"You are my weakness."
By Jennifer Stoeckl, MAT - Dire Wolf Project CEO, May 10, 2024
In the Game of Thrones fantasy series on HBO, there is a scene in season 7, episode 2 where Grey Worm, commander of the “Unsullied”, surprises Missandei, his love interest and handmaiden to Daenarys Tagaryen, by telling her that she is his weakness.
At first, Missandei is insulted by this.
But Grey Worm explains that when the Unsullied are young, the masters learn their fears.
If one boy hates high places, the masters make him climb a cliff.
If one boy is afraid of dogs, they make him sleep with the dogs at night.
If one boy is frightened of the ocean, they throw him in the water.
Grey Worm then reveals that as a child, he had no fears…
Until he met Missandei.
It is arguably the most endearing scene in the entire series.
Just like humans, dogs have fears, too.
In the Luck of the Irish litter, two puppies show a fear of being lifted.
As Lois often says, “They don’t like to fly.”
It probably does feel like flying to those hefty babies.
After all, it’s unnatural for a dog to be hoisted into the air, so I suppose it can be an uncomfortable feeling being lifted and placed onto a high perch, such as my lap.
Just like the Unsullied masters, we must find their fears…
And help our sweet puppies overcome them.
In this case, Patrick and Dublin cling a bit too much to my body when I lift them onto my lap.
Their breathing becomes a little more shallow and quick-paced.
When I see these reactions, it is up to me, their leader, to teach them to trust my guidance.
Facing their fears is the only way forward.
Not in an abrupt or harsh way, but a respectful and understanding one.
American Dirus dogs are thinkers and analyzers.
We must use this to our advantage and guide them to be brave.
This is why, as a Dire Wolf Project breeder, I present the puppies with small challenges that teach them they can do something that at first seems hard.
We initially introduce the puppies to different loud sounds, such a a crinkly toy, squeaky toy, music, and city noises.
We also introduce them to wobble boards, tunnels, Kuranda beds, stairs, crates, and cars.
Last, we give them exposure to Lap Therapy™, which helps them trust a human’s touch all over their bodies and grows their patience.
This is just a small part of what we do to prepare our puppies for the upcoming challenge of transitioning to their new homes.
And that time is rapidly drawing near.
I can hardly believe it’s so close already!
Most of our families choose to have us hand-deliver their puppies right to their doorsteps.
We have set up a first-class concierge pet ground transportation service for this very purpose.
If you plan to have your puppy travel home in style in the loving arms of your breeder, then there are a few important things you need to do.
This link will guide you through the process:
https://direwolfproject.com/direwolf-dogs/direwolf-express/
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.
Patrick at 6 weeks old sitting next to the wobble board.
Dublin at 6 weeks old