A hamburger crumb trail through the door and into the house

Many of you may remember Hedy, our sweet “omega dog”.

Well yesterday, Jay transitioned this beautiful milky white sweetheart with those striking yellow eyes to her new family in Connecticut.

Her new family instantly loved her.

They recently sent me a great update on Hedy’s progress with an important question attached.

Here is what her new family wrote about Hedy’s first day in her new home:

“She is sweet and gentle. Hedy has been sitting with us getting lots of pets. She just tucked herself back in her crate to take a well deserved nap. 
[My husband] ran to the store to buy a bunch of throw rugs to cover a path on the wood floors so it’s easier for her to walk. 

Wood floors=bad
Stairs=bad …but we have solutions!  : ))

LOL It did take us an hour and a half to get her back in the house before bed. I think reality was setting in for poor Hedy. She paced all around the perimeter of our yard. She got to know the yard for sure. She would come to us for pets but wouldnt come to the door. Molly [other dog] grew tired and we let her back in the house so she could lay down.

We even made a hamburger crumb trail through the door and into the house! LOL

Finally..[our son] made his way to the scene and she went through the door to my gentle young man. Sniff… it was wonderful.

We will look back and laugh at the scene and feel gratitude and love for her.

Any thoughts and/or tips to help with bringing her outside and getting her back in the evening?  But I'm sure she was pacing and exploring because it was her first night here. She was probably looking for Jay and the pups too. I know every day will get easier for her. 

She is settled down and ready for bed. What an exciting day.  Hopefully we will all sleep well tonight. 
It was a real pleasure meeting Jay. Such a kind man. Road Warrior too.  Really.. you guys are the best!
So much gratitude for everything you guys do.

Warmest Regards,”

Transitioning an older American Dirus dog to a new home takes quite a bit of patience.

But it also requires some careful forethought and planning.

Hedy’s new family is doing great, but there are a few tweaks I would recommend to make Hedy’s transition even better.

Here is my reply to Hedy’s family on how to help Hedy, one of our most emotionally sensitive American Dirus dogs, transition in the best way possible.

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Thank you so much for this update on Hedy. I am so glad she is showing you her sweet side so quickly. 

Transitions for older dogs are tough. She has to go through a grieving period. 

In general, it takes:

1. THREE DAYS to get over the shock,
2. THREE WEEKS to learn the initial rules and begin to feel more comfortable, and
3. THREE MONTHS before a full trusted bond occurs. 

This is only a general timeframe. 

Some dogs can take less or more time to adjust, but I have found that all older dogs go through the same steps. 

Hedy was strongly bonded to Jay and I... and she is wicked smart with a great memory. 

She may grieve for a little while and that's perfectly okay. 

First, a needed correction. 

Hedy needs to be on a long tether AT ALL TIMES for the first week, at least. 

It is a big mistake to allow her to roam and explore the entire yard and house at her leisure. 

Especially Hedy. 

This is because she is coming into a space that is NOT her own. 

She is the foreigner in this situation. 

Think about a foreign exchange student from Japan. 

A brand new Japanese foreign exchange student knows nothing of your family dynamics, let alone your unique cultural differences and specific house rules. 

You must be her guide in this period of culture shock.

You can set up the "total immersion" experience, but this type of "sink or swim" method very often means the dog can develop huge gaps in their learning. 

This is because the dog can misinterpret an experience or think it understands, but is wrong and must relearn after trial and errors end in a feeling of insecurity and confusion. 

A long tether (like a 20' long leash or an extra large, heavy duty retractable leash) allows her to explore, but also gives you a way to guide her when she becomes overwhelmed, stuck in her mind, or sad for the life she has left behind. 

So, for the first week, keep her on a tether attached to you wherever she goes in or out of the house when she is not in her crate.

The only exception would be if you block off a room with a baby gate when you are in it. Then, she can relax on a bed or next to you near the couch or whatever without the tether. 

When you see her start to come when called and respond to your directions after at least a week, then you can give her a little more freedom to act independently within the new routine you've established with her. 

Freedom is earned

by building trust in a loving relationship. 

In particular, Hedy does NOT want freedom. 

She is an omega dog. 

This means she is a true follower. 

Thinking for herself is very stressful. 

Help her out by guiding her through your household routine.

Make each day the same for the first few days. 

Wake up at the same time. 

Feed her at the same time. 

Go out the same door to go potty each time. 

Sleep, play, snuggle, (or whatever) at the same time each day. 

Insist that she actively participates in your family life.

Any corrections should be very soft, if at all. 

Praise (in the form of pets) is her love language.

This will be a comfort and allow Hedy to relax.  

Be extra patient and allow her to work out problems (such as the floor and stairs) a little at a time. 

Insist she be brave and at least try,

but remember to reward every try. 

Little by little with each passing day, Hedy will gain in confidence and feel more and more like your family is her family, too. 

I love that sweet, innocent, loving girl. Give her some extra kisses from her devoted Auntie Jennifer.

MWAAA!

Giving an adult American Dirus dog the gift of loving family life is the most generous thing you can do.

They are often overlooked and passed over for that cute fluffy puppy with the endless potential.

But choosing an adult dog that is waiting for a special family to call their own means you know exactly what you are receiving.

Much of the training has already been done.

And experiencing a precious soul’s transformation before your very eyes can be one of the most rewarding things in life.

Remember, we only keep the very best in each litter to further the lines, so you know that our adult American Dirus dogs are fantastic examples of their ancestry.

Acquire a pick of the litter American Dirus dog for a fraction of the cost by opening your heart to an older dog from the Dire Wolf Project.

Here is the link to learn more about which adult American Dirus dogs are currently available:

https://direwolfdogs.com/dogs-for-sale/adults/

Jennifer Stoeckl is the co-founder of the Dire Wolf Project, founder of the DireWolf Guardians American Dirus Dog Training Program, and owner/operator of DireWolf Dogs of Vallecito. She lives in the beautiful inland northwest among the Ponderosa pine forests with her pack of American Dirus dogs.