We all know it from dogs, when they greet us happily or want to play together: They wag their tails. Wolves, too, express excited joy and exuberance. It belongs to the signals, with which they communicate with each other. We humans have our language. We say for example: "Let's all go to the Greek for dinner." Whoever speaks our language and knows it too, which restaurant is meant by the "Greek". understood the message and can act accordingly.
Animals don't have a language like we do. Nevertheless, you can z. B. communicate with gestures such as wagging the tail. This is very important, because they always have to decide together, whether they turn left at a fork in the road, to run to the right or straight ahead, who takes on what role in the hunt and who is allowed to mate with whom during the breeding season.
In body language, the posture and movement of each part of the body have a specific meaning. Let's start at the top of the head: Ears pointing forward mean attentive self-confidence, ears tilted backwards insecurity. When the auricle is then pulled all the way down, presses the wolf (and the dog) hence submission.
The facial expression is particularly expressive. Attack is the order of the day, when the wolf starts, baring one's front teeth. But if he pulls the corners of his mouth backwards, so that you can see all the teeth, this indicates increasing anxiety. If the mouth is then opened and the teeth are fully bared, is this a sign of the highest level of defense.
Buckled legs, a bowed head and a pinched tail indicate fear. Stiff-legged strutting around with a high tail and bristling back hair mean, that the animal is afraid, but at the same time ready to attack. The wolf shows off, makes itself bigger, than he really is, play the brave, In reality, however, he is afraid.
Conversely, relaxed movements testify to security and trust. The friendly wolf wags its tail exuberantly, sometimes even with the whole body. He also bends his legs a little and lowers his head, but then lifts, when he's with his partner, snout up and tries to lick his face. Sometimes he rolls over on his back and shows his submissiveness, above all, when he spreads his hind legs. Or he makes jerky movements with the whole body, jumping around and at the other one too. This is then a sign of joy in playing and exuberant friendliness.
Also the hierarchy among wolves (or dogs) can only be recognized by their body language. The highest-ranking animal does not need it, however, to constantly demonstrate his position. It runs upright, but loosely around. Only the raised tail betrays its claim to the highest position in the pack. The lower the rank of a wolf (or dog) is, the more he lowers his tail and buckles his legs, when he meets someone of higher rank.
However, this only applies to the adult animals among themselves. Puppies or small dogs can move around much more freely. They just have to express their childishness clearly enough through playful behavior. Do not do it, they quickly get a "ruffle". An older wolf threatens or bites the puppy vigorously on the snout.
The “language” of wolves
Body language is found in all higher animals, however, it is particularly highly developed in wolves. Wolves also make sounds such as growling or whimpering, but the posture of your body conveys the most important information. It's the same with dogs. However, not all dogs can move their ears as much as wolves, because they are very small or droop through breeding. It is particularly bad that way, that some dogs have their tails docked (shortens), only because it supposedly looks nicer. Hardly any part of the body in a dog or a wolf can express more than the tail. We humans can also learn the body language of wolves and dogs. If you understand, what wolves or dogs communicate, you can learn a lot of interesting things about their behavior.