Throw Me to the Wolves

There are few things more majestic than wolves. And just yesterday, I had the good fortune of meeting a few wolf dogs and got to learn more about them.

The opportunity came about when my friend, Wild Woman Soul Photographer, Dani McDonald, posted a photo of her daughter with a wolf. I immediately asked how, followed immediately thereafter with, “Can we do that, too?” As it turned out, we could.

WHY WOLVES?

As an avid animal lover, I’ve always been drawn to spending time with any animal. I drive miles and miles to pet horses over fences, stop and snuggle any dog that will have me, (in fact, I have three dogs of my own). Wolves are just like dogs, right?

Actually, I found the wolf dogs, aka wolf hybrids, to be more mild mannered than most dogs I know. Wolf dogs are a combination of a wolf and a dog, usually Siberian Husky, German Shepherd, or Alaskan Malamute. As the percentage of wolf goes up so, too, does their disinterest in humans, meaning wolves are less likely to follow you around or engage with you than you might think.

MY EXPERIENCE.

After booking an hour of time for our photo shoot, Dani and I drove to Howling Woods Farm in Jackson, NJ to meet the wolf dogs. As we waited for the handlers to take us out, we heard the howls. Wolf howls are often heard in movies when indicating a beast on the prowl. In fact, when I went in search of a quote about wolves, I had a hard time finding one that wasn’t negative. So I decided to write one myself:

“Throw me to the wolves, for among them I will feel comforted. In their eyes, I will see knowledge. In their movement, I will find strength. Wolves hold the secrets of the world. Let them hold yours.” - Tiffany Curren

Our guides, Shannon and Colleen, met us inside Howling Woods to ask us what we were looking for (in terms of photos) and which wolf dogs we were hoping to shoot with. We would be going to an enclosed pen that was made up of acres of woods. They brought two of the three wolf dogs out while we were still inside, and then they invited us to follow as they brought out Samson, a wolf/Alaskan Malamute hybrid. He was a big lug of a wolf dog, quiet and slow. His sweet and unguarded nature put me at ease. When we got to the pen enclosure, Shannon opened the gate and invited us in.

“Where are the wolves?” I asked.

“We’ll find them,” she responded. Samson walked off into the woods “Samson will find them.”

My body felt electric; I was in the woods with loose wolf dogs. Whoa. Our guides were very relaxed, so I knew I could be, too… yet I still sat with this heightened rush of excitement. After less than a minute of walking, I saw Raven trotting around with Kotori, while Samson greeted them. Raven sniffed a spot and began rolling in it. I expected that they would see us and run over to check us out, but they didn’t. They just continued to sniff around. Shannon and Colleen called them over and worked with them so that we could have them in our photos. They were more trained than most dogs. I was amazed. I was invited to lean and pet them, snuggle with them, and more.

After spending some time in the woods, we were taken to a smaller pen that contained two more wolf dogs, Naiche and Chante, one of whom is 95% wolf. I was advised that the more wolf that’s in the dog, the more timid it will be. But what most people don’t know is that they are not dangerous. They do their own thing. I had to sit quietly, eyes closed, taking slow deep breaths for these two beautiful animals to feel welcomed to visit.

I sat, and I waited. I thought of the blessing of this day. I had the grace of sitting amongst these magnificent animals. As I sat on the damp earth, I heard breathing over my shoulder, and felt the nose of a wolf dog brushing against my hair. They were sniffing me. Being quiet worked. I took the pressure off these beauties and welcomed them into my space, on their own time, and they accepted.

My photographer, Dani, asked me to look at her. I heard the clicking of her shutter. She asked me to cross one leg over to match the other. As I moved, these delicate creatures inched away. I took care to move very slowly, to prevent startling them. I inched around, praying that they wouldn’t walk away. Every breath… heaven.

SAYING GOODBYE.

It was time for us to pack up. It had been drizzling for most of the day, which definitely added puff to my once beautifully styled hair (thanks Rylee). We returned to the open yard pen so that Shannon and Colleen could retrieve Samson, Raven and Kotori. Samson and Raven went first, then Kotori. As we walked back, the skies darkened. Day was turning to night. I didn’t want this day to end. What I expected was to feel slightly trepidatious around these wolf dogs, and maybe a bit guarded, but what I felt was quite the opposite. I felt a gentle, loving energy that I would describe as peaceful. It’s unfortunate how misunderstood wolves and wolf dogs have been. I asked our guides what caused wolves to get such a bad rap. They shared that old fairy tales from England spoke of wolves as killers, and somehow, the reputation stuck.

SEE FOR YOURSELF.

Howling Woods Farm offers guided tours, allowing you to meet and be with loose wolf dogs. They offer amazing opportunities for photos, as well. It’s $20 per person, but you have to book in advance. I plan on taking my family sometime around Thanksgiving. It’s only been a day, and I miss the wolf dogs, their energy, and the space. You can call 732-534-5745 to book your reservation.

WILD WOMAN SOUL PHOTOGRAPHER, DANI MCDONALD, IS MY HERO.

Dani McDonald made this happen. Had I not seen the photo she posted of her daughter, I never would have known this day was possible. Photos with wolves. That’s kind of a big deal. Dani and I talked, on the way home, about what it means to be a wild woman. She’s had clients express themselves by rolling in mud, dancing on the beach, soaking in milk baths; that’s how they find their wild. For me, it’s about connecting with animals, in nature. Visit my Instagram page, @tiffanycurrenbreathwork to see more photos, including one that I took of Dani with a very fluffy wolf dog.

Photo taken at Howling Woods Farm by Dani McDonald, October 22, 2019