DireWolf Guardians™
Puppy Training Bundle

Everything You Need to Begin Training Your Puppy, Except the Crate!

There's a Reason We Put a Woolly Mammoth in This Bag.

And, believe it or not, it has something to do with teaching your puppy good manners.

But we'll get to that in a moment.

First, I want you to imagine something.

You've just brought home your new puppy, and this curious little creature has decided that your living room is the most fascinating place on Earth.

There's a suspicious-looking table leg that needs investigating, a mysterious noise coming from the refrigerator, and a particularly interesting dust bunny lurking beneath the couch.

Meanwhile, you're standing there with a brand-new leash, a bag of treats, and approximately seventeen different opinions about how to train a puppy rattling around in your head.

Your veterinarian recommends one thing.

The trainer on YouTube recommends something else.

Your neighbor, whose Labrador has been dragging him down the sidewalk for the past six years, has some advice he'd like to share, too.

And somewhere in the middle of all this helpful information, you're wondering how you're supposed to know which advice is right.

Well, after more than twenty years of breeding and training dogs, including highly effective service dogs, I've developed some rather definite opinions about that.

And I've put them in a bag.

Literally.

The DireWolf Guardians™ Puppy Training Bundle

This specially branded duffel bag contains nine carefully selected puppy training essentials, including two books, the equipment I recommend for beginning leash training, some delicious beef liver treats, and a woolly mammoth with a very important assignment.

It also comes with something you won't find on a pet store shelf: a dedicated training guide explaining exactly how to use the equipment, when to introduce each item, and why we've selected these particular tools.

Because I can hand you a slip lead, a harness, and a retractable leash, but unless you understand the purpose of each one, you're going to have some questions.

And I wouldn't blame you.

In fact, let's start with the equipment that seems to generate the most opinions.

Wait. You're Including a Retractable Leash?

Yes, I am!

And I can practically hear a few dog trainers gasping into their coffee.

Retractable leashes have developed a rather unfortunate reputation over the years, and I understand why.

You've probably seen someone walking down the sidewalk with a dog fifteen feet ahead, happily investigating the neighbor's flower bed while its owner tries to reel it back in like a particularly stubborn salmon.

There are legitimate concerns about using retractable leashes carelessly, especially around traffic, other dogs, and situations where a handler needs immediate control.

But...

We use the retractable leash for a very specific purpose, and it has nothing to do with teaching your puppy to walk politely on a leash.

When your puppy first comes home, it has absolutely no idea what a leash is supposed to mean.

It's busy discovering an enormous world full of unfamiliar smells, strange noises, fascinating objects, and occasionally its own reflection in the sliding glass door.

During this stage, I want your puppy to have opportunities to explore appropriate environments while remaining safely connected to you.

That's why we've included a medium puppy harness and a durable, tape-style retractable leash designed for extra-large dogs.

The harness provides containment without putting leash pressure on your puppy's neck, while the retractable leash allows your curious little explorer a bit more freedom to investigate the world in appropriate surroundings.

And here's something that might surprise you.

There's a right time to use a retractable leash, and there are times when I wouldn't dream of reaching for one.

Understanding that difference is one of the things you'll learn in your DireWolf Guardians™ training guide.

We've also selected a substantial tape-style leash designed for large dogs, giving you a piece of equipment built with considerably more capacity than your young puppy currently requires.

Your puppy may eventually grow into a magnificent 120-pound American Dirus™ companion, but right now, it's still figuring out whether that suspicious-looking pinecone is edible.

And depending on how you use it, you may find that retractable leash useful for certain activities long after your puppy has grown up.

However, when it's time to teach actual leash communication, we're going to reach for something considerably simpler.

The Remarkable Little Slip Lead

You may have heard that slip leads are uncomfortable for puppies, but I'm here to tell you that they don't have to be.

Imagine walking along a quiet path with your puppy beside you, the leash hanging in a relaxed curve between your hand and its collar.

A squirrel suddenly appears near the edge of the trail.

Your puppy's ears perk up, its nose points toward the movement, and you make the slightest adjustment with your hand.

Your puppy feels that gentle suggestion through the leash, understands what it means, and turns its attention back toward you.

You continue walking together as though the two of you have been having this conversation for years.

That's the kind of communication we're teaching.

And the fascinating thing is that your puppy can begin learning this skill much earlier than you might imagine.

You see, when a puppy encounters pressure, its natural instinct may be to pull away.

We teach it to consider another possibility.

With gentle, carefully introduced pressure and an immediate release when the puppy makes the correct movement, it begins discovering that it can influence what happens through its own choices.

At first, the puppy may be puzzled.

It might try one movement, hesitate, or look at you as though you've presented it with a particularly difficult riddle.

That's when your patience becomes so important.

You make the exercise easy enough for your puppy to succeed, allowing it to discover the answer without sustained pressure or distress.

And when that little light bulb finally switches on, the change can be remarkable.

The puppy begins recognizing the meaning of those tiny signals, and what once required considerable guidance can eventually become an almost effortless exchange.

I've watched puppies begin understanding this principle in a matter of seconds.

Others need more time, and that's perfectly fine. We teach the puppy in front of us.

