Why a wolf will never be mans best friend: Scientists find out why dogs become domesticated (and

say the first month of their life is key)

It takes 90 minutes for a dog to get used to a human, but 24 hours for a wolf When wolves begin exploring their world they are still blind and deaf
By DAILY MAIL REPORTER
PUBLISHED: 17:45 GMT, 18 January 2013 | UPDATED: 17:48 GMT, 18 January 2013 http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2264622/Wolves-versus-dogs-Why-wolf-mansbest-friend-Scientists-dogs-domesticated.html

The mystery of why dogs are mans best friend, while their wolf cousins are seen as feral beasts may have been solved. Research from the University of Massachusetts has found that wolves develop faster than dogs. And although the animals are almost identical on a genetic level, these early experiences and developmental differences define their personalities, the researchers say.

Dogs are seen as loving creatures, whereas their wolf cousins are considered wild and ferocious. A study from Massachusetts has discovered this may be due to their early stages of development

Evolutionary biologist Dr Kathryn Lord studied how seven wolf pups and 43 dogs reacted to smells, sounds and visual stimuli. She discovered both animals develop their senses at the same time.

Researchers at the University of Massachusetts studied the development of 43 dogs including a control group of 10 German shepherd pups that were handraised, meaning a human was introduced soon after birth

The sense of smell at two weeks; hearing at four weeks; and vision by six weeks, on average. However, the two subspecies enter whats called the critical period of socialisation at different stages. This period of socialisation is when animals begin exploring their world without fear.

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All the smells, sights, tastes and noises these animals experience during this time become familiar and safe. As the period progresses, fear increases and once the window of socialisation has closed new sights, sounds and smells will be seen as unfamiliar and scary. For wolf and dog pups this period of socialisation lasts for four weeks. During this time, dogs are usually introduced to humans and other animals so will be comfortable with them forever. Wolves traditionally are not, and this makes them consider humans as threats when and if they do eventually come into contact with them. The study also found that wolves enter this period of socialisation when they are two weeks old, whereas dogs dont enter it until theyre four weeks. This means that when wolves begin exploring their world they are still blind and deaf. By the time a wolf pups sight and hearing has fully developed, they are closer to the end of their socialisation window so their levels of fear are heightened. This means that even if they come into contact with humans during this period, they may still be wary and fearful of them.

Wolves have a reputation for being feral beasts, but research has found that they first explore their world when they are still blind and deaf making it a scarier place than for dogs

Dr Lord says, No one knew this about wolves, that when they begin exploring they are blind and deaf and rely primarily on smell at this stage. This is very exciting.

A WOLF BY ANOTHER OTHER NAME

According to DNA studies, the domestic dog is most closely related to the grey wolf. There is point-two-percent difference between the DNA of a domestic dog, and the DNA of a grey wolf. The difference between a coyote and domestic dog is higher, at four per cent. Domestic dogs are said to originate from wolf cubs that were used as guards by humans over 40,000 years ago in southeast Asia.

Since that time wolves have been domesticated and used have been used by humans for hunting and herding. There are around 400 modern breeds of domesticated dogs. The difference may not be in the gene itself, but in when the gene is turned on. The data may help to explain why, if you want to socialise a dog with a human, all you need is 90 minutes between the ages of four and eight weeks. But with a wolf pup, achieving even close to the same fear reduction requires 24-hour contact before they reach three weeks old. And even then you will not get the same attachment or lack of fear.' Dr Lord's research studied the behavior of three groups of young animals: 11 wild wolves from three litters, and 43 dogs total. Of the dogs, 33 border collies and German shepherds were raised by their mothers. A control group of 10 German shepherd pups were hand-raised, meaning a human was introduced soon after birth. She believes this new information has implications for managing wild and captive wolf populations.
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German Wolfman Werner Freund Feeds Pack by Mouth

"Primero, el macho alfa del lobo Heiko se acerc a l y le lami la boca, que es un signo de reconocimiento y un signo de pertenencia a la manada

l acta como el macho alfa a su alrededor para asegurarse de que respetan y aceptan l como uno de los suyos. He said, however, that wolves cannot be tamed. "From the moment the wolf cubs taste meat and blood, they turn into predators and cannot be domesticated like dogs," he said.