we use are leather, dirt, rabbit hair and lavender. Pups this young have not opened their eyes or ears yet so its a prime opportunity to help them develop their sense of smell. As you may know, a dog's sense of smell ranks above their other senses and is more important to their well being than even their sight! Dogs who are exposed to ESI have been observed to perform better at scent tracking and scent recognition which is extremely important for service dogs, for example, who alert their diabetic handlers when their blood sugar is too low or too high. A superior nose is also beneficial to service dogs who are needed for tracking a child with autism who has bolted away from their parents or for detecting allergens in food. In each of these examples, a dog's ability to recognize a particular scent and react can mean the difference between life and death. The importance of ESI for service dog candidates is beyond measure!
Daily Exposure Activities
Daily exposure activities begin after the puppies eyes and ears are open around 3 weeks of age. We start by placing something new and interesting in their enclosure for them to explore such as a small cardboard box, stuffed animal or other toy. As they grow, daily exposure items become things like balance boards, a baby pool filled with either balls or a little water for them to splash in, or a type of puppy obstacle for them to master such as a small climbing toy with slide. The goal is to expose each puppy to a variety of surfaces, textures and experiences so they develop confidence in their own ability to handle new situations.
Potty Training Basics
Although a puppy does not have full bladder control until 3-4 months of age, we begin preparing them with potty training basics at 3 weeks old by introducing a designated potty area in the puppy enclosure. Puppies naturally do not want to potty where they sleep so we make the potty area just slightly larger than their sleep area at first. As they grow and get the hang of it, we increase the amount of space they have for sleeping and playing. When puppies are old enough to begin exploring outside, we start them on a consistent schedule of outside play and potty breaks 5-6 times a day. By the time pickup day arrives at 9 weeks of age, pups will have a strong foundation for their new families to build upon which decreases the amount of time it takes to complete the training.
Recall Training
As soon as pups can hear, we begin training them to come immediately when we call out "Puppy, puppy, puppy!". By the time they leave for their new homes at 9 weeks, they have mastered this skill and know a high value treat awaits them when they hear us call. We teach this skill to our pups for their safety in the event they should find an open door or their collar slips off, for example. This training can and has been life saving for our pups. Our own dog, Moose, was saved from a 20 foot fall into a rapidly moving creek when he was 4 months old when he got loose while we were unloading a car full of luggage at a vacation rental in Gatlinburg, TN. He was precariously close to the creek's edge and looking for a way down to the water when I found him. When he didn't come to me calling out his name, I attempted to get closer to grab him but the ground was sloped downward and covered in wet, slippery leaves. After I realized I would not be able to reach him without falling into the water below myself, I thankfully remembered to use the "puppy, puppy, puppy!" recall training I had taught him. It worked like a charm and he immediately came playfully bounding back to me.
Temperament Testing
Last but certainly not least, we temperament test each puppy at 7.5 weeks old and provide video as well as a report on our findings to help each client make an informed decision when picking their new family member. Our temperament testing procedure evaluates 12 puppy traits such as motivation, human focus, tenderheartedness, energy level, confidence and nerve strength. The information the evaluation report provides allows clients to see which puppies would be the best fit for therapy or service work and which ones would be suited for young children or first time dog owners, for example. While most breeders allow puppy picks at the time a deposit is placed, we firmly believe it is best to wait and allow our pups to show us who they really are. By doing so, it gives our babies a voice in where they belong in this world.
Example Report
Below is a temperament test video of one of our pups. The test is designed to measure, amongst other things, the puppy's response to new situations and experiences. The test is conducted in a room of the house our puppies have never seen before and every item used is something they've not been exposed to before. Once the test is done, owner and trained puppy evaluator, Kim, analyzes the video and scores each puppy. When it is time for clients to choose which puppy they want to take home, Kim spends time with each family going over the pros and cons of each one based on the client's unique lifestyle, desires and needs.