Audible: Wolves use several forms of verbal communication, including high-pitched-barks, yips, whines, whimpers, and howls, grunts, snorts, huffs, yelps, . Whines and whimpers may be an indication of either physical or emotional discomfort. Puppies often whimper to gain access to their bitch's nipples when they are hungry. A yip might be heard when a Wolf is suddenly frightened or hurt during play or ritual combat. Barks or woofs are generally short and warn against the approach of intruders or to attract the attention of another Wolf within visual range. Of all the sounds, none are as famous, haunting, or beautiful as a Wolf's howl.
Wolves howl alone or together for a variety of reasons. To notify other Wolves of their whereabouts; such as when they wish to attract a mate, rally the pack together for the hunt, when distressed, during or after playing and other social interactions, and often just for the fun of it. Howling sessions among multiple Wolves generally begin as a series of short yaps, then howls that last from less than a second to longer than ten seconds. During the howl the voice may maintain a single tonal quality or cascade from high down to low and then back up to high. Group howls can take on a truly frenzied quality, and two or three howling Wolves can sound like a dozen or more. Larger Wolves tend to have a lower sounding howl. A Wolf's howl can be heard for up to ten miles under optimal conditions. Wolves can howl while standing, sitting, or laying down. Wolves do not howl at the moon as so many people like to romanticize, studies have shown no correlation to Wolves howling and lunar phase; Wolves just love to howl, period.
Happy: ears in a neutral or slightly laid back posture, forehead smooth with brows slightly raised, eyes relaxed or wide, muzzle relaxed, jaw dropped, may be panting, pelt relaxed or slightly bristled, tail in a neutral low swayed-back position or somewhat lifted and wagging.
Neutral: ears raised or foreword, forehead and brows relaxed, eyes relaxed, muzzle relaxed, mouth closed or slightly agape, may be panting in warm weather, pelt relaxed, tail carried low, may be straight out or raised in a dominant Wolf.
Depressed: ears are down or back, forehead may be furrowed, eyes are downcast, muzzle is neutral, lips seem to hang down, pelt is neutral, tail hangs straight down or my slightly curve along the outside of a hip.
Anxious: ears lay flat but outward, forehead is furrowed, eyes are somewhat slit-like and peering, muzzle twitches and lips are pulled back, but not so much that fangs are bared, pelt may be slightly bristled, and tail can take several postures, depending on the nature of anxiety: Up, notched to the side, and somewhat flicking is an imposing attitude; lowered and somewhat notched to the side is often observed while eating; straight down and notched when between uncertain.
Uncertain: ears lay flat, outward and forward, forehead shows definite furrowing with raised brows, eyes are angry and slit-like, muzzle is furrowed and nose is pulled back and puckered, fangs are bared with tongue stuck out between incisors, pelt is bristled, hackles raised, tail is lowered, sometimes tucked. This posture is one of both defense and submissiveness... the Wolf has not decided on fight or flight and is confused.
Threatened/Angry: ears raised and forward, forehead furrowed, eyes wide, wild, and angry, muzzle furrowed with lips lifted high and nose puckered, fangs and even teeth are barred, tongue is tucked back and mostly out of sight, pelt is bristled, hackles are raised, stance is somewhat crouched and ready to leap, tail is straight out or raised, notched or hooked in appearance, with the tip often twitching to one side. All of this Wolf's attention is bearing down on the target and he or she waits only for an opportunity to lunge.
Ambivalence Display
An ambivalence display may be enacted when the Wolf is confused, afraid, or trying to warn off an intruder or submissive. The Wolf will bristles his or her pelt (raise hackles) in order to appear larger and more threatening, at the same time the eyes will take on an angry wild expression and the lips will curl back to expose the fangs and gums. It is felt that red is a threatening color in nature, thus baring the gums and tongue, which is pressed forward between the incisors during the display, makes for an especially effective threatening appearance. The purpose of this display is to look dangerous... it is a warning meant to avoid violence, not to incite it... and is not used during hunting or stalking, as prey animals are never warned, just attacked, killed, and eaten. Ambivalence display is often implemented during the defensive threat posture and during a dominance display in order to demand the respect of submissive Wolves.
