| Wild wolf society helps us understand the dog | | | | Grizzlies, spiders, disease, and large birds of prey do |
| instinctive behavior we observe in our domestic pets, | | | | not hesitate to prey on the young wolf pups. |
| from the nurture of the young to the very modes of | | | | Puppy play increases as the pups mature. Wrestling, |
| play that seem so adorable in our puppies. What do | | | | mouthing on each other, chasing, biting of the back legs, |
| these mean? Let's take a look at the wolf pack as the | | | | tug-of-war with caribou hides, stalking each other, and |
| newborn pups evolve from suckling babes to capable | | | | other games are all things the pups do to develop and |
| predators in training. Consider the critical roles of order, | | | | strengthen their survival skills. This same predatory |
| disciplined obedience, pack leadership, and boundaries | | | | wildness is part of our domestic dogs, too, something |
| to their very survival! | | | | you cannot take away from them. (They key is to |
| Soon after the pups are born, the pack will make a kill. | | | | channel it properly.) |
| How can you tell they are in kill mode? When they are | | | | Some of the toys pups in the wolf pack use in their |
| not going to make a kill, the wolf pack runs in an "S" | | | | play include the wings of birds, bones from the kill, and |
| pattern, and birds of prey do not follow. When they | | | | to a much lesser extent, sticks. Pups also start |
| are going to make a kill, the wolf pack forms a "V" | | | | practicing dragging around pieces from the kill and |
| with the alpha leader of the pack as the point man. | | | | blocking each other from it. |
| The mate of the mother wolf will carry food back to | | | | When they start receiving solid meat, immediately the |
| her. The male will push the food into the mouth of the | | | | wolf pups start the aggressive dominance behavior of |
| den, but he will not enter. | | | | blocking each other and trying to take the food of the |
| Wolf infants evidence their wildness from the very | | | | more mellow pups. Instinctively, they practice |
| beginning by howling immediately the first time they | | | | maneuvers to establish future wolf pack rank. |
| have a full belly. The wolf pups to not have the luxury | | | | When puppy play becomes too rough and cheeky |
| of suckling mom for long, though. They are soon left | | | | pups begin to harass adults, immediately they are put |
| with a puppy sitter, and they have to learn a new way | | | | in their place. Without warning, an adult wolf will pin the |
| of being fed. When the adults return from the hunt, | | | | rambunctious pup on the ground. This is how the wolf |
| they open their mouths to let the scent of food pour | | | | pups learn proper behavior. |
| out. Attracted by the scent, each pup sticks his nose in | | | | This technique is also the most effective one to use in |
| the corner of an adult's mouth where the scent is | | | | certain circumstances with a domestic dog, because |
| strongest, and the older wolf regurgitates a meal for | | | | the dog understands instinctively what is meant when |
| him. The adults then return to the kill and feed | | | | he is pinned on the ground and is not hurt in the |
| themselves. | | | | process. This technique makes the dog respect you |
| The mother wolf will usually bring the pups out when | | | | as the alpha leader. |
| they are about ten days old. Sometimes she waits up | | | | Domestic puppies need pack interaction, too, which is |
| to fourteen days. The pups are then laden with the | | | | why many behavior problems develop when pups are |
| scent of the wolf pack by the alpha leader. Soon after, | | | | taken from their litters too early. The wild dog behavior |
| the pack members groom the pups as a way of | | | | displayed by domestic dogs of jumping up and diving |
| bonding with them. All members of the wolf pack | | | | at you like a nut case would never be tolerated in a |
| adore and nurture the young. | | | | wolf pack. The wolf pack or dog pack does not allow |
| Wolf pups must grow up fast, for they live in an | | | | unstable, erratic, or spoiled brat behavior, and neither |
| unforgiving environment. Refusal to obey an adult's | | | | should you. |
| "Stay!" bark often results in the death of a pup. | | | | |