Yeti just had her puppies!

Valentine and Amore

You all know that when I tell a story specifically about Yeti, it is no folktale.

The stories I tell about hikers gazing with admiration at my white, majestic dog, or being allowed to join me inside a coffee shop, are true.

Being involved in a breeding program is never easy.

Difficult things can happen that are beyond our control.

But there are miracles; those moments when you sit back in awe and wonder.

And this is one of them.

Most of you already know that the bond I have with my dog, Yeti, is unlike any I have had before.

I know Yeti, and Yeti knows me.

We have each other at the center of our universe.

The way she communicates with me is unlike any dog I have ever known.

Two months ago, before her recent diagnosis, we placed Yeti in with Equinox for one more breeding.

When we did not see any activity, we did not think Equinox had any interest in her whatsoever.

Apparently, he did.

Then Yeti’s belly began to swell, and she started producing milk.

Then something extraordinary happened just the day before yesterday.

Yeti was frantic to be with me, so I decided to take her and Henry for a walk.

With two litters already inside our 300-square foot motor home, Yeti has had to stay outside in a kennel with Henry for a time.

We went for a walk.

It was a wonderful walk.

When I got Henry and Yeti back into their kennel space, Yeti did something I did not expect.

She walked to the corner of the kennel, lowered her nose to the ground, and slowly circled once before laying herself down exactly where she had indicated.

She pressed her body into the earth, lifted her head, and looked directly at me.

I stopped.

I knew.

Yeti knew that I knew.

“Oh,” I said softly, “are you going to have your babies?”

She smiled.

When I turned to step away, she let out the slightest whimper, just enough to stop me, just enough to say, “Don’t go.”

“Not there,” I said. “We have a better place in mind for you.”

That was when Jennifer and I knew it was time.

We went inside and prepared a space for her in the house.

Jennifer and I have gotten accustomed to the uncanny way a momma dog will communicate with us when it is time for puppies to arrive.

But even this surprised me.

Yeti was showing me, as clear as can be, where she planned to have her litter.

And yesterday morning, Yeti had two of the most beautiful puppies I have ever seen.

Two angelic giant white females, weighing a huge 1 lb. 6 oz. and 1 lb. 7.5 oz., came into the world.

Hmmm... now, what to name them...

They are both white, so what about fluffy clouds?

Most of the cloud names sound too masculine, though, and we got two cute little girls.

And I don't want to go hiking with Yeti, Cumulus, and Stratus.

It somehow doesn't ring very well.

They need sweet names. 

Then, Jennifer reminded me that this litter was already designated the "Be Mine" litter, to be named after candy heart sayings. 

Ah ha!!  Perfect! 

After some thought, I settled on "Be My Valentine" (red) and "That's Amore" (pink)

And I couldn't be more proud. 

Now imagine, if you would, if I walked back into that same coffee shop next year with THREE glorious giant white American Dirus™ dogs!

Or imagine three look-alike Yetis hiking with me in Central Oregon, and the absolute head turns I would witness everywhere we went.

If you would like to meet these little ones, and see where this story is headed next, Jennifer has created a page for Equinox and Yeti’s “Be Mine” litter.

https://direwolfdogs.com/litters/75/

You can find them there, waiting, right where stories like this continue.

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P.S. Some moments do not need explanation, and they certainly do not need embellishment.

They arrive softly, ask only that you pay attention, and then leave you changed in ways you cannot quite put into words.

Yeti reminded me of that.

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.