WWS, it happens, but only to us lucky ones.(G) As the say "Winter Wolves Can Be Fun." Although it can happen to any animal it is more prevalent in captive pures and Hi % F1's and not all the animals in that category will get it. WWS will be more noticeable in an animal that has imprinted on you and has been highly socialized to humans. This type animal will treat conspecifics and humans as social companions. They will very likely challenge humans for dominance, especially those humans that have imprinted. All this will (or may) start, the winter of maturity, the winters between 3 & 4 or 2 & 3 years old, some may even be earlier or later. Remember, not all pures and Hi % F1's will get WWS!!! Also remember, the more social the animal the more confidence it has and is more likely to challenge. The shyer the animal, the less confidence it has and is less likely to dominate attack at maturity. Different animals do different things or nothing at all. Some will be just as mellow as they were in the summer, some will totally ignore you and then there are the others. Two Feathers, was one of the others. (G)

This is still mostly related to Hi F1's and pures but can happen with others. Some of you out there have pures related to my Two Feathers (Twoee for short) Some are brothers and others, cousins and they are coming into the winter of Maturity. WWS is a maturity thing along with sexual behavior. Twoee is 9 years old now and was neutered just before his fourth birthday in the spring of 1995 after a winter of maturity, WWS. I knew I had the exception in Twoee. Bottle fed at 2 1/2 weeks and human companionship 24 hours a day for the first six months of his life, along with being socialized with the guys outside. He imprinted on me like I was a God.and you couldn't have an animal more social to humans than he was. You could do anything with him. Monty took sperm, Nick Federoff took blood, and Twoee was like, ok I can do that. We did quite a few camp-outs going as far as IN. and TN. At some of the camp-outs he was used for educational purposes, by Monty, Nick, Pam Butler and a few others. I put this in here to show you how social Twoee was. I had just raised the exception to all rules reguarding a "98". Twoee turned 3 years old on 5 May 1994 and was still just a puppy, puppy. He didn't know a stranger; you could take him anywhere, and rolling over on his back submitting was as natural as eating. As they say all good things must end.

Jan. 3 1995, My now, ex-girlfriend, comes in saying Twoee just growled at her with hackles up, but let her do what she went out to do. I went out he gave me a little growl but rolled over for a tummy rub. I told her he'll be ok. Most of our time was spent with Twoee and the other guys, so we both read them very well. Jan. 4 1995, I when out to play with Two Feathers & Choctaw ( spayed Female), I got 50 feet in to the compound when the attack came. First the growls then the hackles went up and I knew I was in trouble when all his teeth were showing. The most fearful part was the focus and stalk. I could not break his eye focus and I knew he was coming, first at a walk and now at a run. Monty from Wolf Park and I had discussed this behavior when he was up for a visit that past April and I knew it may or may not happen. All this may sound dramatic but this is how it happened with Two Feathers. Don't take my word for it, just ask Christine, Missy, Gudrun and some others that are here. They will tell you it can get scarey and happen in different ways but you will never forget the "Focus". I knew not to run and I had too far to go to the double doors. The leap came from about 6 to 8 feet away and I was able to brush him to the side and yelled, "No!" at Twoee as he went by, his eye focus never left me. He hit on the return, head high, but I had a chance to brace myself. It's not funny when you can count all the teeth on a full grown mature male. I got turned around and now he was on my back ( where I wanted him, better balance.) and we walked out to the door, all the while he ripping at my jacket and swiping with his claws, the welts from the claws stayed about two months. All this from an animal who didn't really want to hurt me, just wanted to put on a little dominate pressure. This was Jan. and I would have to deal with it until April.

I called Wolf Park and talked to Monty that night, we had a good laugh. "Winter Wolves are Fun." That night I realized the 4 foot poop shovel was the answer. The next night I went in with the shovel, if I just held the shovel straight down he would come over growling, hackles up and teeth showing but would let me pet him. If I swung the shovel back and forth he would move away. After four or five expieriments I got it through my thick head, without the shovel in my hand he would attack, and did every time. You got to verify these things. (G) Two Feathers was neutered that April, just before his fourth birthday. It was quite a show, Monty & Jill were there from Wolf Park to Video and do sperm tests, Nick Federoff was there to do rabies blood test and sperm tests. I always called Twoee a "98". After all was done, my Vet told us all he just cut out that 2% dog. (G) Twoee was never the same, I lost my puppy, puppy, to a full grown MATURE WOLF. With this type of animal you learn the meaning of living in mutual respect for each other. The animal will not be trying to hurt you, just dominance, but things can escalate very quickly into an all out attack and that depends on you. It has gotten better each winter since he was neutered and now summer and winter just blends although he will stalk me at times in the winter. After he turned five everyone was a stranger to be tested. I had a Wolf Park intern come for a visit and she did an educational progam with me and Twoee, Twoee would let her pet and feed him through the potable pen but once her foot was through the door he would grab and put pressure. This was done at least five times with different wolf people, got to verify. Now, no one new goes in with him. Those of you that say OH! it's just the way the animal was brought up, well all I can say is, go educate your self. Wolves can change, captive or wild, A WOLF IS A WOLF. A friend has Twoee's cousin not far from me who neutered at 6 months (I did a lot of talking) and this should be his winter, we will see, God willing, what happens.

Paul, Two Feathers and the rest of the Brat Pack