Many experts consider the Ambivalence display as one of mixed emotions; where snarling and bearing of fangs represents aggression, and the extending of the tongue is a simultaneous act of submission. This, of course, is the very definition of ambivalence, but I have difficulty agreeing with this opinion, and think of this posture as more of threat display.
Defensive Threat
This is a bodily posture where the Wolf crouches and prepares for possible attack of an intruder or rival. It is a condition of readiness, more or less devised to warn off or threaten a possible combatant. The Wolf assumes an ambivalent facial expression while attempting to stare down an opponent. If pressed during this posture, wolves will generally resort to violence in order to defend themselves or take corrective action against subordinate pack members.
Dominance
A dominant wolf stands stiff legged and tall. The ears are erect and forward, and the hackles bristle slightly. Often the tail is held vertical and curled toward the back. This display shows the wolf's rank to all others in the pack. A dominant lupine may stare penetratingly at a submissive one, pin it to the ground, "ride up" on its shoulders, or even stand on its hind legs.
Dominance Display (See Submission, passive)
Dominant Parade
This is posture is generally implemented by an alpha male to show off his rank to subordinates. The Wolf parades around in proud fashion with head up high, ears forward, eyes secure and direct, and tail raised or level with the spine. An alpha Wolf who approaches a subordinate in this way expects respect and is often rewarded by an act of active submission to prove one's devotion.
Fighting, pin down
Wolves often spar, especially while they are pups and yearlings to establish place in the pack hierarchy. One of the most detrimental occurrences for a Wolf during a fight is to get brought down and pinned. During ritualistic combat this usually loses the match and proves the standing Wolf as dominant, but in deadly combat it can expose vital areas of the body, like the throat, leaving it prone to a killing bite. (Wolves rarely injure one another because a injured wolf is no use to the pack. Killing is even more rare, but not unheard of for doms.)
Fighting, Snapping Attack
A snapping attack is an aggressive forward rush, where the Wolf is crouched with tail cocked; lips pulled back, fangs bared, ears forward, and eyes wild and threatening. The snapping attack rarely makes contact, however, and usually comes up short so that the teeth merely snap together with a loud clap. This posturing is more threat display/warning than actual attack, thus it is often referred to simply as "snapping" or "snap" behavior. This posture is often used during "dominance" where an alpha is attempting to regain control of subordinate Wolves
Flagging
Flagging commonly occurs when a bitch enters estrus and is ready to mate. She will position her rump before the dog she wants to mate with and lift her tail up and to the side, offering her anus and vulva for him to sniff and lick while gazing back at him with a relaxed demeanor indicating her willingness to receive his attentions.
Another common situation, in which a male Wolf may flag, is when he presents himself so that another Wolf may sniff his anal scent glands during greetings or certain displays of dominance. Subordinates sometimes display their under-tail to dominant Wolves while standing, but most usually during acts of passive submission, while lying on their back.
Hunting and Stalking When Wolves approach their prey they generally try to gain surprise by looking small or crouching below the level of the grass. Also, when making a snapping attack it benefits the attacker to maintain a low center of gravity so as not to loose balance and fall victim to a pin-down. To achieve this end, Wolves generally crouch and adopt a somewhat defensive posture as they approach their potential opponent. Note that the snarling Wolf in movies, looming around their victim is not only vilifying, but in general totally erroneous. Wolves only display ambivalence when they are attempting to avoid conflict and warn off a potential opponent. When Wolves hunt they seek every advantage of stealth, for their purpose is not to warn away, but to win a meal for themselves.
Hunting and Stalking
When Wolves approach their prey they generally try to gain surprise by looking small or crouching below the level of the grass. Also, when making a snapping attack it benefits the attacker to maintain a low center of gravity so as not to lose balance and fall victim to a pin-down. To achieve this end, Wolves generally crouch and adopt a somewhat defensive posture as they approach their potential opponent. Note that the snarling Wolf in movies, looming around their victim is not only vilifying, but in general totally erroneous. Wolves only display ambivalence when they are attempting to avoid conflict and warn off a potential opponent. When Wolves hunt they seek every advantage of stealth, for their purpose is not to warn away, but to win a meal for themselves.
