A Contribution to the Study of the Social Behavior of the Wolf

• Published in: American Zoologist
• Main Author: PULLIAINEN, ERKKI
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford University Press 1967
• Subjects: ECOLOGY AND BEHAVIOR OF THE WOLF; samoyed*
• Online Access: http://icb.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/short/7/2/313; https://doi.org/10.1093/icb/7.2.313

Three wolf cubs (♀ and ♂♂) taken blind from their den were studied in captivity. When the cubs were 20–22 weeks old, their behavior was studied in the presence of individuals of two breeds of dogs (German Shepherd and Samoyed). The wolf cubs had seen no canine individuals before the experiments and vice versa. The sexes and ages of the German Shepherds (they resemble European forest wolves in appearance) tested were as follows: female (3 years), male (17 months), female (21 weeks; the same height as the wolf cubs) and female (12 weeks). The two female Samoyeds were 2 years old. All the tests were performed in the pen of the wolf cubs and filmed. The main results are as follows: (1). Investigative behavior was observed during all the tests carried out. (2). No aggressiveness was observed between the wolf cubs and those German Shepherds which were as tall as the wolf cubs or taller. By contrast, the wolf cubs tried to kill the smallest German Shepherd (12 weeks old). (3). Great aggressiveness was observed between the wolf cubs and the Samoyeds from the moment of confrontation. (4). No difference was observed in the movements and behavior patterns of these two species. (5). The results are discussed.