[Wneighbor]

No. No background. Both were "domesticated" when I got 'em. I mean, they can all become wild again, but these were raised in homes.

Actually Scott may find this odd, but of the breeds of dogs I've had I found my dalmation to be most like the wolf in temperament and attention requirements. Both the dals and the wolves required amazing amounts of love, devotion and attention. And they gave back more just as much or more than they got. Both were hyper critters and needed to be given lots of running. I think partially I was able to bond with them so well because I was single when I had them. Had their been a significant other in my life - I don't think I could have handled the wolves. They are very pack oriented and will adopt the family as a pack but only want one adult to be alpha to them.

[HairOfTheDog]

Well, I am tired from fencing too, and our connection is real iffy again tonight. Won't stay up.

... hmmmm...

Hey Ramius, Hunt for Red October just started. Spike TV, if you get that.

[HairOfTheDog]

Well, I am tired from fencing too, and our connection is real iffy again tonight. Won't stay up.

... hmmmm... gonna hit the couch for the night.

Hey Ramius, Hunt for Red October just started. Spike TV, if you get that.

[HairOfTheDog]

~excuse me~

[Scott from the Left Coast]

The Dals are Very pack-oriented. I hadn't thought of them as wolf-like but that might be because I have no experience with wolves! But the traits Wneighbor describes are quite accurate to my experience with Dals as well.

[Fedora]

I think partially I was able to bond with them so well because I was single when I had them. Had their been a significant other in my life - I don't think I could have handled the wolves. They are very pack oriented and will adopt the family as a pack but only want one adult to be alpha to them.

Very interesting! Makes sense. We had a husky-lab mix who was part wolf and you could see the same trait in him to a lesser degree. He'd recognize my Dad as the alpha because my Dad was the one who usually fed him, but he treated my Mom and brothers and me differently.