The question arises again and again. How dangerous is the Wolf?
Is its predation really so terrible?
It is time to get some facts on the table
How intelligent is the Wolf?
My answer is VERY INTELLIGENT. Intelligent enough to use symbols,
rituals, and common sense reasoning powers.
It is difficult to credit the Wolf with reasoning powers
quick reflexes from instinct, but in ordinary circumstances
he resolves most of his dilemmas by quiet thought.
Not as we do nor to the extent that we are capable of,
but he does think. Wolf cubs in the right hands can and
do adjust to human society to a tremendous degree; in fact,
much better than we can adjust to their few necessary
evolutionary behaviors. However, cubs must be isolated from
the adults from 4 to 6 months of age or they will learn that
they ARE WOLVES and begin training as a Wolf, leaving us as
just friendly suckers, and not pack leaders and parents.
This isolation does not bend or maladjust the psychology
of the wolf unless it is neglected, abused, or teased excessively.
In fact, it can achieve a bit of superiority in
reasoning powers by this process.
They must have company, either human or a compatible
animal of comparative size and age. They CANNOT live
happily alone. This is due to their evolutionary pack society.
Once psychologically bonded to humans, dogs, or wolves,
these bonds cannot be broken but are retained for life.
Much more than we can claim for us humans, eh?
Being isolated from compatible companions will
usually warp the personality of a wolf and it will
become neurotic and either become withdrawn and
timid or sullen and aggressive. Thus, the success or
failure in hand raising wolves is really within the
knowledge and caring of its human counterpart.
There are people who claim the only good wolf
is a dead wolf!. I say, "There are NO bad wolves,
only people fit into that category." Taken at 17 days at
the latest,Now the question arises and is many
times asked of me, "What earthly good are they?"
While it seems incredible that the question need be asked,
I suppose that to the uninitiated it is plausible.
My reasons for wishing to admire and view wolves are:
1.their incomparable beauty
2.their dignity and lack of subservient, slavish
obedience to anyone or anything .
3.their exceptional intelligence
4.their ability to bond with us frail humans.
5.their expressiveness
6.their unique and superior family society .
7.their ability to compete with just about
anything except man.
8.their hardiness
9.their sensitivity to needs of their peers.
10.their devotion to their family,
be it biped or quadruped .
11.their loyalty to those they love
12.their seeming lack of holding grudges .
13.their magnificent size .
14their instantaneous response to their instincts.
15.the fact that they can bridge 100,000,000
years of wild evolution to live a happy,
unstressed life in captivity with us .
I have many more reasons for being a "Wolf Lover"
but these are the most important ones. Unfortunately,
many people want wolves and hybrids for other
diverse reasons. I shall name a few of them:
Some people want them to use as a status symbol,
others for an ego trip.
Some to be able to own or possess a creature that
"just everyone doesn't or cannot have."
(Some for their own curiosity.
(Some for the urge to allay their inferiority complexes.
(Some want them in order to be ultra macho
and dominant over their peers.
(Some for the genuine desire to protect
and sustain the genes.
It is difficult to peer into the skull of some of these freaks.
Some of the most deplorable motives of these people
are hidden behind natural con people and they will
snow job one into thinking that their motivations are legitimate.
In order to become good wolf psychologist it helps
if you can understand human nature.
THERE JUST ARE NOT ANY BAD WOLVES.
One does not need to be a genius in order to raise
a wolf right. One needs only to sensitive and well
instructed and adhere to the few simple absolutes
that are needed.
As one goes along with an observant eye and follows
the simple rules that are needed, the Wolf itself
becomes a teaching experience. Through this,
one should keep in mind that there are slight
moderations of treatment and handling between individuals
and comply with these differences, adjusting somewhat
as the Wolf adjusts to our differences of personality.
