Cheyenne's Howl

Printed in Mountain Messenger on Friday May 16, 1997

Leaving The Den

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Last week I left you with the pups coming out of the den for the first time. Although they will be nursing for a few more weeks, they are now eating some semi-solid food that has been regurgitated by the adults. By the adult bringing food to the young in their stomachs, there is no odor of food leading a trail to the den site. This is one way to keep predators from easily finding the pups.

The pups are now growing at a rapid rate. These curious youngsters are eager to explore this new world outside their den. Everything becomes a play toy whether it is a twig, a piece of bone, blade of grass, or a puddle of water. They can drive you nuts if you let them. They enjoy using us older wolves as targets and will energetically attack us as we are resting. They will climb all over us and vigorously nip at our ears and tails. I must admit that I can only take so much of this and then I get up and leave and let someone else take over. Occasionally one will push me too far and I will let them know my displeasure by growling and baring my teeth. If they don't get the message, I will knock them down with my muzzle and hold them with my foot for a second or two. If I have a real rebel on my hands, I will clamp my jaw around their muzzle. This does not hurt them. It does however startle them and introduces the pups to the realities of rank within the pack.

I was an excellent, well behaved youngster, (and still am), as I was growing up. Every so often I did do things that did not please my Dad at the Gallery. If he ever growls at me I will immediately drop to the ground and submit to him. A couple of times I did push him too far and he then had to bite down on my muzzle. One time I thought he was going to leave his partial imbedded in my nose. He was sure upset about the foolish and dangerous mistake I made. No I'm not going to tell you what I did as it's kind of embarrassing. I learned real quick just how far I could push him. Whatever you do, if he starts growling, take it from me, you better back off.

If you ever decide to have one of us as a companion animal, I would suggest that you learn to discipline us as we would have been if we were still under the supervision of our birth parents and part of their pack. We understand this way and know it's for our own good and safety. Do not ever raise your hand to strike us, not even with a newspaper or anything else. Any pain inflicted by your hand, or anything in your hand, will be not be forgotten. Some day we might even feel forced to defend ourself. That "spare the rod, spoil the child" saying, does not work on wolves. I do not recommend it even on other members of the canine family. Discipline us with love, not anger.

Cheyenne

P.S. At last the KP Cafe is again open for the summer season. Hey Ted, where is my buffalo burger? I don't want to go all the way down to the Buffalo Overlook off of Highway 70 to get one. Those live ones are too much work to get. I like them served on a plate, not running around in a field.