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» Wolf Subspecies/Breeds
Wolf Behaviour EmptyWed Mar 16, 2011 11:41 pm by Garrett

» Wolf Behaviour
Wolf Behaviour EmptySat Feb 19, 2011 2:04 am by Celena

» Wolf Anatomy
Wolf Behaviour EmptySat Feb 19, 2011 2:02 am by Celena

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Wolf Behaviour

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Wolf Behaviour Empty Wolf Behaviour

Post  Celena Sat Feb 19, 2011 2:04 am

There are bunches of differing behavior postures that are recognized by Wolf experts. These behaviors, the study of which is called "ethology," have been classified into a list that is used by observers to standardize their notes. These ethological lists are sometimes called an "ethogram." The following is not a complete list, as there are probably hundreds of observed behaviors, but it should serve as a practical guide for those wanting to better understand lupine behavior. For a more comprehensive "ethogram," you might consider seeing Wolf Park's bookstore.

Wolf Behaviour Tn-pos-ambivalence-display
Ambivalence Display
An ambivalence display may be enacted when the Wolf is confused, afraid, or trying to warn off an intruder or submissive. The Wolf will bristles his or her pelt (raise hackles) in order to appear larger and more threatening, at the same time the eyes will take on an angry wild expression and the lips will curl back to expose the fangs and gums. It is felt that red is a threatening color in nature, thus baring the gums and tongue, which is pressed forward between the incisors during the display, makes for an especially effective threatening appearance. The purpose of this display is to look dangerous... it is a warning meant to avoid violence, not to incite it... and is not used during hunting or stalking, as prey animals are never warned, just attacked, killed, and eaten. Ambivalence display is often implemented during the defensive threat posture and during a dominance display in order to demand the respect of submissive Wolves.

Many experts consider the Ambivalence display as one of mixed emotions; where snarling and bearing of fangs represents aggression, and the extending of the tongue is a simultaneous act of submission. This, of course, is the very definition of ambivalence, but I have difficulty agreeing with this opinion, and think of this posture as more of threat display.


Wolf Behaviour Tn-pos-defensive-threat
Defensive Threat
This is a bodily posture where the Wolf crouches and prepares for possible attack of an intruder or rival. It is a condition of readiness, more or less devised to warn off or threaten a possible combatant. The Wolf assumes an ambivalent facial expression while attempting to stare down an opponent. If pressed during this posture, wolves will generally resort to violence in order to defend themselves or take corrective action against subordinate pack members.

Wolf Behaviour Tn-pos-dominant-parade
Dominant Parade
This is posture is generally implemented by an alpha male to show off his rank to subordinates. The Wolf parades around in proud fashion with head up high, ears forward, eyes secure and direct, and tail raised or level with the spine. An alpha Wolf who approaches a subordinate in this way expects respect and is often rewarded by an act of active submission to prove one's devotion.



Fighting, pin down

Wolf Behaviour Tn-pos-fighting-pin-down
Wolves often spar, especially while they are pups and yearlings to establish place in the pack hierarchy. One of the most detrimental occurrences for a Wolf during a fight is to get brought down and pinned. During ritualistic combat this usually loses the match and proves the standing Wolf as dominant, but in deadly combat it can expose vital areas of the body, like the throat, leaving it prone to a killing bite.

Wolf Behaviour Tn-pos-snapping-attack
Fighting, Snapping Attack
A snapping attack is an aggressive forward rush, where the Wolf is crouched with tail cocked, lips pulled back, fangs bared, ears forward, and eyes wild and threatening. The snapping attack rarely makes contact, however, and usually comes up short so that the teeth merely snap together with a loud clap. This posturing is more threat display/warning than actual attack, thus it is often referred to simply as "snapping" or "snap" behavior. This posture is often used during "dominance" where an alpha is attempting to regain control of subordinate Wolves.



Flagging
Wolf Behaviour Tn-pos-flagging
Flagging commonly occurs when a female is ready to mate. She will position come before the male she wants to mate with and raise her tail, allowing the male wolf to sniff her. The female wolf remains in a relaxed demeanor, indicating that she is welcoming the male's attentions.

Another common situation, in which a male Wolf may flag, is when he presents himself so that another Wolf may sniff his scent glands during greetings or certain displays of dominance. Subordinates sometimes display their under-tail to dominant Wolves while standing, but most usually during acts of passive submission, while lying on their back.



