BACKYARD BREEDER!!

There are two kinds of breeders in this world.

And for one afternoon… I became the kind people warn you about.

Yesterday, we loaded seven pups from the Big Dog litter into the van.

They tumbled in together, curious and bright, their small bodies pressing forward as if they already knew something was changing in their world.

These pups are from the Big Dog Litter, not our typical type of puppies.

You see, this litter was specifically designed as part of a trial mating, pairing two known carriers of hypothyroidism so that what hides beneath the surface can be brought into the open, tracked, and eventually removed from the line.

It is careful work that requires patience and long-term commitment.

I have to make difficult decisions sacrificing some of the temperament gains we’ve made in this line in order to prioritize health.

Jay, the puppies, and I drove north toward Deer Park, where the land opens up to livestock, pasture, and a daily life with animals.

When we arrived, we found a simple patch of grass beside a grocery store and set up our small space.

A sign went up that read “Caution Extreme Cuteness,” in red letters above the word “PUPPIES” written boldly in black beneath it.

Then, I stepped over to the sidewalk with one of the puppies in my arms.

He settled into me easily, relaxed and trusting, while cars slowed and people began to take notice.

Some waved as they passed, others turned in, and there was a quiet ease to the whole scene that felt almost disarming.

Standing there, it was not lost on me how this must look.

A breeder with a van full of mixed breed puppies, offering them to passersby without the usual process like: contracts and the careful screening that defines how we typically place our dogs.

It is a familiar image.

One that many people are quick to label and judge.

BACKYARD BREEDER!

Unfortunately, the deeper truth of those seven pups could not be seen from the roadside.

Because, if anyone were to ask, they would learn why these particular crossbred puppies were not the product of impulse or convenience.

Alongside the important trial mating reason for this particular crossbred litter, this match was brought in deliberately to:

• increase genetic diversity,
• strengthen overall health, introduce the sixth haplotype we intend to maintain, and
• move forward traits such as stronger confidence and those striking yellow eyes.

But, as with any outcross, this match also brought traits we do not intend to keep, which now must be carefully shaped over time through selection.

That means I cannot keep every puppy.

I have to discern with care which puppies are THE ones that will enhance the breed toward its goals… starting with health.

Because of that, these crossbred pups do not carry the same temperament that our Inner Circle and waiting list have come to expect.

The American Dirus™ dog is especially known for its unique inherited temperament: a calm, steady, deeply intuitive presence that settles into a home with quiet assurance.

These crossbred pups are:

• more alert,
• more driven,
• more vocal,
• more mouthy,
• more bold.

They are certainly not inferior.

In fact, they are very typical of many farm dogs within our area.  

And that requires a different kind of life from the typical American Dirus™ dog large breed companion dog temperament.

That difference guided the decision that brought us to Deer Park.

Rather than placing these pups into homes that are waiting for a very specific temperament, we chose to bring them directly to a community where their natural inclinations would be understood and valued.

Rural families, farmers, and ranchers live in a rhythm where a dog’s attentiveness and energy are not only welcomed but often needed.

In that environment, these pups have the opportunity to grow into roles that suit them, rather than being asked to suppress parts of themselves to fit expectations that were never meant for them.

The approach we took that day looked simple, even casual, to anyone passing by.

In truth, it was a deliberate adjustment to the realities of the litter in front of us.

The usual structure of contracts and extended screening gave way to something more immediate, shaped by the setting and the type of homes we were seeking.

It required a different kind of judgment, one rooted in reading people face to face, observing how they approached the pups, how they spoke, and how they carried themselves in that brief but telling interaction.

From the road, someone could look at what we were doing and assume these were casually bred mixed puppies being sold without much thought.

That assumption would be incorrect.

Selling them in Deer Park was a deliberate decision based on geography and lifestyle.

It allowed us to connect directly with people living in environments where these dogs are more likely to succeed.

No contracts or pre-screening were used in this case because the placement method relied on in-person evaluation and immediate interaction.

And that is why, to someone passing by, we may look like backyard breeders standing there with a handmade “PUPPIES” sign.

What cannot be seen in that moment is the level of planning behind those puppies or the reasoning behind where and how they were placed.

This was a deliberate decision made to match the temperament of this litter with the kind of homes where they are most likely to succeed.

And as I stood there, holding that pup and placing each one where it truly belonged, I found myself thinking about something much bigger than that afternoon.

Because decisions like that do not happen by accident.

They come from years of building something with intention, protecting it, refining it, and carrying it forward even when the path is not the easy one.

And that raises a question I cannot ignore.

What happens to all of this… when I am no longer the one making those calls?

Because this project is not just about puppies.

It is about preserving a way of thinking. A way of breeding that puts health, purpose, and truth above convenience and appearance.

And that is exactly why we created the Founder’s Circle.

A small group of individuals who are not standing on the sidelines, but stepping forward as part of the pack that carries this forward into the future.

If you have been reading these emails and feeling that pull, then you already know.

This is where you step in.

Join the Founder’s Circle here:

https://shop.direwolfproject.com/products/the-founder-s-circle

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P.S. If you find yourself drawn to the Big Dog Litter, I don’t blame you. They are truly great puppies, just not typical for our breed. There are still some puppies left, so don’t hesitate to reply to this email and ask me about them if you want to know more.

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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.