New puppy pictures are up!
By Jennifer Stoeckl, MAT - Dire Wolf Project CEO, Feb. 25, 2025
Winter’s icy grip has finally loosened.
Its heaviness is retreating into the shadows of the Ponderosa forest.
In its place, the first hints of spring are creeping in.
This is the moment before new growth appears.
Rain whispers through the trees and melting snow drifts squish beneath our boots.
It is time.
The great thaw has begun, and with it, our packs’ dens need a grand renewal.
So this weekend, Jay and I set to work.
We armed ourselves with shovels, rakes, and a large wheelbarrow.
Each of our five cedar dog cabins are a sturdy 8’x10’ fortress with a carport-covered 10’x20’ run.
As the weather turns, winter’s dirty residue clings to the ground in the back runs.
Each year around this time, a layer of grime has to be shaved away like shedding a thick winter coat.
It is no small task.
This is a full-scale migration from winter’s grip into spring’s embrace.
While we cleaned, we allowed the dogs to play outside.
Sensing the shift in the air, the dogs were excited to explore the awakening forest.
Like ancient predators stepping onto thawing tundra, they raced through the towering Ponderosas, their paws kicking up slush and splashing through fresh puddles.
Their noses twitched with delight at the damp, earthy scents—new stories written in the softened ground.
Every turn of the wind carried mystery.
And every paw print told of exploration and adventure.
As they ran, Jay and I worked tirelessly, stripping away the old and layering in the new.
Decomposed granite, smooth and fresh, replaced the winter-worn terrain of each run.
It is a transformation as stark as an Ice Age landscape shifting from frozen wasteland to rich hunting ground.
The buckets and bowls are now ready to serve our pack once more.
The cabins smell of fresh straw—an inviting haven for our beloved packmates.
Then it was time for the dogs to return to eat their dinner.
One by one, the dogs padded back from their forest adventure, their coats damp, their tongues lolling in contentment.
They stepped into their renewed spaces with evident pleasure, sniffing the fresh straw and testing the soft granite beneath their paws.
They circled their cabins, marking their territory anew, as if to say,
This is home. This is safe. This is ours.
With our spring cleaning complete, the kennels look so much better.
Now all of the dogs are ready for the months ahead.
And just like the shifting of the seasons, fresh puppy pictures are now up on our website!
The Cherry Blossom and Early America litters have grown over the last week.
They are plump and their ears and eyes have begun to open.
It’s so exciting to see their transformation.
If you want to see the next generation of DireWolf Dogs, take a peek at their newest snapshots here:
https://direwolfdogs.com/dogs-for-sale/future-litters/
You won’t want to miss these little ones—they’re full of the same wild spirit that makes spring so magical!
P.S. If you would like to start the puppy purchase process, you can begin by completing our puppy adoption questionnaire so that we can get to know you.
Click this link to open the online questionnaire. Please be sure to answer all of the questions before pressing send. Thanks!
https://direwolfproject.com/puppy-application/
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.
March Wind one week old Cherry Blossom litter
House Finch one week old Cherry Blossom litter