WOLF TO WOOF AND A PACK LEADER

WOLF TO WOOF AND A PACK LEADER.

                               

                                             WOLF                 to                   WOOF

In 2010, the remains of a 33,000 year old dog were found in Siberia.

In the Czech Republic the skeleton of a 26,000 to 27,000 year old dog was found with a mammoth bone in its mouth.

Over time a number of physical changes took place in reduction of size, change in coat coloration and markings, shorter jaw and shrinking in size of the teeth, vertical drop in front of the forehead and reduction in brain size.

‘Grey Wolves’ are the oldest and largest ancestors of domestic dogs.

Travelling through the wilderness, they are among the most charismatic and controversial animals.

Wolves are pack animals that live in small groupings which consists of adult parents and their offspring of perhaps the last 2 or 3 years.

                                      The Grey Wolf 

How exactly the domestication of the Grey Wolf happened is not clear, but there are many theories including the following:

          Study has shown adult wolves can be successfully socialized and some wolf pups were taken at an early age and reared by humans.

          Scientist believe that humans adopted orphaned wolf cubs and nursed them alongside human babies.

          Others think that towards the end of Ice Age about 15,000 years ago, a wolf wandered into a human community in search of food.

Once these early adoptees started breeding among themselves, a new generation of tame wolves would result which would over generation of time, become more dog-like.

So how the heck did we take a wolf and get a domestic dog to come in a mind-boggling array of shape and sizes from  the pocket sized Chihuahua to a 200 pound Saint Bernard?

               

                                                                         PEDIGREE

                             

As humans migrated around the planet, a variety of dog forms migrated with them. The agriculture and urban revolution led to increase in dog population. This provided an opportunity for selective breeding to create pet dogs and different types of working dogs like Sniffer dogs, Therapy dogs, Military dogs, Guide dogs and a host of other categories.

Probably the first breeds deliberately created by humans for specialized tasks were the Salukis, Ibizan Hounds and the Pharaoh Hounds by the ancient Egyptians, which were discovered as statuaries in their tombs.

However and whenever the domestication began, that bond which was forged long ago, still continues today.

LEADER OF THE PACK  (ALPHA)

Dogs are pack animals by nature. Every pack has a leader known as the ‘Alpha’ animal who dominates and leads the other animals of the pack. The alpha is the boss who makes decisions for the entire pack.

Dogs descended from wolves, and deep within the psyche of your dog lies instincts they have retained from their wild ancestors.  

In order to live with and  communicate with your dog you need to understand why you must be his leader and maintain the alpha position in the pack.

In your home, you and your family become your dog’s pack. It is your responsibility to establish yourself in the alpha position.

If you fail to do this, your dog will consider you as just another pack member. Do not assume you are automatically in-charge just because humans are superior to animals.

Being the pack leader does not mean you have to be big and an aggressive bully. Nor does it have to be a battle of wills for you to be a victor.

A pack leader is not a   dictator or one who loses his temper but is calm,

self-confident and enforces well defined set of rules.

  

The status position of a dog as a member in a pack starts with a process of subordination. With dogs subordination begins after the third week and continues throughout early development. Most normal puppies are basically pushy animals and will try to advance in the social order of the pack.  Successfully rearing a puppy is to establish yourself as the leader of the pack.

In the wild, the adults of the pack begin early to teach the cubs the rules.

The adults grab pups around the head or neck and gently, but firmly pin them to ground. The cubs learn to greet the adults with respect by approaching them using crouching posture, tail down and wagging and lick the adult’s muzzle. This is a sign of  respect  and  affection and ‘not’ a sign of fear. This is called the subordination display, and its function is to keep peace and harmony within the pack.

ARE YOU WILLING TO BE A PACK LEADER?

                        

Remember, dogs depend on pack order for a sense of security. If a dog can’t count on his owner for leadership, he is not likely to listen when the owner does try to communicate. The owner should be a leader or a pack leader and not a bully.

Your dog will accept you as a pack leader as long as you are consistent and fair in demands. You must never permit him to growl or snap. If he does, a firm shake by the scruff is necessarily, followed by no attention from you for 10 to 15 minutes. The scruff is the loose skin around the dog’s neck.

If your pet growls or snaps and you are not afraid to handle him, grab him firmly by the scruff with both hands, shake him, then put him in his crate for 10 to 15 minutes and ignore him.

If your dog growls or snaps and you are afraid to discipline him, seek professional help. Don’t ignore the incident. 

A dog allowed to threaten his family can easily become a biter.

Never overlook a challenge to your authority. Most dogs will test their owners in adolescence. When the issue is settled immediately, it usually ends the matter.

This video shows one basic tip on how to control your dog and be his 'Pack Leader'.