Play Bow
Wolves love to play; it's one of their favorite group activities, right up there with hunting as a group. The play bow is an invitation to other Wolves to romp and play. The play bow is a deep forward bow, kind of like stretching, but there is no yawn, just an occasional woof-like vocalization with paws stretched forward, rump raised high, and tail straight out or wagging.
Running, fear
When a Wolf is afraid and runs to escape danger, the head is
lowered, the tail is tucked, and the ears are laid back.
Running, play/hunting
When Wolves run while playing or chasing pray they tend to be relaxed and cheerful, with head raised, ears in a somewhat neutral posture, and tail out straight or free hanging. Wolves love games of chase where they race each other. The lead Wolf in such games often finds his or her tail grabbed by the "tailing" Wolf.
Scent Marking
Scent plays an important role in lupine communications. A wolf is capable of smelling the details of an odor with a dozen times more accurately than a domestic canine, and probably a hundred times more accurately than a human being. Wolves have good vision, but really don't trust their eyes when identifying each other; they trust their sense of smell though, and rely on it to identify their territory and each other.
Wolves scent mark by urinating on a tree stump, a bush, or over another Wolf's mark or scat. Both males and females will mark by lifting a hind leg while semi-squatting to releasing a squirt of urine containing their own individual musk. Special anal scent glands also excrete an individual's scent onto their scat as they defecate. Other Wolves smelling these marks will know where a particular Wolf has been and the extent of his or her territory. Wolves know these scent marks so well that they may even know where a Wolf has been and what a Wolf has been eating during the customary genital sniffing that occurs while greeting each other.
Scent marking is quite important during mating season, when the male will mark over the female's urine and scat, and visa-versa, to indicate their mutual scent to others as being mated. This procedure is often referred to as "double-marking," and is accomplished by following the female around and immediately lifting leg and urinating over where she has recently defecated or peed. Double-marking is a very important aspect of pair bonding, and it is thought that the pair comes to associate each other's union through the consistency of their mutual marks; this may well be a kind of lupine wedding band made of golden fluid, rather than golden metal.
Scent Rolling Scent rolling is likely the way Wolves tell each other where they've been and what interesting smells they've discovered. Wolves often find things with unusual odors, and upon deciding something is pretty neat, will flop down and roll their whithers against the whatever-it-is to collect a sniff sample. Wolves not only collect carrion odors but also the scent of dung, flowers... almost anything the smell of might impress family and friends. It may be as simple as this: lupines enjoy wearing their style of perfume just as some humans do.
Submission, active
Active submission often looks like a subordinate Wolf begging the dominant for forgiveness. The submissive assumes a crouching posture with curled down rump and tail tucked and/or wagging. Then the submissive nuzzles and licks at the dominant's chin, lips, nose, and muzzle as is often seen in ritual greeting. The dominant will usually gaze ahead, raising the muzzle while accepting this display of respect and/or affection, with a bristled, but cool, appearance. This posture likely represents bowing and flattering the king in order to stave off possible disfavor.
Submission, passive (Dominance)
Passive submission takes two modes, rolling over and standing. The most common passive submissive posture is indicated by the subordinate Wolf rolling over onto the back and presenting the belly to the dominant Wolf. The submissive usually folds the paws across the chest and lifts the hind quarters. Occasionally, if the dominant Wolf is being quite aggressive, the subordinate may urinate. The submissive Wolf's tail may or may not be tucked. The dominant Wolf then stands over and sniffs and/or licks the muzzle, throat, genitals, and anus of the prostate Wolf. A less common mode of passive submission is very much like active submission, minus the nuzzling and licking activity. The subordinate Wolf tucks rear and tail and crouches down with ears and muzzle lowered.
