Introduction to Wolf Ethology

A behavior pattern is a set of actions combined for a single purpose, such as grooming. There are twelve behavior patterns identified in the family Canidae to which the dog and the wolf belong.

Investigative behavior:

sniffing, listening and looking

Epimeletic behavior:

Care giving to oneself or others. Grooming, shelter building, feeding

Et-epimeletic behavior:

Care soliciting or attention getting. Whining, yelping, tail wagging, licking face or hands, touching with paws

Allelomimeitc behavior:

Group behaviors. Walking or running together, howling, lying down together

Agnostic behavior:

Conflict. Fighting and predation, chasing, biting, snapping teeth, snarling, barking, wagging tip of tail, herding

Defense and escape reactions:

sitting, crouching, running away, yelping, showing teeth, tail between the legs, rolling on back, pawing and extending legs

Attitudes of dominance:

forepaws on back, growling, tail erect (may bite neck); standing over dog on ground, growling; standing or walking stiff-legged with tail erect; head down, back arched, tail down; mounting, tail down, neck biting, without pelvic thrusts

Attitudes of subordination:

allowing dominant animal to place feet on back, tail erect; tail down; tail between legs, crouching, ears depressed; roll on back legs extended, tail between legs

Sexual behavior:

Mounting, clasping, licking

Eliminative behavior:

Urination, defecation, sniffing, wandering, nosing the ground, scratching the ground

Ingestive behavior:

Eating, lapping, chewing, gnawing

Miscellaneous motor activities:

twitching while asleep, stretching, yawning, rolling over (Scott & Fuller: P63)

Additionally, some behavior patterns are closely associated with others in loose relationships called behavioral systems. For example, the investigative behavior pattern is combined with agnostic and ingestive behavior patterns to form a behavioral system whose function is to capture and eat prey. We often call innate behavior, instinct. (reference John Rodriguez - Dog Behavior)