According to Darwin the very object of our most innocent affections, the dog, originally descended from the very being that struck fear in the hearts of many early Americans and children today; the wolf. Though our furry companion and the wolf may have some similar characteristics and behavioral traits, these two animals couldn’t be more different. Theoretically, dogs evolved from wolves, but the behavior they display is unique between both animals; being similar but different in their own way.
Since before America was named or even discovered by the adventurous Europeans, the Native Americans had harnessed what some would believe to be a real understanding for nature and those she watches. They had no Labrador or German Shepherd to assist with their natural lives, so they improvised. It wasn’t rare for the Native Americans to go out on a hunt and find a small wolf pup punished by the Circle of Life, being left all alone. Often, the hunters would take the pup back to their home and raise it along side their children and other animals. This, according to those who agree with Darwin’s theory of Evolution, would be considered the beginning of the domestic dog, though no amount of effort could ever break Mother Nature’s spell; a wild spirit. Aside from the wolf’s “wild spirit’, you may ask, “What really separates the dog from the wolf?” The wolf lives in a very delicate world, the social structure of the pack, the way it survives, and even in the way they communicate to one another draws a line between it and the common dog.
Over the many centuries, the dog has come a long way. Before it was that lovable warm thing you use as a pillow, it could have been a vital part of life in some other time and region. For instance, the Alaskan Malamute was originally from an old Inuit tribe, Mahlemuits, from the upper western part of Alaskan which is suggested in the dog’s name. A specific breed of hound was first born and raised in Great Britain for hunting, and the Siberian Husky originated from Siberia where some say the Eskimos with their dogs crossed the Bering Straight to or from Alaska. As these dogs have been slowly introduced into America and it’s people, we have found the Siberian Husky to be a very mild tempered dog that’s great with kids; making it one of the ideal family dogs. Our pets, the dog, comes in a variety of colors and sizes to suit the individual wants of all who seek a companion with a little extra hair.
Some people might think that since a wolf looks like a dog, then it acts like one. This is not the case. With a dog, when the female comes into ‘heat’ it doesn’t take long for her to get impregnated with a littler of pups. A female wolf is a little more ‘hard to get’ than a domestic dog. A domestic dog will mate, normally, with any dog she feels comfortable with, whereas the alpha female of a pack will only breed with an alpha male. “The bond that forms between these wolves often lasts until one of them dies.” [Wolf, 3]. Considering the alpha couple have such a strong bond, there is almost no courtship involved between the two. “When the male has selected his mate, courtship does not last long. The female often demands play, and may drop to the ‘play bow’ position or play mount the male…” (Fogle, 139). Though there is a brief period of courtship “…if she is unready for mating, she will roll over…” (Fogle, 139). Just like with all other animals, if the male does not suit the female’s particular ‘taste’ she may reject him.
Most female dogs becomes sexually mature around the age of 6 to 12 months, but if the dog is of a larger breed her maturity could be postponed as late as two years. “Unlike their wild ancestors, the wolves, dogs can breed any time of the year and usually have two breeding seasons a year wile wolves only have one. Females have periods of sexual receptivity, or heat, that can last from seven to ten days.” (Estep, 1). Once the male and female have mated, and if the mating was successful, a litter of pups result in roughly 9 weeks. Unlike with wolves, where only the alpha male and female are allowed to mate, having multiple male dogs and just one female will not result in fighting and may actually lead to the female having multiple mating partners. Wolves, on the other hand, are much different in their mating habits than the common dog. So you may ask yourself, “If female dogs are sexually mature at around a year, doesn’t that mean the wolf is mature around that time too?” No. That’s entirely different. “Females are sexually mature at the age of two years…, but this is no guarantee they will be able to breed because mating within a pack is restricted to and suppressed by the alpha pair.” (Bauer, 23). So, you may roll your eyes and walk away with the “whatever” look on your face, but wolves don’t have two ’seasons’. “Females come into estrus once a year between January and April, which is when mating occurs….” (Bauer, 20). Though the female dog’s estrus cycle may last from seven to ten days, a female wolf’s cycle last roughly lasts about a week. You may also ask “If all the females wolves are able to mate, then why don’t they?” As stated previously, only the alpha male and female are allowed to mate. In order for another female and male to mate, they would have to completely leave the pack and start their own.
In both wolves and dogs an impregnated female will usually give birth to a litter of pups in roughly nine weeks. With dogs, the average littler is around 6 puppies but it may vary. Before a litter is born, the mother will find a place she feels suitable for birthing, and will usually have the litter there. The first few weeks of a puppy’s life will be crucial in the dog’s general development, health, and socialization. During the first week of it’s life, though it cannot see, it will recognize it’s mother’s scent(which is the unique smell of a living being) and it’s siblings. With dogs, once the offspring has reached about six weeks of age, it can pretty much survive on it’s own. About this time, the mother has or is in the process of weaning the puppy from her milk. Normally it is replaced with soft puppy food or, if the puppy is brave, hard dog food. Wolves interesting on this matter. The average wolf litter is anywhere from one to fourteen, though this all depends on how much prey is available during the female’s pregnancy. Wolves always have their young in a natural den along the side of a cliff or a burrow that she has dug herself. Against the dog, which almost always has human interference, wolf pups stay in their den for at least two months before they are completely independent. Most wolf pups do venture out of the den about six weeks of age, but as previously stated, is still dependent on it’s mother.
Despite all the differences between the wolf and the dog, the thing they have most in common is their form of communication. The dog and the wolf use both body language and sound to display their mood. These sights and sounds display anything from anger to approval. For an example, if you were to view a pack of wolves or see a picture of one, it’s not hard to detect a wolf with a high position. The alpha male, who is always at the head of the pack, will always be standing tall and proud. His chest normally broadened, ears erect, and his head held high. If looking at a photo of a solitary wolf, if it has a high position, you can usually detect it in the wolf’s facial expression and in the eyes(See appendix A). On the other hand if the wolf’s head, ears, and body in general is low, this usually indicates a lower position. More often that not, the omega, or lowest ranking member of the pack(See appendix B). Other body language could be flattening of the ears, which is a sign of fear or aggression. Lifting of the tail, which is another sign of dominance. Or the licking of another wolf’s muzzle, which usually indicates a sign of submission or affection, depending on the two(or more) wolves. Another form of communication is through sound. Barking, howling, and snarling are just a few of the many ways wolves and dogs communicate, some times with each other. Barking, in wolves, can be taken as a short warning to stay back or it could be just a simple way of catching another wolf’s attention. Snarling, in both animals, always means to stay away or back off. Snarling is always a sign of aggression. Most of the time, when a dog howls, they are howling for amusement. If you live in a neighborhood with lots of dogs, it could very well mean they are communicating with one another. Howling is crucial for the wolf, on the other hand. Sometimes, different members of the pack could go astray from the pack’s main den or the pack as a whole, hearing the howl of an alpha or another pack member could be the call for a hunt, or a simple request to return. Howling is also used among lone wolves, wolves who have no pack, to seek permission to enter another packs territory or, again, to call for any other wolves(See appendix C).
Theoretically, dogs evolved from wolves, but the behavior they display is unique between both animals; being similar but different in their own way. As stated previously, wolves and dogs are quite different. It’s simply amazing how appearances can be very deceiving
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