Stretching, yawning
Stretching is initiated by a low forward bow with paws straight ahead, toes spread, rump raised high, and tail raised or back straight. Then the position is reversed so that the fore legs and head are raised, hind paws are pushed back, paws are curled under, pads sometimes skyward, and the tail lowered or pressed to one side. The stretch is usually accompanied by a yawn.
(All credit goes to http://runningwiththewolves.org/Behavior2.htm)
Wolves howl alone or together for a variety of reasons. To notify other Wolves of their whereabouts; such as when they wish to attract a mate, rally the pack together for the hunt, when distressed, during or after playing and other social interactions, and often just for the fun of it. Howling sessions among multiple Wolves generally begin as a series of short yaps, then howls that last from less than a second to longer than ten seconds. During the howl the voice may maintain a single tonal quality or cascade from high down to low and then back up to high. Group howls can take on a truly frenzied quality, and two or three howling Wolves can sound like a dozen or more. Larger Wolves tend to have a lower sounding howl. A Wolf's howl can be heard for up to ten miles under optimal conditions. Wolves can howl while standing, sitting, or laying down. Wolves do not howl at the moon as so many people like to romanticize, studies have shown no correlation to Wolves howling and lunar phase; Wolves just love to howl, period.
Happy: ears in a neutral or slightly laid back posture, forehead smooth with brows slightly raised, eyes relaxed or wide, muzzle relaxed, jaw dropped, may be panting, pelt relaxed or slightly bristled, tail in a neutral low swayed-back position or somewhat lifted and wagging.
Neutral: ears raised or foreword, forehead and brows relaxed, eyes relaxed, muzzle relaxed, mouth closed or slightly agape, may be panting in warm weather, pelt relaxed, tail carried low, may be straight out or raised in a dominant Wolf.
Depressed: ears are down or back, forehead may be furrowed, eyes are downcast, muzzle is neutral, lips seem to hang down, pelt is neutral, tail hangs straight down or my slightly curve along the outside of a hip.
Anxious: ears lay flat but outward, forehead is furrowed, eyes are somewhat slit-like and peering, muzzle twitches and lips are pulled back, but not so much that fangs are bared, pelt may be slightly bristled, and tail can take several postures, depending on the nature of anxiety: Up, notched to the side, and somewhat flicking is an imposing attitude; lowered and somewhat notched to the side is often observed while eating; straight down and notched when between uncertain.
Uncertain: ears lay flat, outward and forward, forehead shows definite furrowing with raised brows, eyes are angry and slit-like, muzzle is furrowed and nose is pulled back and puckered, fangs are bared with tongue stuck out between incisors, pelt is bristled, hackles raised, tail is lowered, sometimes tucked. This posture is one of both defense and submissiveness... the Wolf has not decided on fight or flight and is confused.
Threatened/Angry: ears raised and forward, forehead furrowed, eyes wide, wild, and angry, muzzle furrowed with lips lifted high and nose puckered, fangs and even teeth are barred, tongue is tucked back and mostly out of sight, pelt is bristled, hackles are raised, stance is somewhat crouched and ready to leap, tail is straight out or raised, notched or hooked in appearance, with the tip often twitching to one side. All of this Wolf's attention is bearing down on the target and he or she waits only for an opportunity to lunge.
Ambivalence Display
An ambivalence display may be enacted when the Wolf is confused, afraid, or trying to warn off an intruder or submissive. The Wolf will bristles his or her pelt (raise hackles) in order to appear larger and more threatening, at the same time the eyes will take on an angry wild expression and the lips will curl back to expose the fangs and gums. It is felt that red is a threatening color in nature, thus baring the gums and tongue, which is pressed forward between the incisors during the display, makes for an especially effective threatening appearance. The purpose of this display is to look dangerous... it is a warning meant to avoid violence, not to incite it... and is not used during hunting or stalking, as prey animals are never warned, just attacked, killed, and eaten. Ambivalence display is often implemented during the defensive threat posture and during a dominance display in order to demand the respect of submissive Wolves.
Many experts consider the Ambivalence display as one of mixed emotions; where snarling and bearing of fangs represents aggression, and the extending of the tongue is a simultaneous act of submission. This, of course, is the very definition of ambivalence, but I have difficulty agreeing with this opinion, and think of this posture as more of threat display.