Hunting and Stalking
Wolf Behaviour Tn-pos-stalking
When Wolves approach their prey they generally try to gain surprise by looking small or crouching below the level of the grass. Also, when making a snapping attack it benefits the attacker to maintain a low center of gravity so as not to loose balance and fall victim to a pin-down. To achieve this end, Wolves generally crouch and adopt a somewhat defensive posture as they approach their potential opponent. Note that the snarling Wolf in movies, looming around their victim is not only vilifying, but in general totally erroneous. Wolves only display ambivalence when they are attempting to avoid conflict and warn off a potential opponent. When Wolves hunt they seek every advantage of stealth, for their purpose is not to warn away, but to win a meal for themselves.


Play Bow

Wolf Behaviour Tn-pos-bow-play
Wolves love to play; it's one of their favorite group activities, right up there with hunting as a group. The play bow is an invitation to other Wolves to romp and play. The play bow is a deep forward bow, kind of like stretching, but there is no yawn, just an occasional woof-like vocalization with paws stretched forward, rump raised high, and tail straight out or wagging.


Running, fear
Wolf Behaviour Tn-pos-run-in-fear
When a Wolf is afraid and runs to escape danger, the head is lowered, the tail is tucked, and the ears are laid back.



Running, play/hunting

Wolf Behaviour Tn-pos-running
When Wolves run while playing or chasing pray they tend to be relaxed and cheerful, with head raised, ears in a somewhat neutral posture, and tail out straight or free hanging. Wolves love games of chase where they race each other. The lead Wolf in such games often finds his or her tail grabbed by the "tailing" Wolf.



Scent Marking
Wolf Behaviour Tn-pos-scent-marking
Scent plays an important role in lupine communications. A wolf is capable of smelling the details of an odor with a dozen times more accurately than a domestic canine, and probably a hundred times more accurately than a human being. Wolves have good vision, but really don't trust their eyes when identifying each other; they trust their sense of smell though, and rely on it to identify their territory and each other.

Wolves scent mark by urinating on a tree stump, a bush, or over another Wolf's mark or scat. Both males and females will mark by lifting a hind leg while semi-squatting to releasing a squirt of urine containing their own individual musk. Special anal scent glands also excrete an individual's scent onto their scat as they defecate. Other Wolves smelling these marks will know where a particular Wolf has been and the extent of his or her territory. Wolves know these scent marks so well that they may even know where a Wolf has been and what a Wolf has been eating during the customary genital sniffing that occurs while greeting each other.

Scent marking is quite important during mating season, when the male will mark over the female's urine and scat, and visa-versa, to indicate their mutual scent to others as being mated. This procedure is often referred to as "double-marking," and is accomplished by following the female around and immediately lifting leg and urinating over where she has recently defecated or peed. Double-marking is a very important aspect of pair bonding, and it is thought that the pair comes to associate each other's union through the consistency of their mutual marks; this may well be a kind of lupine wedding band made of golden fluid, rather than golden metal.



Scent Rolling

Wolf Behaviour Tn-pos-scent-rolling
Scent rolling is likely the way Wolves tell each other where they've been and what interesting smells they've discovered. Wolves often find things with unusual odors, and upon deciding something is pretty neat, will flop down and roll their whithers against the whatever-it-is to collect a sniff sample. Wolves not only collect carrion odors but also the scent of dung, flowers... almost anything the smell of might impress family and friends. It may be as simple as this: lupines enjoy wearing their style of perfume just as some humans do.



Stretching, yawning

Wolf Behaviour Tn-pos-stretch
Stretching is initiated by a low forward bow with paws straight ahead, toes spread, rump raised high, and tail raised or back straight. Then the position is reversed so that the fore legs and head are raised, hind paws are pushed back, paws are curled under, pads sometimes skyward, and the tail lowered or pressed to one side. The stretch is usually accompanied by a yawn.



Submission, active

Wolf Behaviour Tn-active-submission
Active submission often looks like a subordinate Wolf begging the dominant for forgiveness. The submissive assumes a crouching posture with curled down rump and tail tucked and/or wagging. Then the submissive nuzzles and licks at the dominant's chin, lips, nose, and muzzle as is often seen in ritual greeting. The dominant will usually gaze ahead, raising the muzzle while accepting this display of respect and/or affection, with a bristled, but cool, appearance. This posture likely represents bowing and flattering the king in order to stave off possible disfavor.


