Gearing up for a frosty delivery

By Jennifer Stoeckl, MAT - Dire Wolf Project CEO, Feb. 11, 2025
dog heat.png
Only the dog’s face loses heat, that’s why dogs tuck their nose and face into their thick furry tail or under their back legs.

f you’ve been a Dire Wolf Project Inner Circle member for a while now, you know that we have THREE OFFICIALLY CONFIRMED LITTERS scheduled to arrive in the next few days to weeks.

(There is also a fourth litter scheduled, but we still have more than a month to go before that one is expected to arrive.)

  • But its so cold outside!!

It was 4° last night!

Luckily, American Dirus dogs have a thickly insulated double-coat, so when they snuggle up in the deep straw lining the bottom of their cedar cabins, they stay warm all through the night.

Just check out this thermal image of a thick, double-coated Siberian Husky.

The fact that the dog’s body emits no heat (infrared) signature means that it is very well insulated, keeping all of the heat inside its body with virtually no heat escaping to the surrounding air.

Only the dog’s face loses heat, that’s why dogs tuck their nose and face into their thick furry tail or under their back legs.  

Nature is SO amazing!

Image credit: ©HoneyRush

Newborn puppies do NOT have the insulation to withstand the cold, though.

That is why momma wolves dig dens under the frost line.

A wolf den provides a safe, temperature-controlled environment for their pups.

Digging below the frost line ensures the den is insulated from extreme weather, keeping it warm in the cold months and cool in the hot ones.

This stable temperature is crucial for the survival of the vulnerable newborn pups, who are born blind, deaf, and unable to regulate their body heat.

Additionally, dens offer protection from predators and harsh elements, creating a secure space where the mother can nurse and care for her young during their earliest stages of life.

I am preparing “dens” for our momma DireWolf Dogs right now!

It’s time to get those momma’s in from the cold and prepare them to birth their babies.

Marie will stay upstairs in the living room area of our RV.

While Galena will stay downstairs in the annex that leads into the main part of the RV.

(Maggie will not whelp for another couple weeks, so she’ll remain outside for now.)

All the moms will have a 4’x4’ space to whelp and raise their puppies.

Starting now, I have to make sure the whelping pads, towels, and blankets are clean and ready to go.

I will also gather all of the whelping supplies we may need to have a safe and secure whelping experience for each of the new moms.

Everyone is now on high alert!

Sometimes puppies can arrive a little earlier than we anticipated, so we are keeping our eyes and ears open for how the moms are eating, drinking, and generally feeling.

I rub their tummies and give them lots of support during this time when their bodies begin to prepare for puppy arrival.

It’s a bustle of excitement around here now!

Even though the weather is extremely cold outside…

Inside our RV, we must keep the temperature nice and warm for little puppies to feel comfortable and safe.

We’ll know puppies are within a day of arriving when:

  1. Drop in Body Temperature: A dog's normal temperature of 101–102.5°F drops below 99°F about 24 hours before labor begins.
  2. Nesting Behavior: Momma dogs may start digging, shredding bedding, or arranging a cozy spot for the puppies.
  3. Loss of Appetite: Many momma’s refuse food just before labor starts.
  4. Restlessness and Panting: Momma dogs may pace, pant heavily, or seem unable to settle down.
  5. Licking and Discharge: Increased licking of the vulva or the appearance of a clear or mucus-like discharge signals labor is near.

So, stay glued to your email, friends!

We could see puppies any day now.

During each whelping, I may send out more emails than normal to guide you as we post all of the puppy updates.

Before the spring puppy season begins, you might want to prepare by reviewing my puppy predictions on the following three upcoming litter pages:

Happy Days Litter
(Dublin/Marie)
Due: February 14, 2025

https://direwolfdogs.com/litters/68/

Cherry Blossom Litter
(Cookie Monster/Galena)

Due: February 13, 2025

https://direwolfdogs.com/litters/73/

Early America Litter
(Donner/Maggie)

Due: February 26, 2025

https://direwolfdogs.com/litters/71/

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.