Defensive Threat
This is a bodily posture where the Wolf crouches and prepares for possible attack of an intruder or rival. It is a condition of readiness, more or less devised to warn off or threaten a possible combatant. The Wolf assumes an ambivalent facial expression while attempting to stare down an opponent. If pressed during this posture, wolves will generally resort to violence in order to defend themselves or take corrective action against subordinate pack members.
Dominance
A dominant wolf stands stiff legged and tall. The ears are erect and forward, and the hackles bristle slightly. Often the tail is held vertical and curled toward the back. This display shows the wolf's rank to all others in the pack. A dominant lupine may stare penetratingly at a submissive one, pin it to the ground, "ride up" on its shoulders, or even stand on its hind legs.
Dominance Display (See Submission, passive)
Dominant Parade
This is posture is generally implemented by an alpha male to show off his rank to subordinates. The Wolf parades around in proud fashion with head up high, ears forward, eyes secure and direct, and tail raised or level with the spine. An alpha Wolf who approaches a subordinate in this way expects respect and is often rewarded by an act of active submission to prove one's devotion.
Fighting, pin down
Wolves often spar, especially while they are pups and yearlings to establish place in the pack hierarchy. One of the most detrimental occurrences for a Wolf during a fight is to get brought down and pinned. During ritualistic combat this usually loses the match and proves the standing Wolf as dominant, but in deadly combat it can expose vital areas of the body, like the throat, leaving it prone to a killing bite. (Wolves rarely injure one another because a injured wolf is no use to the pack. Killing is even more rare, but not unheard of for doms.)
Fighting, Snapping Attack
A snapping attack is an aggressive forward rush, where the Wolf is crouched with tail cocked; lips pulled back, fangs bared, ears forward, and eyes wild and threatening. The snapping attack rarely makes contact, however, and usually comes up short so that the teeth merely snap together with a loud clap. This posturing is more threat display/warning than actual attack, thus it is often referred to simply as "snapping" or "snap" behavior. This posture is often used during "dominance" where an alpha is attempting to regain control of subordinate Wolves
Flagging
Flagging commonly occurs when a bitch enters estrus and is ready to mate. She will position her rump before the dog she wants to mate with and lift her tail up and to the side, offering her anus and vulva for him to sniff and lick while gazing back at him with a relaxed demeanor indicating her willingness to receive his attentions.
Another common situation, in which a male Wolf may flag, is when he presents himself so that another Wolf may sniff his anal scent glands during greetings or certain displays of dominance. Subordinates sometimes display their under-tail to dominant Wolves while standing, but most usually during acts of passive submission, while lying on their back.
Hunting and Stalking When Wolves approach their prey they generally try to gain surprise by looking small or crouching below the level of the grass. Also, when making a snapping attack it benefits the attacker to maintain a low center of gravity so as not to loose balance and fall victim to a pin-down. To achieve this end, Wolves generally crouch and adopt a somewhat defensive posture as they approach their potential opponent. Note that the snarling Wolf in movies, looming around their victim is not only vilifying, but in general totally erroneous. Wolves only display ambivalence when they are attempting to avoid conflict and warn off a potential opponent. When Wolves hunt they seek every advantage of stealth, for their purpose is not to warn away, but to win a meal for themselves.
Hunting and Stalking
When Wolves approach their prey they generally try to gain surprise by looking small or crouching below the level of the grass. Also, when making a snapping attack it benefits the attacker to maintain a low center of gravity so as not to lose balance and fall victim to a pin-down. To achieve this end, Wolves generally crouch and adopt a somewhat defensive posture as they approach their potential opponent. Note that the snarling Wolf in movies, looming around their victim is not only vilifying, but in general totally erroneous. Wolves only display ambivalence when they are attempting to avoid conflict and warn off a potential opponent. When Wolves hunt they seek every advantage of stealth, for their purpose is not to warn away, but to win a meal for themselves.