Submission, passive (Dominance)
Wolf Behaviour Pos-passive-submission
Passive submission takes two modes, rolling over and standing. The most common passive submissive posture is indicated by the subordinate Wolf rolling over onto the back and presenting the belly to the dominant Wolf. The submissive usually folds the paws across the chest and lifts the hind quarters. Occasionally, if the dominant Wolf is being quite aggressive, the subordinate may urinate. The submissive Wolf's tail may or may not be tucked. The dominant Wolf then stands over and sniffs and/or licks the muzzle and throat of the submissive Wolf. A less common mode of passive submission is very much like active submission, minus the nuzzling and licking activity. The subordinate Wolf tucks rear and tail and crouches down with ears and muzzle lowered.

______________________________________________________________________________

Text and information from: http://www.wolfhowl.org/ethology.php


Wolf Tail Positions
Wolf Behaviour Dtail
Tail Position

1. The tail is held erect and high. This signifies a leadership role. The alpha male and the alpha female are the ones that normally hold their tail in this position. This is also a sign of confidence.

2. Attack arousal. The wolf is not sure what is going to happen, but is taking a posture that can be either offensive or defensive. This is a "ready for aggression" posture.

3. Imposing attitude with sideways brushing. The wolf holding its tail like this is a confident animal.

4. Normal tail position. This is a common tail position when the wolf is eating or observing. It shows interest in something.

5. Very relaxed position. This occurs in a situation when there is no social pressure.

6. Submissive position. This position indicates to other wolves that no aggressive behavior is coming from the wolf.

7. An extreme sign of submission and (or) fear.

WOLF BODY LANGUAGE
Dominance– A dominant wolf stands stiff legged and tall. The ears are erect and forward, and the hackles bristle slightly. Often the tail is held vertically and curled toward the back. This display shows the wolf's rank to others in the pack.
A dominant wolf may stare at a submissive one, or pin it to the ground.
~
Active Submission– During active submission, the entire body is lowered, and the lips and ears are drawn back. Sometimes active submission is accompanied by muzzle licking, or the rapid thrusting out of the tongue and lowering of the hindquarters. The tail is placed down, or halfway or fully between the legs, and the muzzle often points up to the more dominant animal. The back may be partly arched as the submissive wolf humbles itself to its superior; a more arched back and more tucked tail indicate a greater level of submission.
~
Passive Submission– Passive submission is more intense than active submission. The wolf rolls on its back and exposes its vulnerable throat and underside. The paws are drawn into the body. This posture is often accompanied by whimpering. At times, the submissive wolf urinates on itself.
~
Anger– An angry wolf's ears are erect, and its fur bristles. The lips may curl up or pull back, and the incisors are displayed. The wolf may also arch its back, lash out, or snarl.
~
Fear– A frightened wolf attempts to make itself look small and less conspicuous; the ears flatten against the head, and the tail may be tucked between the legs, as with a submissive wolf. There may also be whimpering or barks of fear, and the wolf may arch its back.
~
Defensive– A defensive wolf flattens its ears against its head.
~
Aggression– An aggressive wolf snarls and its fur bristles. The wolf may crouch, ready to attack if necessary.
~
Suspicion– Pulling back of the ears shows a wolf is suspicious. The wolf also narrows its eyes. The tail of a wolf that senses danger points straight out, parallel to the ground.
~
Relaxation– A relaxed wolf's tail points straight down, and the wolf may rest sphinx-like or on its side. The wolf may also wag its tail. The further down the tail droops, the more relaxed the wolf is.
~
Tension– An aroused wolf's tail points straight out, and the wolf may crouch as if ready to spring.
~
Happiness– As dogs do, a wolf may wag its tail if in a joyful mood. The tongue may roll out of the mouth.
~
Hunting– A wolf that is hunting is tensed, and therefore the tail is horizontal and straight.
~
Playfulness– A playful wolf holds its tail high and wags it. The wolf may frolic and dance around, or bow by placing the front of its body down to the ground, while holding the rear high, sometimes the rear is wagged.
Celena
Celena
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