Wolf Behavior
A Quick Guide to Wolf Behavior
Wolves live in packs which have hierarchal ranking systems, so wolf behavior includes a variety of postures, scents, and vocalizations which establish who is dominant and who is subdominant. All wolves are territorial and will mark their territory with scent and howl to announce ownership to others.
Wolf behavior involves many different vocalizations. For instance, a wolf may howl to find the location of his pack or to tell others that he is ready for mating. Howls often occur during hunting both to announce the wolves’ presence and to indicate location so that all of the pack’s members stay together. Other times, there might be snarling or growling among pack members as warning of social distance, or a mother might bark warnings to pups to keep them close or away from trouble. Other sounds like whining or whimpering may mean the wolf is being submissive or that it is a young pup seeking mom’s attention.
In addition to sounds, scent is also is an expression of wolf behavior. Sniffing of head, anal and genital regions is a behavior used in greeting one another. The tail is also a part of the greeting--a dominant wolf will raise his or her tail to aid the other animal by giving off scent. When in heat, a female is ready for the male when she raises her tail and turns it to one side.
The tail is also a good indicator of wolf behavior in other ways. A wolf with his tail in the raised position is displaying dominance and self-esteem. Different angles of the tail can also indicate if a wolf is ready to attack, if he or she is aroused, relaxed, submissive or afraid. All of these expressions of wolf behavior also have been carried through breeding to the behavior of domestic dogs.
Marking with scent is another way wolves communicate behaviors. Marking an area by urinating says to others, “this place is mine.” Dominant males raise their tail and lift their leg high when urinating, while submissive behavior is indicated by squatting to urinate. A female shows dominance when urinating by squatting, sometimes with one foot off the ground and sometimes by raking the ground with their hind legs upon finishing. Scent-rolling is another wolf behavior that is not so pleasant when practiced by your pet. It is used to bring back scents such as those of manure or a dead animal to the rest of the pack.
Signs of aggressive behavior are ones that humans should be aware of, no matter what species of the dog family is involved. Look out for ears that are straight up, closed or puckered lips, an erect tail, hackles up, eyes very wide open and a stiffly-held tail. While many people think wolves show aggressive behavior when hunting prey, the opposite is true. They are relaxed, eyes are wide, the tail is extended backwards not upwards. They also do not growl or snarl when killing for food. That is a behavior that may express supremacy over territory or ownership of the food after a kill.