October 2006
Break Through
Posted by jennifer on October 29, 2006.
Today we had a huge break-through with Daisy. Natalie and Jon spent some time scratching her through the fence. She really enjoyed that human interaction. Afterwards, they went into her enclosure and Daisy went right up to Nat letting her scratch her and enjoyed licking Nat's face as a sign of greeting & submission. Later, Daisy let me scratch her through the fence and she sniffed my hand. When placing the dogs in the enclosure next to her, she gets so excited and happy. She wags her tail and runs back and forth trying to engage Elvis in play. I really think the time she has spent next to my dogs has been good for her. She may even do best with a young male wolf dog or dog as apposed to another wolf. The energy seems to work. The other wolves are too intense for her and she's not ready for that. What's also interesting, when I take my dogs out to go to the bathroom, she barks at them. Not out of fear but like a wolf that's stuck between nature and domestication. Compared to the last time I was here, she's settled down tremendously and seems much happier.
Talk to you on the next trip!
All my best,
Jennifer :-)
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They Weren't Kidding...
Posted by jennifer on October 28, 2006.
Today I woke up to minimal snow fall. I thought maybe the blizzard would turn out to be a dusting but boy was I wrong! When they meant a blizzard, they weren't kidding! When all was said and done, in a few places, the snow was up to my knees! The wind was blowing so hard as the snow came down in sheets of white. I had to put on my snow pants, boots, hooded jacket, etc. There wasn't much we could do with the wolves today except break the ice in their water buckets with crobars. I took Elvis, Dylan & Lola out to play in the snow and they went crazy playing. It was really cute.
Because many of the wolves here are in their geriatric stage, when the cold weather comes in their bones start to ache and some of them may have arthritus like Dylan.
Since I've been staying in the new building which is next to Daisy's enclosure, everytime I walk outside past her, she wags her tail and is happy to see me. I've been engaging with her in play & it's been a fun activity and also has bonded me closer to her. I really think she misses having human interaction and that's where the psychology of the dog instincts come out. She seems happiest around dogs or people but only at a safe distance. Natalie & I went in with her today and as soon as you enter her enclosure, she wants so badly to be affectionate with you. She also becomes very submissive and cautious of how close she gets. Some people have had instances where she has nipped at them but I believe this is not out of aggression but merely to her want and need for attention & affection. This wolf will do better around women than men only because she was raised by a woman and women can be less domineering in their energy. I've really found a soft spot for sweet Daisy.
I decided with one of the staff members to go sledding on a whim and make the most of the blizzard. I went down only three times because the walk back up in 9,300 ft. elevation with blowing, cold snow isn't fun. The dogs are sleeping now in the staff building as it's too difficult to carry all their beds back and forth in the snow. It's warm in there and they seem to like it.
Jonathan, Natalie & I took Elvis tracking in the blizzard. We were only able to lay a short track before going in because it was freezing!
I wonder how my tent is doing at the bottom of the hill and if I'll be able to make it out of here on Monday!
More tomorrow- Goodnight!
- Jennifer
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Blizzard On the Way...
Posted by jennifer on October 27, 2006.
O.k., now I know some of you may think I'm a big chicken for saying this but I'm spending the night in the new building with the dogs. Not really for my sake, but for the dog's sake. This morning when I got up to let them out, Dylan (my old male with arthritus) was shivering in the car and yelping as he re-injured one of his legs with all the exercise yesterday. I turned on the heat in the car in the car after they went to the bathroom and he warmed up and seemed to feel a little better. Another reason why I'm here is due to the fact that there may be a big blizzard on the way. It's fine for me in the tent but leaving the dogs in the car at night would be too cold.
I've been meeting some really interesting people up here. There are two girls from England- a zoologist and accupuncturist for animals. It's been very interesting talking with them and sharing ideas. Another girl is originally from South Africa. I love meeting people from around the world- it reminds me of boarding school.
Tomorrow I will begin a second phase of an experiment with the two other younger wolves- Solei & Orion. Yesterday before seeing them, I purposely put my dog's scent on me to observe their reaction. As young wolves, they were probably interested in being playful but they nipped and pulled at my clothing where I put the dogs smells. Tomorrow I will see (with a fresh pair of clothes) how they will react to only the human scent.