Now, if you've ever seen a dog straining against a slip lead while its owner follows along, you've witnessed an example of someone using the equipment without first establishing the communication it's intended to provide.

That's exactly the situation our training is designed to avoid.

In our included training guide, we teach you how to introduce the slip lead properly, how to recognize your puppy's responses, and how to develop sensitivity to the lightest guidance.

And once your puppy understands that communication, you'll have a wonderfully simple tool for helping it navigate the world with you.

A Little Something Delicious for Your Puppy

Of course, learning is considerably more exciting when there's something tasty involved.

That's why we've included Stewart's all-natural freeze-dried beef liver treats, a highly nutritious, protein-rich reward that most dogs find absolutely irresistible.

They're easy to chew, wonderfully flavorful, and make an excellent high-value reward for encouraging the behaviors you want to see more often.

We've even included a convenient treat pouch with an attached clicker, so you'll have your rewards and an important communication tool close at hand.

And if your puppy happens to have unusually sophisticated culinary preferences, you're always welcome to substitute another suitable treat.

And Now, About That Woolly Mammoth...

I promised we'd return to him.

At first glance, you might assume we've included a woolly mammoth because we're the Dire Wolf Project™, and prehistoric animals are rather close to our hearts.

You would be partly correct.

After all, if you're going to give a puppy something to wrestle, why settle for an ordinary stuffed animal when you can introduce it to a creature that once wandered the Ice Age landscape?

But our mammoth has a more important job than looking adorable.

He's going to help you teach your puppy how to play with you.

And there's quite a bit more to that than you might think.

Imagine inviting your puppy to grab the mammoth while you hold the other end.

Your puppy enthusiastically accepts the invitation, plants its little feet, and gives a determined tug.

You respond by moving the toy, encouraging the game, and letting your puppy enjoy the satisfaction of participating.

Over time, you begin introducing simple rules.

Your puppy learns when the game begins, how to respond when you ask it to release the toy, and how enjoyable it can be to cooperate with you.

There's plenty of room for enthusiasm, excitement, and a little prehistoric wrestling.

And while your puppy is having the time of its life, you're developing engagement, communication, and self-control through a shared activity.

That's why we reserve this particular toy for supervised interactive play.

We want the mammoth to become associated with the wonderful experience of playing together.

And yes, you could use another suitable tug toy.

But I suspect our woolly friend would be terribly disappointed to hear that.

Two Books That Explain the Thinking Behind It All

Now, you may have noticed that we've tucked two rather substantial books into this collection.

There's a reason for that, too.

Handbook for New Puppy Owners, by Lois E. Schwarz

Lois Schwarz founded the Dire Wolf Project™ in 1988, and her approach to raising puppies has always reflected an important conviction: young dogs are capable of learning a great deal when we take the time to teach them properly.

Her comprehensive handbook covers the practical work of raising a puppy, including training expectations, household manners, boundaries, and the responsibilities that come with developing a dependable companion.

It's the kind of book you can return to when a new stage of puppyhood arrives and you find yourself wondering what to do next.

And believe me, puppyhood has a way of introducing new questions just when you think you've figured everything out.

DireWolf Guardians™ Training Philosophy

Now, this is a book I'm particularly excited about sharing with you.

It's a beautifully illustrated hardcover filled with full-page color photographs of our American Dirus™ dogs, along with stories from my years of breeding and training, inspirational sayings, and the philosophy behind developing calm, sensitive companion dogs.

In fact, it's as much a coffee table book as it is a training resource.

Imagine leaving it on your coffee table, where a visiting friend notices one of those magnificent dogs on the cover and can't resist picking it up.

They open to a gorgeous photograph, turn a few pages, and suddenly they're reading a story about one of our dogs and discovering something interesting about canine behavior.

That's exactly the kind of experience I wanted this book to offer.

You can read it from beginning to end if you like, but you certainly don't have to.

You might open it to a story that catches your attention, spend a few minutes enjoying the photographs, or discover a little piece of training wisdom that gives you a new perspective on your own puppy.

The philosophical instruction is woven throughout the book, alongside personal stories, beautiful photography, and little moments of inspiration.

It's designed to be enjoyable to browse, easy to read, and interesting enough that you'll want to pick it up again.

And there's one more thing about this particular book that I want you to know.

At this time, the DireWolf Guardians™ Training Philosophy hardcover book is available exclusively through this Puppy Training Bundle.

You won't find it on Amazon.

You won't find it in our gift shop.

And you cannot purchase it separately.

The only way to receive this book right now is through this offer.

But What If You've Never Trained a Puppy Before?

That's actually one of the best reasons to consider this bundle.

You might be looking at the equipment and thinking, "Well, this all sounds very interesting, Jennifer, but I've never taught a puppy to respond to leash pressure in my life. How am I supposed to know what to do?"

I'm glad you asked.

Along with the nine physical essentials, we're including a dedicated DireWolf Guardians™ Puppy Training Guide.

Think of it as your personal instruction manual for the equipment inside the bag.

We'll walk you through the purpose of each item, how to introduce it, what you're trying to teach, and how to recognize when your puppy understands.

