Puppy Raising Protocol

Why puppy raising protocols matter?

At Wildcard Cattle Dogs, we believe raising stable, confident, and capable working, sport, and companion puppies begins the moment they are born. Even the best genetics can be compromised by poor early experiences, missed socialization windows, or overwhelming environmental stressors. That’s why we follow a research-based, hands-on developmental protocol from birth to placement - ensuring every puppy receives the structure, exposure, and support needed to thrive in real life. Great dogs are not just born - they are shaped. Puppy raising protocols matter because they build the bridge between potential and performance. Whether destined for detection work, performance sports, herding, or life as an active companion, our puppies are given the best possible foundation for future success. Through structured exposure, age-appropriate challenges, and intentional socialization, we teach puppies how to process novelty, recover from stress, and engage confidently with the world around them. This is what sets Wildcard apart - we don’t just produce puppies. We raise partners. We raise prepared dogs. And we raise them with purpose.

What is Avidog?

We follow the Avidog Breeder College system, a gold standard, science based puppy raising protocol designed to develop puppies into physically capable, mentally stable, and socially resilient adult dogs.

Avidog goes far beyond ‘Early Neurological Stimulation’. It is a week-by-week framework that addresses the evolving needs of puppies from birth through 8 weeks, optimizing their development for life as performance, working, or highly active companion dogs.

Days 0-3: Gentle Transitions

  • Puppies remain close to the dam in a calm, temperature-controlled environment.

  • Minimal stimulation supports bonding and stability as critical physiological systems begin regulating

  • Maternal care is closing observed, and intervention is provided if needed.

Days 3-16: ENS (Early Neurological Stimulation) & ESI (Early Scent Introduction)

ENS involves five gentle, daily exercises:

  • Tactical stimulation between the toes

  • Head held erect

  • Head pointed downward

  • Supine (on back) position

  • Thermal stimulation via cool cloth

These brief, purposeful stimuli promote improved:

  1. Stress recovery

  2. Immune response

  3. Cardiovascular function

  4. Adaptability in novel situations

ESI pairs this with daily exposure to a new scent, such a clove, leather, pine needles, or soil, encouraging scent curiosity and olfactory strength - crucial in scent work, detection, and SAR prospects.

ESI Benefits:

  1. Stronger scenting ability

  2. Early scent recognition

  3. Increased curiosity and food drive

Weeks 3-5: Sensory & Environmental Enrichment

As eyes and ears open, we gradually expose the litter to new sights, sounds, textures, and surfaces.

  • Variety of toys, wobble boards, and tunnels

  • Gentle human interaction and handling by new people

  • Daily environment changes and mild challenges

  • Crate door access begins, with positive associations built in

  • Weaning begins with species-appropriate food

Weeks 5-7: Confidence Building Through Structure & Challenges

This is a pivotal window for teaching optimism and resilience.

  • Puppies are introduced to household items, grooming tools, mirrors, stairs, vacuums, crates, vehicles, and other environmental features.

  • Supervised visits with stable adult dogs

  • Crate time, solo play, and short separations and gently introduced

  • Engagement games and early food marker training

  • Sound desensitization and positive exposure to novel noises (e.x: thunder, fireworks, traffic, ect)

  • Emotional recovery is gently shaped through “bounce-back” experience and safe suprises

Week 7: Evaluation & Refinement

  • Volhard Puppy Aptitude Testing performed by an outside trainer to assess temperament, sociability, and drive

  • Individual crate sessions and car trips

  • Structured introductions to grooming, vet-style exams, and leash exposure

  • Reinforcement of name recognition, recall foundations, and handler focus

Week 8: Confident, Curious, and Placement Ready

By 8 weeks, Wildcard puppies have been primed through Avidog to be:

  • Environmentally confident

  • People-neutral or engaged (depending on aptitude)

  • Physically coordinated

  • Motivated to work and problem-solve

  • Prepared for smooth transitions into working or active pet homes

Why Avidog?

The Avidog system is not just about raising puppies. It’s about raising minds, preparing partners, and reducing risk of fear-based behavior, rehoming, or shutdown in high-pressure situations. It supports the very traits that matter in high-drive breeds: resilience, curiosity, clarity, and biddability.

At Wildcard, this protocol aligns perfectly with our mission: to produce emotionally stable, physically sound, high-drive Australian Cattle Dogs that are genetically and environmentally shaped to meet the demands of real life work.

Puppy Nutrition: Building from the Inside Out

Nutrition is foundational to development - and it begins with the dam.

