THE WOLF IN MY HOUSE  (by: Twilla R. Boyce)

It seems we have forgotten that we are bringing an animal into our homes when we invite a dog to be a part of our lives. Many of us assume the dog will already be or naturally become tame and docile just because it is a domesticated species. If this were true, there would be no need for professionals in the dog training industry. Cesar Millan, Brad Pattison and Don Sullivan (to name a few) would not be household names because there would be no need for their services. Dogs over the world would be living peaceful and balanced lives.

So where have we humans gone wrong? There was a transition that occurred in progressive society whereby dogs became creatures used primarily for companionship instead of workers. All animals expect to work: this is how they survive! If we look at how dogs survive in feral packs (we'll get to the wolves later), we will observe behaviors such as roaming, hunting, territorial marking, mating and many others. Quite simply put, the dogs rely on their instincts and work each and every day. I suggest that these dogs are actually more psychologically balanced than many of our home-and-hearth pooches who often live a boring and mundane existence, void of purpose. 

This leads dog-lovers to ask, "How can I fulfill my dog's needs?" Answer - "Give them a purpose, a job, because living for nothing more than cuddles, treats, and an occasional venture into the great outdoors is a meager existence."

A few years back (this is where the wolf part comes in), a number of DNA research teams throughout the world conducted identical, yet independent, genome studies whereby DNA samples were collected from each breed know in current records. The Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) samples were all traced to one of three female Asian wolves. It is fascinating that each team's research produced the same results even though the breed samples were from differing individual dogs. So, this means that little FiFi sitting on your lap and Duke The Brute who sits sprawled out on your sofa has a wolf dwelling in her/his brain. This is why dogs' behavior is, other than breed specific traits, so uniform. You may have heard it said, "A Chihuahua is a big dog in a little dog's body." This is exactly what I'm talking about! The Chihuahua is as much 'dog/wolf' and the English Mastiff or Pitt Bull. He reacts according to the same instincts as the larger members of his species. Because of his size, this can lead to some curious issues but these are due, in large part, to the treatment they receive from their humans and a topic for a different article.

This study is incredibly important to dog behaviorists everywhere because we can source a dog's behavior issues to her historical wolf genetics/instincts. If we truly desire to meet our dog's instinctual needs, we must look to the wolf.

Back to the feral pack: The list of behaviors mentioned above are the same behaviors observed in wolf culture. However, we must take into account, that during the domestication of the species, we have effectively neotenized the dog (kept youthful by preventing the full maturation of the brain and facial features of the animal). The result is a species that reacts to the world as if they were wolf pups who have not yet learned all the boundaries, limitations and social skills of the mature wolf. In effect, we humans have the canine version of Peter Pan living under our roof. It is, therefore, our job to take this neoteny into consideration and develop a way to meet all the inherent instinctual needs of our canine companions.

One example of how the study of neoteny can provide greater understanding of canine behavior is conflict resolution. The wolf exhibits a long list of submissive cues/signals that are used to prevent conflict within the pack. It surprises most people to learn that most breeds exhibit a mere one or two of these submissive traits and some breeds exhibit none at all. The husky is the only breed that exhibits all of the submissive cues/signals observed in wolf behavior. (This is not to say that the Husky has not suffered the affects of neoteny: it simply does not manifest itself in the area of submissive cues/signals.) Knowing the affect neoteny has in this respect allows us greater understanding of the aggression and plays for dominance that are prevalent in our dogs when relating to one another.

This is where dog psychology comes into the picture. Knowing the source of our dog's behavior lies within the wolf instinct/culture is the very best starting point in our quest to meet our four-legged friend's needs and, thereby, practicing a fulfilling happy life. Failing to acknowledge that your puppy/dog is a wolf in domesticated clothing is an error that typically leads to conflict within the one relationship that man has come to rely on for centuries. A peaceful coexistence is attainable with the correct application of knowledge and leadership on the human's part. Our dogs are depending on us to recognize that they neither come to us fully tame and docile nor, naturally and without guidance and leadership, become tame and docile. They need us to teach them the same boundaries and limitations that would have been a part of their wolf cub education had they not been domesticated. What they need is a qualified pack leader. This is a position any human, with honest sincere desire, can claim.

NOTE: There is a myriad of information on this topic and no statement contained herein is meant to be applied in generalization to or independently of the entire study.