February 2009

Canine Language

February 16, 2009
Source: http://www.sxc.hu/pic/m/m/mi/miklosz/703803_dog.jpg

The way in which a canine (wolf or domestic dog) holds itself and the expression on its face can give us an indication of whether the animal is feeling fear, anger or uncertainty. The wolf able to use a diverse range of facial expressions to visually communicate it moods. These signals rang from a very small shift in weight from right to left, up to the obvious ones of standing over a prone wolf with its teeth bared to indicate dominion.

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Origins of the Modern Dog

February 7, 2009
Source: http://www.artofwolves.com/posters.htm

One study undertaken by Eric Zimen, a wolf biologist, recorded a number of specific behaviours, 362 in fact, that are displayed by wolves. He and his colleagues then studied poodles, yep you got it, poodles to determine the number of wolf like behaviours they replicated.

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Wolf Origins – Part 2

February 5, 2009
Source: http://www.defendersofwildlife.org/wildlife_and_habitat/wildlife/wolf,_gray.php

Due to the reduction in their natural habitat by the encroachment of man into the wilderness they once claimed as their own, many wolves can no longer find the moose, caribou and deer that they once hunted and many now die from starvation or are forced to hunt smaller animals and scavenge for food.

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Wolf Origins – Part 1

February 1, 2009
Source: unknown

Even with the small variations in the appearance of each sub-species, two main varieties of wolves can be identified. These are the timber and tundra wolf. As could be expected, the timber wolf leaves mainly in forests and their colouring is mainly grey and/or black with pointed ears. The timber wolf’s coat consists of shorter, denser hair with compact foot pads. The tundra wolf has smaller rounded ears, longer coat hair, longer legs and larger feet to enable travel through snow.

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