Our commitment to health starts before the puppies are even born. We feed out breeding females a performance-focused, species-appropriate diet rich in animal protein, omega fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals to support:

  • Fetal brain and organ development

  • Immune system maturation

  • Musculskeletal strength

  • Milk quality and quantity during lactation

A properly nourished dam produced healthier, more robust puppies with stronger immune systems, better energy regulation, and improved cognitive development. Her gut health becomes the blueprint for theirs- influencing everything from digestion to temperament stability.

Once puppies begin weaning, we transition them onto a blend of high-quality, gut-healthy foods that prepare them for long-term growth and resilience.

We use Farmina N&D, a meat-first, low-glycemic kibble made in Italy without artificial preservatives. It is paired with:

  • Softened kibble or mousse

  • Whole food toppers like kiefer, wild fish oil, or pumpkin

This diet supports:

  1. Gut biome development

  2. Brain and eye health (via DHA/EPA)

  3. Palatability and sustained appetite

  4. Smooth digestive transition into new homes

Our nutritional program ensures Wildcard puppies start life with optimal internal health - building bodies and brains ready for everything!

Volhard Temperament Testing: Matching Puppies to Purpose

At 7 weeks of age, each Wildcard puppy undergoes the Volhard Puppy Aptitude Test, a structured, research-informed temperament evaluation. This test allows us to objectively assess each puppy’s natural tendencies and behavioral traits before environmental factors and training begin to significantly shape behavior.

The Volhard test evaluates key areas such as:

  • Social Attraction (willingness to engage with people)

  • Following (natural inclination to stay near a human)

  • Restraint Response (tolerance of mild stress or control)

  • Sound and Sight Sensitivity (reaction to novel stimuli)

  • Prey and Object Drive (interest in toys or movement)

  • Startle and Recovery (resilience to unexpected events)

  • Touch and Sensitivity (response to handing and physical sensation)

  • Confidence in New Environments (willingness to explore independently)

This evaluation is not a pass/fail— rather, it provides a detailed behavioral profile of each puppy. Combined with our weeks of hands-on-experience raising the litter, the results help us place puppies in homes that best match their innate strengths, energy levels, and potential.

Safe Visitor Socialization:

Controlled Experiences, Not Flooding

Between 3 and 12 weeks of age, puppies enter their critical socialization window — a sensitive developmental stage where experiences form lasting impressions. At Wildcard Cattle Dogs, we structure all human and environmental exposure with intentionality and care.

Socialization is not about exposing puppies to as many people as possible — it’s about exposing them to the right people, in the right way, at the right time.

We introduce puppies to carefully selected visitors in a calm, controlled environment to build trust, neutrality, and confidence. Our visitor socialization includes:

  • Adult of varying appearances (men and women with hats, glasses, beards, different ethnicities, and movement patterns)

  • Children (only under strict supervision, with puppy safety prioritized)

  • Seniors or individuals with mobility aids (walkers, canes, wheelchairs)

  • Dog-savvy handlers and strangers (with neutral body language)

Each interaction is structured to promote:

  1. Curiosity and calm engagement

  2. Positive associations with new people and scenarios

  3. Recovery from initial hesitation or startle

  4. Respectful boundaries and impulse control

We never allow visitors to overwhelm or overstimulate the puppies. There is no forced handling, excessive baby talk, or chaotic environments. Instead, we reward the puppy’s natural bravery and teach them how to calmy assess and interact with novel people— a vital skill for confident working and companion dogs alike.

Our goal is emotional neutrality, not hyper-social behavior. Puppies raised this way are less likely to develop fear or reactivity, and more likely to enter new homes with balanced expectations about human interactions.

Veterinary Oversight

Health Screening

Our veterinary care is proactive and comprehensive.

Each puppy receives:

  • Physical exams at multiple stages

  • Weight monitoring and worming protocol

  • Care vaccinations per AAHA guidelines

  • Fecal testing for parasites

  • Microchip placement before going home

BAER Hearing Testing

All Wildcard litters are BAER (Brainstem Auditory Evoked Response) tested before placement. This non-invasive test evaluates hearing in both ears and helps us make informed placement and breeding decisions, particularly due to the breed’s known risk for congenital deafness.

Embark DNA Testing (Select Litters)

For certain breeding’s, we Embark DNA test the entire litter to screen for over 200+ genetic health conditions, color traits, and diversity markers. This gives us early insight into each puppy’s genetic profile and helps us pair puppies more thoughtfully, inform long-term breeding decisions, and provide buyers with a deeper understanding of their puppy’s health potential. If we do not Embark the litter we always provide of coupon for buyers to elect into the test themselves.