LEVEL 2 - Intermediate Apprentice

INTRODUCTION
The purpose of this phase is to root out anything that is holding you back from understanding and aligning your thinking with why and how Dire Wolf Project™ breeder’s breed the way we do. You will be expected to learn about and demonstrate your understanding of the following:

  1. Basic genetics understanding
  2. Founder’s “sliding scale theory of polygenic inherited traits”
  3. Understanding and calculating Inbreeding Coefficient
  4. Understanding and calculating Ancestor Loss Coefficient
  5. The benefits and disadvantages of crossbreeding and outcrossing
  6. The benefits and disadvantages of inbreeding and line breeding
  7. Basic understanding of the most common genetically inherited health issues in dogs
  8. Basic understanding of God’s Breeding Plan™
  9. Basic understanding of domestication and how it affects phenotype

You will be expected to participate fully in online discussions at both the Dire Wolf Project™ Breeder’s Group and the American Dirus Owner’s Facebook Group as well as complete an internship with your breeding mentor or other approved Dire Wolf Project™ breeding facility.

STEPS
Other than the specified “Demonstration of Learning” and where specified, these steps are in no particular order and you may complete them in any order you choose. Your breeding mentor has been instructed to not sign off on this level until all other steps listed below have been satisfactorily completed.

▫ Purchase and read “Dire Wolf Project: Creating and Extraordinary Dog Breed” by Jennifer Stoeckl (It is important that you physically purchase this book as it is a reference book.)

⁃ Answer the following questions and submit to your Dire Wolf Project™ Breeding Mentor:

  • ⁃  Who is this author and what credentials does she have?
  • ⁃  What are the benefits of a female whelping her puppies in a den?
  • ⁃  What is the nature of the controversy surrounding female dogs being bred
    on the first heat and why is this practiced within the Dire Wolf Project™?
  • ⁃  What are the benefits to a domesticated dog breeding program housing
    dogs outside in the elements?
  • ⁃  What are the most commonly used and accepted standardized health tests
    for dog breeders and what are the reasons why the Dire Wolf Project™ does not perform these health tests on each and every dog bred into the program?
  • ⁃  Why do Dire Wolf Project™ breeders state that the American Dirus dog is the first large breed of dog bred solely for companionship?
  • ⁃  According to the Dire Wolf Project™, what is a companion dog?
  • ⁃  What is DireWolf Dogs, Int'l and why was it established?
  • ⁃  What is the difference between a strongbred dog breed and a purebred dog breed?
  • ⁃  Create your own color chart with correct color names using American Dirus dogs not used in the book.
  • ⁃  Describe the Dire Wolf Project’s understanding of natural selection according to God’s Breeding PlanT™.
  • ⁃  Write out a list of inherited traits that may have appeared as a result of canid domestication.
  • ⁃  Describe in your own words the founder’s “sliding scale theory of polygenic inherited traits.”
  • ⁃  In your opinion, what is the best way to debate controversial issues with dog breeders of strongly held opposing views?

▫ Using the online Dire Wolf Project™ pedigree database, correctly calculate the COI and
AVK to 4 generations for the following dogs:

  • ⁃  Aslan (Zorro/Nadine)
  • ⁃  Aspen (Merlin/Lady Igraine)
  • ⁃  Harpo (Kerberos/Elwin)
  • ⁃  Pickle (Hammer/Blossom)
  • ⁃  Fremont (Rock/Vegas)
  • ▫  Take and pass the Dire Wolf Project™ breeder’s knowledge test at a score of 95% or higher.
  • ▫  Complete the second survey and discuss your progress with your breeding mentor.
  • ▫  Sign the Dire Wolf Project™ Non-Disclosure Agreement.
  • ▫  Have your breeding mentor sign off on Level 2 completion.
  • ▫  Complete an internship with a certified Dire Wolf Project™ breeder trainer.
    All of the following must be completed using American Dirus™ dogs.
    • ⁃  Help with mating selection for at least 3 future matings.
    • ⁃  Write a one page report for EACH future mating describing in detail why the future
      matings selected above would benefit the American Dirus™ breed and what
      potential issues, if any, may arise from such a mating.
    • ⁃  With the guidance of your breeding mentor, prepare future puppy description
      prediction paragraphs for at least 3 future matings based on a complete
      knowledge of the genetics behind the sire and dam.
    • ⁃  Be physically present during at least 3 matings, assisting when requested.
    • ⁃  Be physically present during at least 3 whelps; helping breeder when requested.
    • ⁃  Record health exam, measurements, weights, etc on chart for all puppies each
      week for 8 weeks in at least 3 litters.
    • ⁃  Assist breeder with temperament testing at birth, 3 weeks, and 6 weeks for at least
      3 litters.
    • ⁃  Assist breeder with worming (2,4,and 6 weeks) and puppy shots at 6 weeks for all
      puppies in at least 3 litters.
    • Perform 5 fecal exams including: proper use of a microscope, prepare a slide, clean/sanitize items after use
    • Perform 5 ear exams including: proper use of a microscope, prepare a slide, clean/sanitize items after use.
    • Perform basic health check on 5 dogs to determine any need for veterinary assistance.
  • ⁃  Successfully train an American Dirus™ puppy (age: 8 weeks to 8 months) of your choice to perform the following:
    • ⁃  heel on leash
    • ⁃  sit
    • ⁃  down
    • ⁃  sit/stay
    • ⁃  down/stay
    • ⁃  come on command
    • ⁃  crate
    • ⁃  jump up into a car and calmly enter crate
    • ⁃  wait to exit kennel area
    • ⁃  socialized to strangers of any type as well as life outside the farm
  • ⁃  Create a detailed diagram of your proposed breeding facility addressing the following:
    • ⁃  shelter from bad weather and diverse temperatures
    • ⁃  waste elimination plan
    • ⁃  kennel facility set up
    • ⁃  training facility set up
    • ⁃  sanitary conditions (what you will do when disease breaks out)
    • ⁃  adequate water supply
    • ⁃  food storage and preparation area

Demonstration of Learning (DOL)
You must complete all of the above within the Internship before moving on to the following:

  • ▫  Completely take over 1 litter, with support from your approved Dire Wolf Project™ breeding
    mentor (must be the same breeder as above)
    • ⁃  Manage 1 pregnant female during the last 30 days before whelping including;
      feeding, watering, any necessary veterinarian care, needed exercise, etc
    • ⁃  Whelp 1 litter on your own
    • ⁃  Properly feed lactating female to maintain adequate weight and milk production
    • ⁃  Perform all 3 temperament test stages on all puppies in the litter
    • ⁃  Record health exam, measurements, weights, etc on chart for each puppy in the
      litter for 8 weeks
    • ⁃  Provide quality photography and videography each week at various stages of
      puppy development and growth.
    • ⁃  Post breeder trainer approved photos and videos on the Intern breeder’s
      Facebook page each week.
  • ▫  Upon return home from your internship, with the guidance of your breeding mentor, co-
    own an intact male American Dirus™ puppy that has as close to the ideal American Dirus™ temperament as possible, is free from all known health issues, and has a healthy pedigree that will advance the breed further towards its goals.

⁃ Raise your puppy to at least have the following manners: ⁃ Greet friendly strangers in a calm standing position

  • ⁃  Go lie down
  • ⁃  Kennel up
  • ⁃  Heel on a flat collar without pulling on leash or excessively lifting his leg
  • ⁃  Puppy cannot show any aggression toward human or other dogs
  • ⁃  create a list of positive and negative temperament, conformation and health traits in your dog
  • ⁃  Be physically present for the mating
  • ⁃  Keep your male intact throughout its entire lifetime:
  • ⁃  to insure you can handle the confident, persistent, and more aggressive temperament of an experienced, intact male
  • ⁃  to learn how to raise a confident and respectful stud dog (i.e. do not over train your stud dog, but allow him to enhance his confidence over time)
  • ⁃  to insure you can be responsible in your ownership of intact dogs, never allowing him to breed outside of the program
  • ⁃  to begin the process of not having, housing or visiting any other intact dogs of any breed at any time
  • ⁃  Attain OFA hip/elbow preliminary x-rays at 13 months of age
  • ⁃  Attain full blood panel, including a T4 test at both 8-12 months of age.
  • ⁃  Consistently “sell” your stud dog’s attributes and show your dog off in a good light
    by regularly taking superior pictures and videos of your stud dog.
  • ⁃  Create a unique business profile page on Facebook and/or Twitter and post your
    stud dog’s pictures, videos and/or updated general progress on a daily basis.