You should not be trying to create a "dire wolf".

As I sit at the kitchen counter with my MacBook, a sun-warmed spring breeze brushes against my face.

It prompts me to look out the window at the lush green grass where Yeti lays.

She has a squeaky toy between her feet as she sniffs a new wildflower from a nearby bush.

Yeti could be off wandering the wilderness, but she prefers to stay close, waiting for her beloved Jay to open the front door and take her on another adventure.

Yeti gets up from her curious flower exploration to follow a meandering butterfly.

Dreamer then takes advantage of Yeti’s distraction and plucks the squeaky toy from its resting spot on the grass.

Yeti notices Dreamer walk away to a shady spot with that coveted toy.

The soft-hearted white teenager walks back to where she neglected her toy and sniffs the now empty knoll.

Dreamer and Yeti lock eyes for a brief moment, then Yeti shrugs and turns to find another interesting scent.

Ah! The lazy dog days of spring when the fresh scent of vanilla lingers in the air from the rising sap of our mature Ponderosa forest.

I could wallow in it all day.

But a new comment on our YouTube channel calls me back to the computer.

“You should not be trying to create a ‘dire wolf’. Our domesticated dogs should stay that way.”

Obviously, this person wrote this retort without first learning about our project.

I don’t often publicly reply to trolls, but this time, I sensed he just misunderstood.

So, I let him know that I completely agreed with him.

No one should breed wolf into domesticated dog breeds.

It negates the many years of domesticated dog evolution.

That is why Dire Wolf Project dogs are 100% dog, 0% wolf.

He took down his comment shortly thereafter.

It’s an understandable mistake, though, because as we get closer and closer to our outward appearance goals of exact replication of the bone and body structure of the extinct, prehistoric dire wolf, people will naturally question wolf content.

After all, we are the ONLY wolf look-a-like breed not to have cheated by adding in modern wolf content.

That’s partly why we DNA test each and every puppy born into the Dire Wolf Project.

There may come a time when we will need to prove our 100% dog claim.  

Looks aren’t everything, though.

In fact, outward appearance is the last part of our work.

The most revolutionary thing about the Dire Wolf Project isn’t the way our dogs look, even though dire wolf replication is what we are known for.

A unique breed-wide calm, gentle companion dog temperament is the most incredible aspect of our DireWolf Dogs.

A specific inherited companion dog temperament has never before been accomplished in the history of domesticated dog breeds.

It is the reason Yeti and Dreamer are so devoted, calm, sweet, and loving, along with so many of our wonderful DireWolf Dogs around the world.

Of course, there are lots of other dogs that are sweet and loving, calm and gentle, intelligent and devoted.

But not as an entire breed.

And especially not in an extra-large dog breed.

I can hear someone from the peanut gallery now, “But such-and-such extra-large breed is.”

Trust me… no, it’s not.

Our dogs have an uncanny emotionally sensitive manner about them that is completely unique to any other dog breed.

It is so unbelievable that many times you just don’t understand until you own one.

And this has been accomplished despite the fact that the breed began with only working dog breeds.

This is because we carefully choose the right crossbreeds, being mindful of temperament.

We always choose for temperament first, before looks, with each consecutive generation.

Take our latest Lab/Shepherd crossbreed, Black Opal, for example.

She recently transitioned to her new family.

Here’s what her new family had to say about this sweet 50/50 Lab/Shepherd.

“Cassie [fka: Opal] is great! Amazing. We've never had a dog quite like her before. Such a lover! She follows our every move. Checks in constantly for a love up. Is still adjusting to strangers...will bark for a while until she settles. Doing better with new situations. And she now loves car rides! She and Ren have begun to play in limited doses. (Ren gets a little rough and doesn't understand why she will then shy away.) She's had all of her vaccinations and is good for the year. In short, we couldn't be happier with our new addition to our pack. She turns 2 on Friday!”

We are thrilled Opal found such an ideal home!

Because Black Opal (now: Cassie) was more energetic and tended to bark, we bred her to one of our more quiet and calm males.

The results were nothing short of amazing, even within the first generation.

One of Opal’s puppies, Ari, went on to become a fully-trained mobility service dog… earning his wings just after a year old.

And now, we have identified THE ONE puppy from this second generation that will remain in the breed to:

1. further the generations within this new line, and
2. officially train as the next DireWolf Guardian service dog.

Vallecito’s Black Pool (aka: Dublin) will have the distinct pleasure of learning to become a highly-trained DireWolf Guardian.

While he attends school, he will remain here at Dire Wolf Project headquarters to help us bring about the third generation from this incredible addition to the breed.

As I mentioned in our latest video introducing you to each puppy in the Luck of the Irish litter, Dublin is a quiet lover. He comes over to me without making a sound, then stares, waiting for me to notice him. This depicts high intelligence, superior patience, and a willingness to communicate. I am certain he will be a great student.

Jay thinks Dublin is so wonderful that he questions whether I should enter him into the DireWolf Guardians American Dirus dog training program.

But only the best are chosen to live their greatest potential and become Dire Wolf Guardians.

There are many people waiting for one of our trained Dire Wolf Guardian service dogs.

So, as we have done often, it’s time to give back once again.

When his brothers and sisters find their new homes, Dublin will begin his official training.

I will archive as much as I can so you can follow along with his growth/progress.

By seeing exactly how Dublin learns, you will be able to experience just how wonderfully unique the American Dirus dog truly is.

You’ll want to subscribe to our YouTube channel to prepare for the many upcoming training videos we will post of Dublin’s progress.

We also already have several daily videos of these great Luck of the Irish puppies, so head on over and check them out.

Here’s the link:

https://www.youtube.com/@direwolfproject

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.