Hercules the Hero Dog

Hercules is a five-year-old, second generation American Dirus dog from the Dire Wolf Project. He is a silver beauty with brown eyes and a long, silky, plush coat.

Hercules has a special job as a mobility/anxiety dog. In fact, he has been awarded the prestigious DireWolf Guardians Winged Wolf award for his accomplishments helping his owner, Jody. Hercules is not only Jody's loyal companion but also her savior in more ways than one.

Jody is a kind-hearted woman who loves her hero dog Hercules with all her heart.

When out together, they are inseparable. Hercules knows his job very well and stays right by Jody’s side helping her whenever she needs.

Hercules knows how to pick up dropped items. He also braces Jody when she gets wobbly. Hercules, with his long, thick mane, creates a natural barrier to the outside world’s choas when Jody presses her face into his warm, soft fur for a moment of silent meditation. Hercules is always happy to be there for Jody when she needs.

On Tuesday, when Jody and Hercules went to the hospital for a required medical procedure, Hercules proved just how exceptional he is.

The staff and patients at the hospital all love Hercules. When given permission, Hercules loves people to dote on him. He brings smiles and comfort many everywhere he goes. With his plush coat, gentle eyes, and giant size, he has a unique way of making everyone feel better.

But Tuesday something strange happened.

Hercules did something quite unusual.

As they walked down the hospital hallway side by side, Hercules suddenly pulled forward on the leash and began to whine inconsolably. Jody was taken aback, trying to maintain her balance as her faithful companion tugged away. In a split second, Hercules broke free from her grip. His heavy frame jumped on a slightly open door and vanished into a patient’s room.

Catching her balance, Jody was both baffled and mortified by the scene.

But Hercules’s instincts told him to override his strict training.

Inside, a patient lay in a hospital bed while the monitor beside her emitted a continuous, ominous beeping sound. Hercules understood the urgency of the situation; he had a sixth sense when it came to people in distress. The woman's medication had run out, and the monitor was sounding the alarm.

Without hesitation, Hercules checked on the patient. He approached her bed and gently placed his paws on the side, peering down at her with concern in his eyes. The woman, touched by Hercules's presence, reached up and gently touched his thick silver locks. She smiled weakly, comforted by this unexpected visitor.

After ensuring the patient was okay, Hercules heaved a sigh of relief and gave her gentle kisses on the cheek in response. He was satisfied that she was okay, and it was time to alert Jody to the beeping alarm. He leaped down from the bed and raced to the door, signaling to Jody that something was wrong.

Jody hurried to the door, her heart pounding with worry. When she entered the room, she was met with a heartwarming sight: Hercules, the hero dog, lead her to the sound near the patient’s bed.

Jody was able to alert the staff of the situation.

Then, she pat Hercules on the head for a job well done. His gentle kisses and reassuring presence had made a world of difference.

Hercules returned to Jody's side, moving into his perfectly trained heel position. Together, they continued their walk down the hospital corridor, as if nothing extraordinary had occurred.

But for the patient in that room, and for Jody, they knew that Hercules was indeed a very special hero dog.

With his extraordinary ability to sense distress and his unwavering determination to help, Hercules is not just a mobility dog but a true hero, bringing comfort and saving the day in the most unexpected way.

BRAVO, my boy!!

Of course, not every American Dirus dog can be as amazing as Hercules. He has a special knack for getting himself involved, but several other DireWolf Guardians have earned their wings.

With special training geared toward a softer, gentler canine, perhaps more of this raw talent for helping humans will be brought out in our breed.

I am working on my next book, right now, that hopes to explain how to connect with an American Dirus dog on a deeper level, seeing them for the incredible souls they are.

Once complete, you’ll learn:

1. How to bring your soft-hearted family companion dog from a state of canine culture shock, through a full immersion program, to a confident understanding of how to live well in a human world.
2. Exactly what study supplies you’ll need to communicate best with your dog in a more intimate and natural way.
3. What your dog’s “school days” should look like to guide them into a routine that honors their uniqueness and allows them to grow with confidence.
4. How to teach your dog manners, respect, and obedience in a way that keeps their confidence high and stress or confusion low.
5. How to engage their mind and body so boredom and trouble-making is minimized.
6. How to intrepret your dog’s native language in order to adjust your teaching in the moment, as needed to foster engagement and bonding.

Dogs, especially our more sensitive breed, want to understand us.

But too many times they are led to believe our human species can’t speak canine, which is too often the case.

They turn off their minds, living in a perpetual state of confusion, fear, misunderstanding, and/or anxiety.

When this happens, the true being inside that body of fluff hides itself away and behavioral issues can arise.

Dogs in this confused and anxious state may show lots of different behaviors, including:

1. growling at humans or dogs
2. fear-based shaking, drooling, defecating
3. depression or lethargy, sleeping or laying away from the family the majority of the day
4. stubborn non-compliance or unwillingness to perform
5. unruly jumping or running indoors
6. compulsive behaviors, like pacing or barking
7. escapism
8. sneakiness when owner is away, the only time it can “be itself”.

By honoring the canine species and its culture, we can work with them to build a complete understanding of our foreign human ways.

It takes time, patience, and dedication.

It’s NOT a quick fix or a training book filled with disjointed tactics to try.

Instead, this book can open your eyes to a respectful understanding of our beloved canine friends. Meeting them at their level and guiding them through the stages of culture shock that happens each time a puppy leaves its littermates and travels abroad to a new land.

To truly appreciate our human world, EVERY dog must go through stages, learning through a total immersion style.

With a fair, structured, organized, and patient foreign language teacher, they will live well and be happy.

Here is the link to find out more.
I added a sneak preview of the Table of Contents:

https://direwolfproject.com/direwolf-publishing/coming-soon1/canine-culture-shock/

My plan is to include a video series and workbook along with the written material, so you can see the concepts in action and record your progress.

Better get back to writing!

Have a great day. Talk with you again tomorrow.

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.