Feral dog behavior

[skunkstripe]

Since this subject got brought up in another thread I thought it might be worth disucssing on its own merits. If it doesn't take but several generations for domestic dogs to revert to more "wolflike" behavior, this certainly speaks for rapid breeding to change temperament in domestic dogs, and also from wolves to dogs-at least that is how I see it.

Feral and domestic dogs often differ markedly in their behavior toward people. Scott and Causey (1973) based their classification of these two types by observing the behavior of dogs while confined in cage traps. Domestic dogs usually wagged their tails or exhibited a calm disposition when a human approached, whereas most feral dogs showed highly aggressive behavior, growling, barking, and attempting to bite. Some dogs were intermediate in their behavior and couldn’t be classified as either feral or domestic based solely on their reaction to humans. Since many feral dogs have been pursued, shot at, or trapped by people, their aggressive behavior toward humans is not surprising. Gipson (1983) described the numerous lead pellets imbedded under the skin of a feral dog caught in Arkansas as a testament to its relationship with people.

Feral dogs are usually secretive and wary of people. Thus, they are active during dawn, dusk, and at night much like other wild canids. They often travel in packs or groups and may have rendezvous sites like wolves. Travel routes to and from the gathering or den sites may be well defined. Food scraps and other evidence of concentrated activity may be observed at gathering sites.
http://icwdm.org/handbook/carnivor/FeralDog.asp

A popular perspective on the social behavior of dogs in multiple-dog households sees the dogs' behavior as reflecting the sociobiological laws of the rigidly structured dominance hierarchy that has been described for wolf packs. This view suggests that aggression problems among dogs are natural expressions of conflict that arise whenever dominance status is in contention. One recommended solution has been for the owner to endorse and enforce a particular dominance hierarchy because, on the wolf pack model, aggression is minimized when the structure of the hierarchy is clear, strong, and stable. This article questions the validity of this perspective on 2 principal grounds. First, because it does not seem to occur in the wild, this article suggests the strong dominance hierarchy that has been described for wolves may be a by-product of captivity. If true, it implies that social behavior—even in wolves—may be a product more of environmental circumstances and contingencies than an instinctive directive. Second, because feral dogs do not exhibit the classic wolf-pack structure, the validity of the canid, social dominance hierarchy again comes into question.
http://www.leaonline.com/doi/abs/10.1207/s15327604jaws0704_7?cookieSet=1&journalCode=jaws

[Bugle]

Well, I have always believed that scratch your dog and underneath you will see the wolf.

Having lived with a wolf cross for 10 years, there is absolutely no doubt in mind that he was very different from any other dog I had ever owned or met. However, he was of course totally domesticated, house trained and vaguely obedient - ish ! If he could see a reason for being asked to do something !

So now the idea that our own "wolf" packs, in other words our domesticated dogs, should be run by us, alpha male and alpha female, using such strict rules regarding domination and control, is being challenged, because in a wild wolf pack this seemingly undemocratic way may be purely caused by environmental influences, rather than across the board.

The reports of most lucky people who have lived with wild wolfpacks all seem to say the same thing - what a wonderful social structure wild wolves have, everyone knows their place, and alpha male and alpha female rule with a rod of iron, and it works.

It's a fascinating theory ... and one that I think I will subscribe to for feral dogs and our own dogs, even in a large domesticated dog pack such as we see on Cesar Millan's tv programme. But I will need some persuading to accept that packs of wild wolves are run according to environmental conditions. If that were the case, surely all the various reports we read from Monty Sloane, Shaun Ellis, David thingey whose name I can never remember etc. etc. would be finding this for themselves. I certainly haven't read every piece of research by every wolf researcher, but I have read an awful lot (although it has to be said not for a few years), and I am sure I would have remembered something as controversial as this. It is a very interesting concept though and I will be most interested to read the other comments.