A heartwarming tale of love and friendship

We often say that our journey with the American Dirus dogs is not just about breeding and genetics—it's about building connections and sharing unforgettable moments. Today, we have a heartwarming story to share that epitomizes the essence of our mission.

In the summer of 2019, our headquarters welcomed a college intern from Michigan named Jacqueline. Her enthusiasm and dedication were matched only by her love for our remarkable companions. Through months of learning and bonding, Jacqueline became not just an intern, but a true friend of the Dire Wolf Project.

Fast forward a few months, and we were deeply touched when we received a call from Jacqueline's boyfriend, Kevin. He wanted to create a moment as unforgettable as the one she shared in our little Ponderosa valley four years ago.

With the Columbia River stretching out beneath them and our majestic American Dirus dog, Essex, by her side, Kevin asked Jacqueline to join him in a journey of a lifetime—he proposed, and she said yes.

Their love story became woven into the fabric of the Dire Wolf Project, a testament to the connections forged through our dogs.

We were honored to have played a role in their engagement, and it warmed our hearts to know that our companions had touched their lives so deeply.

However, life had yet another surprise in store. We recently received an invitation to their wedding in Michigan, a celebration of love and new beginnings. It was an invitation that filled us with joy, but it also presented a challenge. The wedding festivities would span several days, and the kennel required our attention, making it difficult for us to attend.

It's a testament to our commitment to our beloved companions that we haven't been able to take a vacation together for over a decade.

Our dedication to our dogs’ well-being has been unwavering, and while we wouldn't trade it for anything, it's moments like these that remind us of the sacrifices we make.

As it happened, one of our American Dirus owners from Washington state said she would stay with our giant furry friends so that we could attend the wedding together. She owns Baltic Gold from the Miner’s litter. She traveled out a month ago to learn the process and become familiar with all of the dogs.

The dogs did well for her, but I was also here to help guide her through the cleaning, watering, and feeding process.

What would the dogs be like the next month when I wouldn’t be there?

In order to make sure the dogs were completely covered, Jay and I flew out from Spokane International Airport late Wednesday night and our friend, her family, and Baltic arrived Thursday mid-morning.

I was nervous leaving the dogs, but knew they were in good hands.

Here is our friend’s assessment of how the dogs did without us:

“They miss you. They were so good for you. At the end I brought my family over to see and again, so good. They seemed to settle fairly quickly and seemed content especially by the second evening/night. They were so quiet even though they could hear us a little bit. In the morning same, they patiently waited even though I know they could hear Baltic and I. Amazing.

“By the end Dreamer had calmed and I got to pet her head several times and she quieted and Opal softened and was being very loving too. I do think Baltic finally figured it out.

Opal [Baltic’s mother] was desperate to connect with her and she finally did and the way Baltic sat down and looked at me and smiled I think she knew. Whatever happened it made them both very happy.  

“Every single dog did funny cute things.

“The boys are all so funny. Big lovers! Wow. I see why many want the males. I fell in love with all of them.

“Once the ladies saw how nice the boys were being they were fine too.

“I got to meet each one on their terms.

“Each one eventually approached and made some sort of connection. I did not have to use any ‘no’ the whole time. The only thing I saw was a couple of them did check my locks behind me, which I was methodical about. Hahaha they are so smart! They did not try to rush the gate or take advantage of me going in or out. They let me get all the bowls and fill some holes.

“You have the best dogs ever.

“It was a pleasure and an honor to get to do that. You are so good with them for them to all be like this. Honestly.  Any time you need assistance like that. I’m your girl.

“I did a quick refill on the puppy water container like you did for me and just rinsed some pee and sand out of the food bowls nothing major. Hopefully you can have a chill day tomorrow at least first thing in the morning “

Yay!

The dogs did so well!

I was so proud of them.

And…

We had a great time at Jacqueline and Kevin’s wedding.

Because we flew into Chicago O’Hare airport, we were able to be a special person named Woody that I will tell you about tomorrow.

Plus…

We also at lunch with our favorite ambassador for the breed, Hercules, and his family, Jody-Lynn, Bob, and Finnegan.

But those are both tales for a future email.

As we continue on this journey, stories like Jacqueline's and Kevin's inspire us to create an environment where not only the dogs thrive, but where friendships are formed and memories are cherished. We believe that these moments, shared among friends and kindred spirits, truly define the spirit of the Dire Wolf Project.

Of course, if you have yet to become part of our family, you can become a member by completing our puppy adoption questionnaire, being approved, and placing down your $600 nonrefundable deposit to get on our waiting list. We have a few amazing puppies still dreaming about their forever home. And there is a litter coming at the end of August.

Here’s the link:

https://direwolfdogs.com/puppy-application/

P.S. We can say with confidence now that Clementine is not pregnant this time around. We’ll have to wait until the next season for her little puppies to arrive.

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.