Distraction techniques when dealing with socialised wolves.

There is nothing more dangerous than forgetting that socialised wild animals are just that, wild animals. They work at a completely different level, both mentally and physically, to their domesticated cousins. Being knowledgeable about dogs is a poor starting point when deciding on a satisfactory way of dealing with wolves. You have to unlearn everything you know about dogs and start from the other end, applying what you learn about wolves to help with dealing with dogs. Trying to treat wolves in the same way that you treat dogs is a very dangerous concept. As well as being over three times more powerful than most domestic dog breeds, the wolf is also more intelligent. Unlike its domestic cousins the wolf matures to full adulthood. It does not feel the urge to ingratiate itself with humans as dogs do. It thinks for itself, it is a problem solver and it comes to its own conclusions.

When trained, and sometimes even when not properly trained, a domestic dog can be made to come when called. It is conditioned to come without thinking. This is not so with a wolf. The wolf comes if it wants to, and if it thinks it might gain from coming. Even then it might not be what is on offer that the wolf has decided it wants, it could be something the handler least expects the wolf to take.

Wolves that have been socialised by methods learned and taught by the founder of the UK Wolf Conservation Trust have a certain amount of respect for the human handlers able to apply the methods properly. Once this respect has been gained, other means can be used, though you always need the more in the face methods when things start to go wrong.

Given that the sense of smell of a wolf is many times more powerful than that of a human, the carrying of treats into an enclosure containing wolves is a total none starter as they will detect them from distance, and once detected they will want them. Trying to fend of a wolf which has no respect for you one handed while you struggle to get distraction treats from your pocket will just result in losing your pocket, or worse. This is if the incident is relatively low level, in a full blown attack treats for distraction will be about as much use as a chocolate teapot.