Puppy Testing - one puppy came back for more!
By Jennifer Stoeckl, MAT - Dire Wolf Project CEO, Sept. 23, 2024
So, yesterday I officially temperament tested the Mountain Peaks litter.
Everything was going as planned, until…
Everest did the most amazing thing!
I’ve never seen a three week old puppy do what he did.
And it was the most adorable gesture ever!
The first task in the standardized test is the rough pet.
It’s the first time the puppies have felt this kind of handling in their lives.
There are many different responses puppies could give.
Some puppies walk forward.
Others turn in a circle.
Still others pull their head down and back up.
The ideal is when a puppy stands with self-assurance and lifts its head up in anticipation of the next stroke.
That is a very rare response, but I have seen a few puppies do this.
Each time, I record exactly what the puppies do.
Then, the lift is next.
This is where I take the puppies under their front arms and lift their bodies like a momma wolf would if she needed to move her babies.
Some puppies pump their feet, stiffen their bodies, and/or whine/cry out.
Most puppies in our breed dangle without a fuss, which is the ideal.
After that comes the turn.
This task can be a difficult one for some puppies.
I must smoothly position them on their backs, securely cradled in my hands.
Dogs have an innate response to being on their backs because it is the most vulnerable position to be in.
Many crossbred puppies we’ve used in the beginnings of the breed would stiffen their bodies, whine out, cry or pump their legs in an effort to right themselves.
After generations, American Dirus puppies now typically relax their entire bodies.
Some will even relax their heads and close their eyes.
The next test is to pet the puppy’s head in an unknown environment.
It is different than the first test because the puppy is no longer surrounded by its cozy den and siblings.
The last test is when I place the puppy back into the den away from its siblings.
I keep part of my body nearby to see if the puppy will return to me or do something else.
And this last test is where Everest did the most uniquely amazing thing different from any puppy I’ve ever tested before.
I can’t wait for you to see it!
Because, of course,
I captured it on video for you!
Here’s the link to the video:
P.S. If you haven’t seen the temperament test results for the Muscle Car litter, here’s the link to read all about the scores:
https://direwolfdogs.com/litters/66/
P.P.S. The wait is over! We are officially open for puppy picking!
I will now bold the first person on the active waiting list. You can follow along by monitoring the waiting list to see which family I am speaking with.
https://direwolfproject.com/direwolf-dogs/waiting-list/
If the family chooses, their name will move from the waiting list to their puppy’s name.
If they decide to continue to wait, I will unbold their name on the list and bold the next active name.
SO EXCITING!! squee!
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.