Our entrance is guarded.

Let me tell you a little secret about our den.

It’s warm and cozy in here.

Firelight flickers against cave walls lined with sleeping pups.

The scent of pine lingers in the air.

Old stone marked with dancing Ice Age figures looms from behind.

There is heritage here.

A sense of loyalty and devotion to what dog breeding should be like.

But the door to the entrance of our den?

That door is guarded.

And if a newcomer tries to wander in like a clueless herbivore—they’re going to get their tail handed to them.

See, not just anyone gets to walk into our den and call themselves part of the Dire Wolf Project pack.

In fact, you might be quite surprised to learn about this surprising fact.

Only around 11% who knock on our front door by sending in a puppy adoption questionnaire are allowed to adopt one.

Here’s a breakdown of why that is.

Since January, we’ve had 82 humans complete our puppy application.

Of those, 45 were told, “No.”

Not because we’re cruel, but because they didn’t qualify.

(That’s a whopping 55%!)

That leaves 37 applicants who were eventually approved and invited to enter.

Of those, only 9 of them actually crossed the threshold making in to our den by placing their $600 non-refundable deposit within the 24-hour window we clearly howl about in bold letters at the top of the application.

That means 28 people heard, “You’re approved!” and then just… wandered off like they were on a Sunday stroll in the vast expanse of the snow-packed Ice Age tundra.

Which brings me to today’s cautionary tale…

A few days ago, a lovely woman named Claire was approved.

Her application looked perfect.

She had all the markings of a solid pack member.

But then, in reply to her approval letter, she sent back a list of basic questions.

The kind of questions we clearly ask people to answer for themselves before applying.

And… she didn’t send her deposit.

Why?

Because Claire wasn’t ready.

Maybe she thought the rules didn’t apply to her.

Or that she could sneak past the sentries because her intentions were good.

Her true motives will likely remain a mystery.

But because of this, Claire is now permanently denied from future puppy purchase.

Not because we’re mean and want to punish people.

But because purchasing an American Dirus™ dog is a serious long-term commitment that must be given the respect it deserves.

When you apply for an American Dirus™ puppy, you are not just saying:

“I like this breed!”

Instead, you are saying:

“I’ve studied the history.
I understand the commitment.
I am 100% sure my next dog will be an American Dirus™.
And I’m ready—right now—to prove it with action.”

That’s why the $600 deposit is due within 24 hours of approval.

Not because we want your money (as you can see, we turn away more than we accept)...

But because we don’t chase people.

This isn’t a pet store or your local animal shelter where anyone with a warm body and cash can take home a pet.

This is an ancient pack reborn.

We are preserving living, breathing Ice Age history.

And we only place our pups with humans who understand the gravity of that.

I’m not telling you this to shame Claire.

But to warn the rest of the pack.

You must be 100% committed.

If you’re not ready—do not apply.

The den door opens only to the prepared.

To those who honor the rite.

So if you are certain that your next dog will be an American Dirus™ dog…

If you’ve already planned for the $600 deposit…

And if you have no further questions about how our rules apply to you…

Only then should you approach the cave entrance.

We’re waiting patiently to welcome you into the pack.

So, when you are ready, you begin by completing our puppy adoption questionnaire at the link below:

https://direwolfproject.com/puppy-application/

Until tomorrow, stay wild and honor the den.

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.