Denali – Threatening Posture

Denali has become the focus of the two year old practice tests.  They practice ride-up behaviors, chin rests, dual confrontations and eventually get a scruff bite and submission from Denali.  Certainly, Denali shows some threat displays in response to this attention, but Denali spent the last two years wrestling and chasing with Boltz and Luna, as if he were a pup mate, not a higher ranking pack member showing any leadership.  The consequences of interacting as an equal versus as a wolf with more dominance is that the two year olds are less intimidated by threat displays.  This same situation happened to Malik when Grizzer was maturing, Malik eventually lost status to Grizzer and was the bottom of the rank order until Aidan and Denali were introduced in 2008.  While each wolf has their own personality, sometimes the scenarios repeat themselves.