Luna – Checking Staff Training

Luna’s behavior has always been a contributing factor to wolf care training, whether it be monitoring her interactions with the packmates, her focus on food and caches or her tolerances for physical bodywork, staff need to be extremely tied into her body language to know how to respond.  Luna is quick to assume leadership over any circumstance, so we need to interpret and understand her body language to be proactive.  Some may think dominance is synonymous with the term domineering, but when working with adult wolves, we need to understand that wolves respond to the energy and actions of the packmates and for socialized wolves, that includes the human handlers.  Dominance and leadership starts with calm energy and if we begin interacting with Luna when she’s in an excited state, her response will be excitement.  When wolves get excited, they are prone to grab-biting.  So, to those of you who emailed me asking if it is normal for wolves to grab the hands of the wolf care staff, the answer is no, but is it something that can occur?  Yes, both Luna and Boltz can respond with a level of stimulation that needs to be calmed before we can do our jobs.  They are both turning 6- years old this month, if you are interested in honoring Luna or Boltz’s birthdays, please consider a donation to the Wolf Care Fund and under designation, select wolf care.  In addition to vet care, medication, food and supplies, the wolf care fund helps pay for hands-on training.  Join us for Luna’s birthday webinar on March 25th, follow this link for registration.