Dogs have been "man’s best friend" for a great many years and their various behaviours have sparked the interest of dog-owners and scientists alike. Their close relations, like the grey wolf (Canis Lupus) make an interesting point of study as many of the behaviours they demonstrate are similar. This article is designed to give you a deeper understanding of how the grey wolves communicate with each other.

The grey wolf is an extremely interesting animal. Its means of communication are as varied as they are interesting.

The first way they communicate is vocally. We have all heard wolves howling during the night and seen many depictions of wolves in films, but the truth is much more interesting. The first noise they use in communication is a growl; this is quite obviously a sound of anger and aggression. The wolf will use this sound to scare predators from its young, to defend its territory and before an imminent attack to scare of other wolves. The alpha male will use this sound to show his dominance and make others fear and respect him.

The next sound wolves use is a barking sound. These can vary in pitch and tone; they can be used to warn the other members of the pack of some impending danger, or merely as a means of getting attention of another wolf. Perhaps the most well-known of the sounds is howling; this usually takes place in a pack, with many wolves howling in unison. This is both captivating and fascinating. It may seem almost like a song that the pack engages in singing. It is also thought that the alpha and beta males are those who engage in this behaviour, and others, who are lower down in the pack chain of command, are not allowed to participate.

The next form of communication is the physical displays demonstrated by grey wolves. They will move their bodies into certain positions and stances in order to convey fear, anger, protectiveness and dominance. A wolf that is angry or wishes to scare off others will typically stand as tall as possible, with their teeth bared and they may make slow, calculated movements, as if stalking prey. Their fur will also stand up on end. In a pack, the most common ways of showing affection seem to be pushing noses together, rubbing against each other’s cheeks, nuzzling and licking each other. These are also behaviours demonstrated by mother’s towards their young and as such are protective displays.

The grey wolf is a fascinating and unique creature; its similarities with the household dog has no doubt added to its appeal. But it is its strange behaviours which make it stand out from other animals.

This article has been put together by the distance learning organisation Start Learning who are experts in home study.

If you want to find out more about Canine Science or many other distance learning courses please browse their website.