The beginning of one journey. The end of another.

This week's “Ask the Alpha” features two questions that could not have been more different from one another.

The first came from someone imagining what life might look like with one of our dogs curled up in their Alaskan home.

I love that.

There is something exciting about watching someone prepare for their new adventure and begin asking the important practical questions.

The second question wondered about updates on the puppies we recently lost.

And while I do not spend much time dwelling there, I completely understand the desire for updates.

Many of you followed those puppies from the day they were born.

You celebrated their milestones and watched them grow.

You may have even had favorite ones.

So tonight's “Ask the Alpha” takes us through both sides of breeding dogs.

The excitement of imagining what comes next.

And the reality that sometimes things happen that no breeder wants to experience.

Place another log onto the fire.

And let's begin.

hi ya Jen and company , I am interested in adopting an adult dog [ in the near future  ] i have a few questions .

Leash and collar what size collar ? I would be getting a male or female what ever will fit best.

Are they leash trained ?

Seeing they are retired breeders , what type of environment are they in ? For example stirctly outside with human interaction or inside and outside life style ?

Are they house trained ?

What basic  commands /  manners   [  towards human and other dog ] do they have ?

I have all older kids [ teens and young adult ] my gf has a toddler who's pretty good with animals . How are your dogs with kids of all ages ?

What toys and bones  would you suggest if any ?

For supplies I have listed

Bed

Bowls - food and water

Leash and collar

Toys and bones

Anything else ?

Thank you !

— Pree Paird

One of the things I enjoy most about questions like that is that they remind me why we do this in the first place.

Most people discover the Dire Wolf Project™ through a photograph.

Something catches their attention, then curiosity takes over.

Before long, they are comparing collars, shopping for beds, measuring spaces in the house, and imagining a giant companion following them from room to room.

That is the fun part.

The part where possibilities still stretch out in every direction.

Here’s my answer to this very practical question.

Great questions.

For collars, most of our adult dogs wear collars in the 24-26 inch range, although the exact size varies depending on the individual dog and whether it is male or female. We generally recommend a sturdy 1.5-2 inch wide collar and a strong leash suitable for a giant breed dog.

Most of our dogs are leash trained and accustomed to walking on a leash. As with any dog, some individuals are more polished than others, but they generally understand the basics. Females tend to have the most training because they've been inside our house. So they typically have leash training, potty training, and house training down pat.

The commands and manners vary somewhat from dog to dog. Most understand basic commands such as come, wait, and walking politely on leash. They are generally respectful with people and accustomed to living within a multi-dog environment.

Our dogs are typically very gentle and patient with children. That said, every dog is an individual, and we always recommend appropriate supervision whenever dogs and young children, like your toddler, are interacting.

For toys, we generally recommend durable toys designed for large breed dogs. Many of our dogs enjoy sturdy chew toys like kong toys, firehose toys, and the like. I would avoid rope toys, as they can fray. For chews, we typically prefer natural options such as: goat hooves, antlers, and knuckle bones.

Your supply list is a good start:

• Bed
  • Food and water bowls
  • Leash
  • Collar
  • Toys
  • Chews

You may also want:

• Crate
  • Grooming brush
  • Nail trimmers or grinder
  • Identification tags
  • Food storage container
  • Vehicle restraint or travel setup

I hope that helps answer your questions.

But let’s not forget that breeding dogs has another side, too.

And that brings us to our next question.

I have been thinking about the pups that were lost.  I believe I read that you sent one for a necropsy.  Did you ever get the results back yet?

— Kendra Spirit

I wish I could tell you we found a clear answer, understood exactly what happened, and walked away with a lesson that explained everything.

Instead, I have a stack of records, laboratory reports, necropsy findings, timelines, observations, and a lot of unanswered questions.

Here’s how I responded to this thoughtful question.

Thank you for thinking of those sweet babies. I miss them so much. I try not to dwell on their loss to the project, as it is significant, but there is nothing I can do to change what happened, so I have to move on from here.

Jay and I are looking at quite a few options, one being moving from this coyote thoroughfare. They are the ones bringing in the parvo every year. And they just happen to be prevalent in this area.

Yes. I sent Valentine’s remains to WSU for necropsy. I have the results. Basically, it came back as parvo. I have also sent a sample to a genetic testing lab to find out which strain… or if it’s a newer strain.

I am going to write a scientific paper about what happened, because while it may have come back as “parvo” the symptoms were devastating and fatal, unlike any parvo I’ve dealt with before. And it happened even though the puppies were vaccinated… one litter was fully vaccinated.

The doctors tried to tell me it may have been the vaccines weren’t viable or not administered correctly, but that’s a load of hogwash. So, anyway… I have documented everything and will be writing it all up in a paper. Perhaps others have struggled with this issue. It’s more than normal parvo. I stand by that as one who’s experienced a great deal of parvo in my time.

The juxtaposition between these two questions is one of the strange realities of breeding dogs.

One day you're helping someone choose a collar for a future companion.

The next you're reading pathology reports and trying to understand why puppies died.

Both responsibilities come with the territory.

And both shape the future of the dogs we love.

One thing this experience reinforced for me is that nobody will ever care more about your dog than you do.

Your veterinarian may be deeply invested in helping.

A specialist may bring years of advanced training and experience.

Laboratories provide valuable data, and universities contribute important research.

But none of them live with your dog every day.

At the end of the day, you are the one responsible for asking questions, challenging assumptions, seeking second opinions when necessary, and continuing to push for answers when something doesn't add up.

That is not always easy.

In fact, finding your voice in a room full of professionals can be one of the hardest parts of dog ownership.

I know because I have had to learn that lesson myself.

So, if you've ever found yourself struggling to speak up and advocate for your dog at the veterinarian's office, I wrote the following book just for you.

I've been there many times and had to learn the hard way how to find my voice and become the protector my dogs needed me to be.

This book will help you develop your own voice when confronted with the difficult and sometimes frightening situations that can arise when your dog's health is on the line.

https://shop.direwolfproject.com/products/the-informed-owners-guide-to-finding-a-vet

Until next Thursday, when the fire inside the den glows once more and the Inner Circle gathers again beneath the whispering pines for another evening of “Ask the Alpha.”

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.