The first WSC pack emerging

News, 16.08.2009, Kurt Kotrschal

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A single wolf is not a wolf. As most other vertebrates, wolf individuals are much defined by their connectedness within their specific social web.What one is, thinks and wants, ones actions and desires, are very much determined by ones social context. Individuals are just (still important) building blocks and whether they are bricks in a landfill or part of a house, is determined by their connectivity. This metaphor is valid for humans, but, of course, for wolves as well.

Hence, the formation of a pack from the three yearlings (Aragorn, Shima und Kaspar) with the six pups (Tatonga, Yukon, Geronimo, Nanuk, Apache und Cherokee) is a milestone in WSC development. “Packification” is one of our main projects (and a lot of fun) at the moment. For two weeks, we get the yearlings in contact with the pups in the puppy enclosure approx. three times per week. This works exceedingly well and harmonious. Only in October we will put them together for good. At the moment, it is easier to train and test the pups when they are still not part of a bigger group and we also want to avoid that pups may use yearlings as social leavers against us. This will happen soon enough. If we really learned a lesson in the last year it was never to underestimate the social competence of wolves.

Five  weeks ago, we staged the fist direct contact, with Aragorn and then the others, lead on the leash into the puppy enclosure. They know ech other already quite well via contacts through the fence. A while ago the yearlings started howling each time we took out pups for a walk and sometimes they bring food for the pups to the fence and call the pups. Not so Aragorn, but dont be mistaken, he is the most enthousiastic nanny one could think of (below). Mentally, pack formation seems right on its way.

Every meeting between pups and yearlings was a great show and fun for all of us (except, maybe, for Kaspar), without any incident indicative of aggression. Particularly macho Aragorn quickly turns into a pup himself, chasing and play fighting with all them, the people present and last time, also Bolita, the Eurasier dog (who als quickly gave up her usual distance and was torn into an unusual play mood by Aragorn). The pups seem to appreciate that too, there is always a crowd around Aragorn, but not many around Shima or Kaspar.

Shima is a bit more distant, more intersted in collecting food leftovers in the pup enclosures and eating prunes from the tree, but she also reurgitates food for the pups, as also Kaspar does. Our (spoiled) little ones inspected this disgusting product and only Yucon decided to taste; and off they went. Clearly, this is not their preferred treat. How nice from uncle and auntie to produce food, but sorry, we wont́ eat it.

Kaspar has some problems mit the lifely pups. As most of our dogs, he responds to their distnce-less approach and play bouts by running with them, but at the same time showing his teeth and growling (not badly) and by distributing gentle snout bites (scary when we see the heads of pups litterally disappearing in his enormous gape). He acts as if he would be fascinated, but not be aware of it. With every vistit, he is improving, but still, he demands to be admitted back into his enclosure after 10min (looking at us and standing in front of the exit).

In contrast, Aragorn cant get enough of them. Usually a long play and chasing bout (he the pups and the pups him) end up at our communal heap of straw underneath the apple tree, where we also use to spend the nights with the pups, Aragorn on his back, the pups, some people and dogs on top of him. He is then “smiling” litterally from ear to ear. Íve never seen such a play face in a wolf. No matter where and how you touch hin in this situation, there is no growling. Hard to believe that this works between wolf yearlings, pups, humans and dogs. It needs some patience and persuasion to ger Aragorn back into his enclosure after such an event.

Still, we remain acutely aware, that we are dealing with wolves, making us even more surprised how well all of them cope with the new situation. The yearlings neither defend the pups nor some food found in that enclosure against us (maybe inhibited by the presence of the pups). And we are very aware of the possibility that this may change in winter, with sexual maturity of the yearlings.