Wolf Behavior

[Hitoban no Fokkusu]

Wolves behave in a very particular way when communicating with each other. Hopefully this guide will help you to understand what to post in your RPs.

Body Language

Affection

• To a mate: Lick their cheek and lovingly bite their lower jaw.
  
• To a friend: Nuzzling is a form of wolf embrace.
  
• To a leader: Biting gently under the chin and ducking the head (ears pulled back or not) is a signal of admiration and homage towards them.
  
• A leader, when given the above signal, will wag their tail and bite the top of the underling's nose.
  
• The tail will always be at rest when showing affection, or wagging if particularly happy.

Dominance

• Tail is raised like a flag or stiff (if they're going to attack)
  
• Ears are pinned forward
  
• Sometimes they show teeth, sometimes accompanied by snarling or growling.
  
• Legs are straight and locked.
  
• Tongue-thrusting may occur here too.

Active Submission

• In active submission, the entire body is lowered
  
• The lips and ears are drawn back
  
• Sometimes active submission is accompanied by a rapid thrusting out of the tongue and lowering of the hindquarters
  
• The tail is placed down, or halfway or fully between the legs
  
• The muzzle often points up to the more dominant animal, and they will attempt to lick the chin of the dominant one.
  
• The back may be partially arched as the submissive wolf humbles itself to its superior. (A more arched back and more tucked tail indicate a greater level of submission.)

Passive Submission
Passive submission is more intense than active submission.

• The wolf rolls on its back and exposes its vulnerable throat and underside.
  
• The paws are drawn into the body.
  
• This is often accompanied by whimpering.

Anger

• Ears are erect
  
• its fur bristles.
  
• The lips may curl up or pull back, and the incisors are displayed.
  
• They my also snarl.
  
• The tail will normally be horizontal to the body, showing they're about to attack.

Fear
A frightened wolf tries to make its body look small and therefore less conspicuous.

• The ears flatten down against the head
  
• The tail is tucked between the legs, as with a submissive wolf.
  
• There may also be whimpering or barks of fear
  
• The wolf's back will arch.

Aggressive

• An aggressive wolf snarls
  
• Its fur bristles
  
• The wolf may crouch, ready to attack if necessary.
  
• The tail is horizontal to the body

Suspicion

• Pulling back of the ears
  
• The wolf narrows its eyes, much like a human.
  
• The tail of a wolf that senses danger points straight out, parallel to the ground.

Relaxed

• A relaxed wolf's tail hangs down, just resting. The further down the tail droops, the more relaxed the wolf is.
  
• The wolf may rest sphinxlike, or on its side.
  
• The wolf's tail may also wag.

Happy

• As dogs do, a wolf may wag its tail if it is in a joyful mood.
  
• The tongue may loll out of the mouth.
  
• The stance is relaxed, and the ears are halfway raised, but not flat.

Playful

• A playful wolf holds its tail high (not as high as the dominant wolf) and wags it.
  
• The wolf may frolic and dance around, or bow by placing the front of its body down to the ground, while holding the rear high, sometimes wagged. This is reminiscent of the playful behavior executed in domestic dogs.

Listening

• When a wolf is listening for sound, the ears will swivel to find the direction.
  
• They will stand still and kind of "point" (like a Pointer, but not so much.)
  
• The head will often be tilted upwards and sideways.

Eyes
As with every creature, the eyes are the best way to get communication across. If body language is not available, eyes are always a great change.

Sound

Howl
The how is the main form of communication. Howling will occur when a wolf is:

• Lonely
  
• Sad
  
• Trying to get another wolf's attention who is far away
  
• Calling the rest of their pack
  
• Victorious (ie they made a kill)
  
• Just for fun and togetherness with the pack

Growl
Anger, dislike, fear, and dominance.

Bark
Fear, playfulness, attention-grabbing (if a wolf wants to let another wolf know they're behind them without startling them etc)

Whimper
Scared, submissive, sad, in pain, affectionate

Yipping
The pup form of barking


If I missed anything, feel free to PM me and let me know. Thanks,
-Hito