The truth was right in front of us all along

Yesterday morning, the mystery of our tiny Rosebud may have finally found its answer.

She is an extremely picky eater!

And oh, what a revelation it was!

I cooked up some hamburger just for her, warm and fragrant, and placed it before her.

First, as always, she drank deeply, gulping down her electrolyte water like a desert flower finally finding the rain.

But then, after a little rest and a trip outside, I brought out that cooked ground beef... and

• BAM!

Rosebud dove in like a hungry hippo at a feast.

There was no hesitation, no second-guessing, just pure, joyous eating.

It was fantastic to see her tiny frame finally filling with the nourishment she so desperately needed.

I will continue to feed and hydrate Rosebud three times a day until she regains her hydration and plumps up a bit.

She is a trooper through and through, never complaining, never whining.

But, this morning, at precisely 6:30 AM, I heard the tiniest little peep from outside.

When I stepped out to get her, there she was, bright-eyed, eager, waiting at the door, her tiny paws bouncing as if to say, "You figured it out!"

When I scooped her up, she graced me with the softest kisses on my nose, a silent thank-you, an unspoken bond between us.

She knows the routine now.

She knows she is safe.

She knows she is loved.

It’s important to note that Rosebud is not sick in any way.

No diarrhea. No vomiting. No lethargy. No fever.

Just dehydration that we are steadily bringing under control.

With each day, we will see if she needs further intervention.

But for now, she is thriving in her own special way, at her own pace, in her own time, just as she always has.

What a special girl.

What a heart as big as the Ice Age plains.

And what a privilege it is to care for this tiny, mighty soul.

I have some wonderful news to share, too!

Little Rosebud has found that perfect nurturing family who would like to take on her gentle, but determined spirit.

They are coming to pick her up on Friday.

She will be seven weeks old, which is one week early, but the other larger puppies are much too overwhelming for her and she can’t stay with them.

The great thing is her new family has two dogs that will continue to teach Rosebud how to be a polite member of the canine community.

Because they are older dogs, they won’t have a habit of pushing her over by running near her without thinking of her more delicate size… and they will match Rosebud’s more mature character.

She’s a special soul.

I’m excited to hear how she develops with her new family.

We only have three giant male puppies left from the Cherry Blossom litter.

After this, the spring puppy season is over and you’ll have to wait at least four months for puppies to be available for new homes.

You can learn more about the three beautiful giant black males with bright yellow eyes at the link below:

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

P.S. You must be approved for puppy adoption to be considered for a puppy. You can apply here:

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.