These two puppies aren't quite trusting of me yet
By Jennifer Stoeckl, MAT - Dire Wolf Project CEO, Oct. 14, 2024
For the last two weeks, I’ve been working on building trusting, bonded relationships with the puppies from our three litters.
Most of the puppies are coming along great.
They allow me to pick them up.
They come rushing over with tails wagging when I walk toward their door.
Their little bodies wiggle with excitement when my hand goes down to pet the piranha horde.
Heck, many even roll over and want me to pet their bellies a while.
They are just the cutest at this age.
So willing to learn and enthusiastic about all of life.
I hope and pray their little minds know only happiness for all of their days.
But there are two puppies (one from the Harvest litter and the other from the Muscle Car litter) that need a little extra support in the bonded relationship department.
They are both sweet as can be and highly submissive, but not quite totally trusting of me yet.
I don’t know why they haven’t gotten the memo, but both are highly intelligent and aware of their surroundings, as well as emotionally sensitive.
So they take setbacks a little bit more than the others.
That’s what is often called resilience.
How long it takes a dog to bounce back to a happy, contented, and confident being after something scary or difficult happens (emotionally or physically).
So because I know it takes these puppies longer to build trust, I must make a special effort to help them individually bond with me, even though the other puppies are clamoring for my attention.
“Which puppies are they, exactly?” you ask.
- Black Raven (Harvest litter)
- Corvette (Muscle Car litter)
It only took Corvette one experience to come around and then she was right up there with the other puppies hoping for more affection from me.
I pulled her close to my chest and sat with her for over forty-five minutes while the other puppies played and slept by my feet.
She was tense at first, but then loosened her body as time went along.
I whispered sweet nothings into her ear meant only for her.
I caressed her fur with soft, gentle strokes.
I hugged her close and kissed her nose with the feather’s touch of my lips.
I rubbed her tummy and gave her a little scratch on the back.
Slowly but surely, the tension she felt melted away.
Her breathing quieted.
I gave her one more brush of my cheeks to hers and then placed her gently one the ground.
To my surprise, she turned right around wagging her tail as if to say,
“Thank you for noticing me.”
These dogs are the sweetest, most loving kind.
Very devoted and loyal.
They only have eyes for their family and would do anything for them.
Dogs like Corvette are the ones in the pound or shelter who sit in the back shaking with their head down behind the crazy jumping dogs.
They aren’t just scared, they are emotionally overwhelmed with no way out of their predicament.
This is one reason why the Dire Wolf Project works so hard to keep all American Dirus dogs out of animal control and shelter facilities.
Our dogs would never be able to handle the typical dog pound life.
All it takes for those sensitive dogs is someone with compassion and patience to be a friend.
Someone to selflessly care for the emotional stability of the overwhelmed soul.
I’ve seen highly skilled dog trainers go into these situations and help these emotionally sensitive dogs in that crushing environment.
It is a beautifully touching thing to watch that shaking body finally lay its head down on the trainer’s lap and sleep for the first time in weeks.
That is exactly what I felt from Corvette.
When her body relaxed into mine, it was incomparable to any of the other puppies in her litter.
The intimate time we spent together meant something special just to us.
Like a secret between friends.
And today, she obviously remembered because she came over to me wagging her tail unlike the days prior.
I knew she was a sensitive soul when she was only days old.
Remember when I found that poor whimpering puppy in the den crying in pain?
That was Corvette.
I lifted her into my arms, turned her over, caressed her belly to ease the tummy ache she had from too much gas… just like human babies.
She melted then, too.
Right into the folds of my arms.
What a gentle, loving soul this beautiful puppy is.
The easiest puppy to have around.
Content and willing to go through life, even when its difficult.
I just love this precious little furry beast.
And now I know she loves me, too.
As for Black Raven in the Harvest litter.
He is going to take a bit more work.
There is definitely mistrust and caution coming from his staring yellow-eyed gaze.
He’ll come around, though.
It just takes a little longer to build that intimate bond.
But once it happens, he will surely be mine for life.
I’ll let you know how it goes.
In the meantime…
It’s official!!
We’ve opened up the remaining puppies for sale,
OFF THE WAITING LIST!
Click the link below to see all of the currently available puppies:
https://direwolfdogs.com/dogs-for-sale/puppies/
Reminders:
- Puppies are now on a first come, first served basis.
- You MUST be pre-approved for a puppy before being considered.
Apply here: https://direwolfproject.com/puppy-application/
===
Today we feature the Mountain Peaks litter in our Movie this Monday.
I have the footage for the other litters, as well, so this week you’ll see a few other longer movies come out in the days ahead.
I decided I didn’t want to put them all into one movie so that I could embed them on their respective litter pages a little easier.
Here’s the link to view the most precious 5-week-old puppies as they learn their new lessons at school:
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.
Black Raven Harvest litter
Corvette Muscle Car litter