I am confused about something.

[D0oinMeCleanin]

I had been under the impression that <a class="break-all" href="http://www.google.com/imgres?hl=en&sa=X&biw=1280&bih=902&tbm=isch&prmd=imvnsu&tbnid=S9_s92tigxFOWM:&imgrefurl=www.richardharland.net/WOLF/RealWolfFacts.htm&docid=VNdnJAuxbP1VvM&imgurl=www.richardharland.net/WOLF/RealWolfImages/realwolvespic6.jpg&w=549&h=412&ei=z8kyUKXrOoPZtAbEkID4Bw&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=198&vpy=372&dur=1&hovh=194&hovw=259&tx=88&ty=159&sig=109222879712565075320&page=1&tbnh=162&tbnw=214&start=0&ndsp=20&ved=1t:429,r:5,s:0,i:158" rel="nofollow noindex" target="_blank">these were Wolves

and <a class="break-all" href="//Vwww.google.com/imgres?hl=en&sa=X&biw=1280&bih=902&tbm=isch&prmd=imvns&tbnid=uLwau1FjLpHc9M:&imgrefurl=www.dogbreedinfo.com/cavalierkingcharlesspaniel.htm&docid=-W8BTPyTmK2dHM&imgurl=www.dogbreedinfo.com/images16/CavalierKingCharlesSpanielDaphne.JPG&w=400&h=341&ei=J8oyUIq2GczHswbypYGIAw&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=382&vpy=87&dur=26&hovh=207&hovw=243&tx=127&ty=142&sig=109222879712565075320&page=1&tbnh=151&tbnw=186&start=0&ndsp=22&ved=1t:429,r:1,s:0,i:145" rel="nofollow noindex" target="_blank">this Or these were dogs?

Have I been living with the wrong species all this time?

[TheCunnyFunt]

D0oin I can't get 'this' to work.

But yes, I believe you are correct in thinking that those wolves are wolves, and the iggy and the grund are dogs. Unfortunately though plenty of people think the iggy and the grund are wolves too.

[ChickensArentEligableForGold]

My dog is a crap wolf. He has long floppy ears and a sad expression. He's also red, which is only any good as camouflage in the autumn. In the woods.

[MothershipG]

I'm confused too! What are you getting at???

[PeriPathetic]

No no no! Totally the wrong species... we apparently have a fox on a lead who is sooooo wild I'm constantly told I'm cruel, yeah very wild

Mind you, this is the breed that's genetically closest to the wolf according to National Geographic

[ChickensArentEligableForGold]

Peri, your fox looks traumatised to have a comfy sofa to kip on. Shame on you. SHAME!

[PeriPathetic]

She more traumatised by the cat tbh!

[D0oinMeCleanin]

MotherG I had always thought the two were entirely different species, but the more I read on MN about them the more the appear to be one in the same.

Peri you evil thing. Keeping a fox on lead. And giving him a comfy sofa too He'll never learn his place in the pack if you do that. Trust me soon enough he will have you sleeping in one of <a class="break-all" href="http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=www.wildlifeonline.me.uk/images/graphics/fox_den_scat.jpg&imgrefurl=www.wildlifeonline.me.uk/red_fox.html&h=236&w=340&sz=64&tbnid=giu9jvuLCuHPzM:&tbnh=90&tbnw=130&zoom=1&usg=__BMyajKm9msWwSYgpHdXd5uAk2JU=&docid=YMMIr-QWrWsgEM&hl=en&sa=X&ei=G0ozUMDEMa-a0QWd9oHgCg&ved=0CFIQ9QEwAA&dur=6752" rel="nofollow noindex" target="_blank">these

[Cuebill]

Those vicious animals in your second link DooinMeCleanin need taking down a peg or two. It looks like they are trying to dominate your whole family by that dominate lying on the sofa behaviour.

[D0oinMeCleanin]

Luckily one of them has found her forever home where she has a sofa all of her own

The other one is barely capable of dominating a fly. She is a truly poor version of a wolf. She's more of a cat to be fair. An oddly shaped cat.

[Ephiny]

Mine are bears :)

[MothershipG]

Ah ha! Thanks D0oin!

I think if my guys tried to join up with their pack brothers they'd quickly become a little snack!

But watch out because I let them walk ahead of me, eat before I do, get up on the furniture and, heavens above! sleep with me! Just the first steps in their cunning plan of world domination, mwah, ha, ha (- that's their evil laugh.)

[PeriPathetic]

Bears?! Just looked at your photos, Ephiny, and they are gorgeous bears indeed! What are they?

So, lets make a list of what we're supposed to do to ensure the dogs don't become 'alpha' (can hardly type for laughing ).

1. Never allow them to walk in front of you (default position for a shiba as this allows you to admire their gorgeous fluffy butts)
   
   
2. Never allow them on the furniture (I'm not houseproud, but can see the advantage of this during massive moulting season. Not gonna happen though!)
   
   
3. Never feed the dog before your family. (She gets fed when it suits me, as do the family. It varies)
   
   Any more?

[TheCunnyFunt]

Never allow them to go through doorways/upstairs before you

[Topazandpearl]

Never let them lean against you (even when they just want reassurance coz you have stopped to talk to a neighbour and they are being wimps!)

[D0oinMeCleanin]

Dh's favourite is to growl at them when he is eating, just so they know he is pack leader and it's his food, not theirs

[ChickensArentEligableForGold]

My DH has a habit of being irritated by the dog, and then shouting various commands in quick succession thus: 'Sit! Down! Go away! Floor!'. This confuses the poor dog who generally resorts to spinning at his feet and tripping him up

[TantrumsAndOlympicGoldBalloons]

Really? You didn't know?

Wolves and dogs are the same thing

You must always make sure that the wolf/dog knows it place in the pack. Never allow it to have any emotions. And watch out for the lock jaw.

[toboldlygo]

Fierce wolefs

You would be amazed at how many people ask if the black and white one is a wolf cross (never the fuzzy piebald, though).

[MothershipG]

And don't forget if you feed raw that once they have the taste of blood they'll be chewing your arm off as soon as you fall asleep....don't say you weren't warned!

[D0oinMeCleanin]

Oh yes they can't taste blood. That'll remind them they're wolves for sure.

Which has just reminded about the time DH warned me not to add the extra mince to the dog's dish because "red meat makes them turn" Once I'd finished pissing myself laughing I advised to him to ring James WellBeloved and let them know because the dog was currently chowing down on lamb and rice kibble.

[Ephiny]

They're Rottweilers Peri - even the fluffy one apparently, though I am occasionally sceptical about that!

DH once tried carrying a 'pack leader' wooden stick (Cesar Milan style). BearDog promptly took it off him and trotted off with it...

[TantrumsAndOlympicGoldBalloons]

My DH tried carrying the stick once.
He had never had a dog before, bless him.

Big dog took one look at the stick and walked the other way. He refused to walk anywhere near DH. He sat down.

DH said to me "what's the matter with him?"
I told him he was waiting for him to throw the stick for him, so he did, big dog ran off under a tree with it. He never got it back. He also never bothered carrying a stick again!

Is that actual dog owner advice then? I thought my DH had made it up, I was pissing myself laughing when he told me.

[TantrumsAndOlympicGoldBalloons]

Oh and don't forget certain dogs are born knowing they are supposed to chase bulls and are incapable of distinguishing between a bull and a child/man/woman/other dog.

[Ephiny]

I think the stick is supposed to be a symbol of authority and leadership or something. Though evidently to dogs, a stick is just a stick :)

[TantrumsAndOlympicGoldBalloons]

Oh, I actually thought he'd made it up!

Well it didn't work. My dogs aren't stupid