Play Bow
Wolves love to play; it's one of their favorite group activities, right up there with hunting as a group. The play bow is an invitation to other Wolves to romp and play. The play bow is a deep forward bow, kind of like stretching, but there is no yawn, just an occasional woof-like vocalization with paws stretched forward, rump raised high, and tail straight out or wagging.
Running, fear
When a Wolf is afraid and runs to escape danger, the head is
lowered, the tail is tucked, and the ears are laid back.
Running, play/hunting
When Wolves run while playing or chasing pray they tend to be relaxed and cheerful, with head raised, ears in a somewhat neutral posture, and tail out straight or free hanging. Wolves love games of chase where they race each other. The lead Wolf in such games often finds his or her tail grabbed by the "tailing" Wolf.
Scent Marking
Scent plays an important role in lupine communications. A wolf is capable of smelling the details of an odor with a dozen times more accurately than a domestic canine, and probably a hundred times more accurately than a human being. Wolves have good vision, but really don't trust their eyes when identifying each other; they trust their sense of smell though, and rely on it to identify their territory and each other.
Wolves scent mark by urinating on a tree stump, a bush, or over another Wolf's mark or scat. Both males and females will mark by lifting a hind leg while semi-squatting to releasing a squirt of urine containing their own individual musk. Special anal scent glands also excrete an individual's scent onto their scat as they defecate. Other Wolves smelling these marks will know where a particular Wolf has been and the extent of his or her territory. Wolves know these scent marks so well that they may even know where a Wolf has been and what a Wolf has been eating during the customary genital sniffing that occurs while greeting each other.
Scent marking is quite important during mating season, when the male will mark over the female's urine and scat, and visa-versa, to indicate their mutual scent to others as being mated. This procedure is often referred to as "double-marking," and is accomplished by following the female around and immediately lifting leg and urinating over where she has recently defecated or peed. Double-marking is a very important aspect of pair bonding, and it is thought that the pair comes to associate each other's union through the consistency of their mutual marks; this may well be a kind of lupine wedding band made of golden fluid, rather than golden metal.
Scent Rolling Scent rolling is likely the way Wolves tell each other where they've been and what interesting smells they've discovered. Wolves often find things with unusual odors, and upon deciding something is pretty neat, will flop down and roll their whithers against the whatever-it-is to collect a sniff sample. Wolves not only collect carrion odors but also the scent of dung, flowers... almost anything the smell of might impress family and friends. It may be as simple as this: lupines enjoy wearing their style of perfume just as some humans do.
Submission, active
Active submission often looks like a subordinate Wolf begging the dominant for forgiveness. The submissive assumes a crouching posture with curled down rump and tail tucked and/or wagging. Then the submissive nuzzles and licks at the dominant's chin, lips, nose, and muzzle as is often seen in ritual greeting. The dominant will usually gaze ahead, raising the muzzle while accepting this display of respect and/or affection, with a bristled, but cool, appearance. This posture likely represents bowing and flattering the king in order to stave off possible disfavor.
Submission, passive (Dominance)
Passive submission takes two modes, rolling over and standing. The most common passive submissive posture is indicated by the subordinate Wolf rolling over onto the back and presenting the belly to the dominant Wolf. The submissive usually folds the paws across the chest and lifts the hind quarters. Occasionally, if the dominant Wolf is being quite aggressive, the subordinate may urinate. The submissive Wolf's tail may or may not be tucked. The dominant Wolf then stands over and sniffs and/or licks the muzzle, throat, genitals, and anus of the prostate Wolf. A less common mode of passive submission is very much like active submission, minus the nuzzling and licking activity. The subordinate Wolf tucks rear and tail and crouches down with ears and muzzle lowered.
Stretching, yawning
Stretching is initiated by a low forward bow with paws straight ahead, toes spread, rump raised high, and tail raised or back straight. Then the position is reversed so that the fore legs and head are raised, hind paws are pushed back, paws are curled under, pads sometimes skyward, and the tail lowered or pressed to one side. The stretch is usually accompanied by a yawn.
(All credit goes to http://runningwiththewolves.org/Behavior2.htm)