The time has come to prepare for your new puppy!
By Jennifer Stoeckl, MAT - Dire Wolf Project CEO, Oct. 16, 2024
Three of you are bringing home your new puppy in a week!
And many others are going to wrap your lovin’ arms around your precious new furry baby in just over two weeks!
Time is going to FLY now!
Before you know it, that little doggie soul will be looking to YOU for guidance and support.
It will have been taken from the only life its ever known only to end up alone and confused.
THE MOST IMPORTANT time in your new puppy’s young life has finally arrived.
The bond you forge in the first few hours you have that puppy will dictate how the first days and weeks progress.
There are only two ways this can go:
productive or unproductive
You either begin to build immediate trust, or you begin to foster initial confusion.
You either step up to be the kind and fair leader who understands puppy is in internal turmoil.
OR
You step down to be the wishy washy negotiator or tyrannical oppressor.
Too harsh and puppy doesn’t trust its own abilities to navigate its world without fear of failure.
Too easy-going and puppy doesn’t trust YOUR abilities to be an effective leader.
Here is a quick list of all the possible leadership types.
- Tyrant: Rules through fear, leading to insecurity in the puppy.
- Dictator: Imposes strict control, limiting the puppy’s ability to explore or develop confidence.
- Authoritarian: Provides firm structure but may lack warmth and emotional connection.
- Laissez-faire: Offers little guidance, leading to confusion and potential misbehavior.
- Protector: Balances clear boundaries with warmth, fostering trust and confidence.
- Diplomatic: Encourages learning through gentle guidance, positive reinforcement, and mutual respect.
Which type of leader are you going to be?
In the days ahead, I am going to write about everything you need to prepare yourself and your home for that furry bundle of joy.
If you don’t have your puppy yet, save these emails so that you will be prepared when it’s your turn to safely hold your new loving friend in your arms for the first time.
Understanding what it takes to develop a bonded relationship built on trust is the first step to preparing your mind for your new puppy.
Here is an article I wrote on exactly what type of leadership you need to have to build a trusting relationship with your new canine friend.
And here is a STEP-BY-STEP guide on how to develop that trusting relationship right away:
https://direwolfproject.com/direwolf-guardians/puppy-training/build-a-bonded-trusting-relationship/
ACTION STEPS:
Write out a list of the leadership qualities you will possess when your new puppy arrives.
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.
Challenger from the Muscle car litter
Shelby from the muscle car litter