You'll learn how the equipment works together, why we recommend particular tools for particular situations, and what common mistakes to avoid.

Because the last thing I want is for you to open this beautiful duffel bag, admire all the equipment, and then stand in the middle of your living room wondering which leash you're supposed to use first.

We've already done the thinking behind the selection.

Now, we want to share that knowledge with you.

Couldn't You Just Buy Everything Yourself?

Of course you could.

You could visit a pet store, pick up a harness, find a leash, purchase a bag of treats, and choose a toy that looks reasonably entertaining.

You might even save a little money on some of the individual items.

But here's what I'd encourage you to consider.

Would you know why we selected these particular pieces of equipment?

Would you know how to introduce them in the correct order, how to use them for their intended purposes, or how to recognize when your puppy is ready for the next lesson?

And where would you find the specific instructions that bring all these tools together into one coordinated approach?

That's where the real value of this collection begins to emerge.

We've spent years working with puppies, learning what helps them understand, observing where communication breaks down, and refining the methods we use to develop dependable companions.

The equipment in this bag reflects that experience.

Many of the items also feature exclusive Dire Wolf Project™ branding, including special embroidery that you won't find on ordinary retail versions.

And then there are the educational materials.

The Training Philosophy hardcover cannot be purchased separately, and the accompanying training guide has been developed specifically for this collection.

You can certainly assemble a shopping bag full of similar products.

But if you'd like to follow the DireWolf Guardians™ approach to training a calm, sensitive companion dog like the American Dirus™ dog, with the equipment and instructions selected to work together, we've made that considerably easier for you.

What If Your Puppy Is Already a Little Older?

Perhaps you've had your puppy for several weeks, or even a few months, and you're wondering whether you've missed the ideal time to begin.

There's still plenty you can teach.

If your puppy hasn't learned to respond to gentle leash pressure, these exercises will still be particularly helpful.

And if you've been struggling to establish the kind of cooperative, trusting relationship you'd hoped for, returning to the foundations of communication can be a wonderful place to begin.

The important thing is to choose exercises appropriate for your puppy's age, experience, and physical development.

The included medium harness is selected primarily for growing American Dirus™ puppies, so you'll want to check the actual measurements before purchasing for a smaller breed or an older puppy.

Although we've developed this bundle with our own American Dirus™ puppies in mind, many of the underlying training principles can be useful for other breeds as well.

After all, a Golden Retriever puppy and an American Dirus™ puppy may look rather different when they're fully grown, but both can benefit from learning how to communicate with their human companions.

What Would It Cost to Have a Trainer There From the Beginning?

You know, if I could, I'd love to be there when every one of our puppies arrives at its new home.

I'd enjoy showing you all the little things I've learned from raising puppies for more than twenty years, watching how your puppy responds, and helping you recognize those wonderful moments when it's beginning to understand what you're asking.

After all, I've raised hundreds of puppies over the years, and I've successfully trained service dogs whose dependability was especially important.

I've had an extraordinary amount of practice learning how puppies think.

Of course, spending ten hours with a private dog trainer can easily cost $1,000 or more, and I've got quite a few puppies of my own to look after!

So, as much as I'd enjoy coming home with every puppy, I've had to find another way to share what I've learned.

I can share the training philosophy, equipment, and practical guidance I've developed through all those years of experience.

And that's exactly what I've brought together in the DireWolf Guardians™ Puppy Training Bundle.

I want you to have the benefit of that experience right from the beginning, when you and your puppy are discovering how to communicate with one another.

Everything You Need, All in One Bag

Here's what you'll receive in your DireWolf Guardians™ Puppy Training Bundle:

• Black Slip Lead, for teaching gentle leash pressure and responsive communication.

• Medium Puppy Training Harness, for early containment and exploration.

• Large Retractable Tape Leash, for controlled exploration in suitable environments.

• Treat Pouch With Attached Clicker, for convenient, precise reward-based training.

• Stewart Freeze-Dried Beef Liver Treats, for motivating and rewarding your puppy.

• Mammoth Tug Toy, for supervised interactive games that develop cooperation and engagement.

• Handbook for New Puppy Owners, by Dire Wolf Project™ founder Lois E. Schwarz.

• DireWolf Guardians™ Training Philosophy Hardcover Book, exclusively available in this bundle.

• DireWolf Guardians™ Branded Duffel Bag, for keeping your training essentials organized and ready.

And, of course, you'll receive the dedicated DireWolf Guardians™ Puppy Training Guide, explaining how to use the equipment together.

All for $370.

Ready to Begin?

There's a particular moment in puppy training that I never grow tired of seeing.

It's the moment when a puppy suddenly understands what its human companion is asking.

Perhaps it's the first time it turns toward gentle leash pressure without hesitation, or the first time it eagerly responds to its name from across the room.

You can almost see the realization happening behind those bright little eyes.

And once that understanding begins to develop, you have an opportunity to build something truly special together.

That's what I hope this bundle helps you accomplish.

I've gathered the equipment I recommend, included the books that explain our approach, and brought everything together with instructions designed to help you begin confidently.

The only thing missing is your puppy.

Well, and the crate.

We couldn't quite fit that into the duffel bag.