The dogs have still not howled but are engaged in constant play with Daisy through the fence. Goodnight from Mission: Wolf!
- Jennifer
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New Building
Posted by jennifer on October 26, 2006.
I'm so tired but I can't sleep. I went to bed relatively early last night so maybe that's why I'm awake. I was smart this time and brought my -20 degree sleeping bag... What a difference! At least I'm warm at night. One other trick I've done is lined the bottom of my tent with warm blankets to shield me from the cold ground. I'm sorry I don't have the temperature for you- I left my gauge in the car somewhere but I'll make sure to find it. Incase you'd like to know though- it's freezing outside! My dogs are sleeping very well in the car. They have their dog beds and many warm blankets. Yesterday Jonathan and I had some fun doing bite work with the dogs. He has experience with protection dogs so he suited up in all my gear and gave them a good workout. I also took the dogs for a nice long walk in the morning and they seem to be enjoying this experience as much as I am. I think on my next expedition, The North Face should sponsor me because I have all their gear! lol. I love The North Face because their stuff is made so well and lasts a long time. I heard that Rocky (the puppy I drove to Aspen the last time) is doing well. He was adopted out to a family but when they found out he had hip dysplasia, they returned him. Fortunatly, the guy who runs the Aspen Animal Shelter has taken him in to give him a permanent home.
The new building that has taken six years to build is coming along quite well. There is a volunteer who's laying the tile floor and there are a few steps that are being put in. When it's finished, it will be amazing.
Maggie, the Ambassador Wolf is on tour and won't be back until mid November. Right now she's in Rhode Island. Funny enough, Kent was confronted by an animal control officer who wanted to take Maggie because he claimed that since Pit Bulls weren't allowed in his state or juristriction, why should a wolf be? Kent had to call the Rhode Island State police to get him to back off and he finally did.
Since I left Mission: Wolf last month, it has snowed two or three times. I hope it doesn't snow this time just because of dealing with the mud and the dogs when the snow melts.
This time I'm camping at the bottom of the hill so the dogs don't disturb the wolves and they can have more freedom. I brought my dog trailer to put my things in so the dogs could have the entire back part of the S.U.V. It's worked out well except driving the car with the trailer hitched to it is always a little bit of a pain. Well, it's almost 6 a.m. so I better get up. Have a good day!
- Jennifer
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Daisy- The Wolf That Thinks She's a Dog...
Posted by jennifer on October 25, 2006.
Wow. What a day... Yesterday I tried to take a short cut up here and it turned out to be a long cut instead. What should have taken three hours turned into six. I didn't arrive last night until almost 9 p.m. I had to pitch my tent, feed my dogs, etc. Oh yea- I forgot to mention that I brought my three German Shepherds along this trip. I'm interested in observing if they will learn to howl from the wolves and their interaction with a wolf fence to fence. If you take three domestic dogs of various age and sex who have never been around wolves before, what will happen? Today we put my dogs in an enclosure next to Daisy- the wolf that thinks she's a dog. They had never seen a wolf before and as curious as they were, daisy was as well. When she showed her teeth to them, the dogs responded by barking. As the day went on and they got to know each other, Daisy took a clear likning to Elvis- my young intact male. She definetly wanted to play with him and was so happy to have a few dogs around her. Would she do better with a dog as a paired up partner than a wolf? Maybe so. As you may remember when I left last time, we moved Daisy next to Merlin in his enclosure. Daisy was flirting through the fence and this frustrated Merlin. After a while, he broke through the guillotine and tried to mount her. She didn't like that and gave him a good bite under his eye which turned into an infection. She wants so badly to be social but doesn't seem to know the proper protocal. She's very submissive to humans.
Last night my dogs heard the wolves howl for the first time. They weren't sure what it was and they looked perplexed. Elvis whinned a little but as far as being vocal, that was about it.
Well, I have a massive headache so I'm going to retire early...
Good night & be well,
Jennifer
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Mission: Wolf Take 2...
Posted by jennifer on October 24, 2006.
Well, here I am again in my tent at Mission: Wolf. Today was not good getting up here- It's so late and I'm exhausted so I'll write more tomorrow...
Goodnight!
- Jennifer