Skittish Dogs/"Living in the Past"...

ORIGINAL: TinaK

From my observations, I concluded that frequent use of calming signals is not dependent on the social rank of the wolf. Rather, these signals are used far more often than originally expected. The data suggests that certain wolves, such as Daughter Wolf, take the role of peacemaker, making it their duty to downplay aggression and comfort their peers. The data also indicates that relations within a wolf pack are indeed extremely complex.

Yes, they are indeed complex, and it's well worth studying opinions with scrutiny, logic, and with an open and independantly thinking mind.

Although humans and wolves (or dogs) are not the same species, they are both social mammals who communicate with the group for the harmony and survival as a whole.

The above paragraph you quoted reminds me very much of my studies of addiction, co-dependant families, and family dynamics in general. Often times one of the human children will also become the "peacemaker" during family conflicts. However, it is a response to, and an indicator of - the conflict.

ORIGINAL: Angelique
I figured you probably already knew to be careful about sending mixed messages. []

Yes, I know to be careful ... but that doesn't always play out in action! []
This is the cornerstone of my learning, right now, in fact. I'm still shifting gears out of "poor doggie" syndrome.[8D]

ORIGINAL: TinaK
Have you tried pretend-crying in front of your dog?

No, but when I was in bed with a bad flu, Ixa spent a lot of time next to my bed with a similar expression you describe. For about a week, after I recovered, she woulld look a little concerned every time I got into bed.

Tina, you should do a youtube dog show!

ORIGINAL: Angelique
Often times one of the human children will also become the "peacemaker" during family conflicts.

Funny, I was thinking that, too! In the human world we call that dysfunction. But among wolves, the daughter wolf/peacemaker role seems like a darned good thing!

In the human world we call that dysfunction.

Probably it is dysfunction if we do it to our own detriment. []

ORIGINAL: Ixas_girl

ORIGINAL: Angelique

I figured you probably already knew to be careful about sending mixed messages. []

Yes, I know to be careful ... but that doesn't always play out in action! []
This is the cornerstone of my learning, right now, in fact. I'm still shifting gears out of "poor doggie" syndrome.[8D]

Yes! When you are constantly being told your dog is "reacting in fear", the immediate human response is to feel pity and sympathy. Not a very constuctive position to be put into in order to be a stable, confident leader, who can help their dog feel safe in their presense. []

Here's a great article regarding this topic:

[linkhttp://www3.sympatico.ca/tsuro/_articles/why_do_that.html]http://www3.sympatico.ca/tsuro/_articles/why_do_that.html[/link]

ORIGINAL: Ixas_girl

ORIGINAL: Angelique

Often times one of the human children will also become the "peacemaker" during family conflicts.

Funny, I was thinking that, too! In the human world we call that dysfunction. But among wolves, the daughter wolf/peacemaker role seems like a darned good thing!

I think in both humans and wolves (or dogs) this is simply part of a certain being's personality type. Noone taught the human child or the daughter wolf to take on this role, yet it seemed to kick in almost instinctively to "heal" the social group (or family) in times of crisis.

In the wild, pack conflicts are reletively brief and are resolved quickly for the good of all. Captive wolves, are another story. Farley Mowat's "Never Cry Wolf" was an excellent book regarding natural wolf pack behavior on the arctic tundra.

This book blew a lot of the captive wolf studies out of the water. I particularly enjoyed reading about the wolf called "Uncle Albert". He was the gentle babysitter to the youngsters while mom and dad were out hunting mice (the primary food source of this particular ack).

I actually met a wolf hybrid once, who had this personality. Amazing creature. []