Current ancora litters

Early Neurological Stimulation (ENS) is a series of gentle handling exercises performed with puppies during the critical developmental window of days 3 to 16 of life. Designed to lightly stress the puppy’s nervous system, ENS includes five specific exercises: tactile stimulation, head held upright, head pointed down, supine position, and thermal stimulation. These exercises each last only a few seconds and are done once daily. Why do it? Research shows ENS can improve cardiovascular function, strengthen adrenal glands, increase stress tolerance, and enhance brain development. How it works is by exposing puppies to mild, carefully controlled stressors that promote neurological growth and long-term resilience.

Scent Introduction is the intentional exposure of puppies to new smells during their early developmental stages, typically beginning around day 3 to day 16, often alongside Early Neurological Stimulation. What it involves is presenting a different safe, novel scent (like herbs, spices, or natural materials) to the puppy daily for a few seconds, allowing them to sniff and process it. Why it’s done is to gently activate and develop the olfactory system—the most advanced sense in newborn puppies—helping improve scent recognition, brain development, and environmental awareness. How it’s done is by holding the scent source a few inches from the puppy’s nose for 5–10 seconds, taking care not to touch the pup or overwhelm it. When introduced during this early window, scent work lays the foundation for confident exploration and future training in activities like tracking, hunting, or service work.

The Adventure Box is a stimulating play area designed to introduce puppies to a variety of sights, sounds, and textures in a safe, controlled way. What it is: a box or playpen filled with everyday objects like crinkly paper, hanging spoons, plastic bottles, squeaky toys, and different surfaces. Why it’s used: to build confidence, encourage curiosity, and promote sensory development during the critical socialization period (typically from 3 to 8 weeks of age). How it works is by allowing puppies to freely explore the box at their own pace, discovering new stimuli that help desensitize them to the world around them. When introduced early and with supervision, the Adventure Box supports mental growth, helps prevent future fear responses, and sets the stage for well-adjusted, resilient adult dogs.