It takes 90 minutes for a dog to get used to a human, but 24 hours for a wolf
When wolves begin exploring their world they are still blind and deaf

Research from the University of Massachusetts has found that wolves develop faster than dogs.

And although the animals are almost identical on a genetic level, these early experiences and developmental differences define their personalities, the researchers say.

Evolutionary biologist Dr Kathryn Lord studied how seven wolf pups and 43 dogs reacted to smells, sounds and visual stimuli.

She discovered both animals develop their senses at the same time.

The sense of smell at two weeks; hearing at four weeks; and vision by six weeks, on average.


However, the two subspecies enter what’s called the ‘critical period of socialisation’ at different stages.

This period of socialisation is when animals begin exploring their world without fear.

All the smells, sights, tastes and noises these animals experience during this time become familiar and safe.

As the period progresses, fear increases and once the window of socialisation has closed new sights, sounds and smells will be seen as unfamiliar and scary.

For wolf and dog pups this period of socialisation lasts for four weeks.


During this time, dogs are usually introduced to humans and other animals so will be comfortable with them forever.

Wolves traditionally are not, and this makes them consider humans as threats when and if they do eventually come into contact with them.

The study also found that wolves enter this period of socialisation when they are two weeks old, whereas dogs don’t enter it until they’re four weeks.

This means that when wolves begin exploring their world they are still blind and deaf.

By the time a wolf pup’s sight and hearing has fully developed, they are closer to the end of their socialisation window so their levels of fear are heightened.



This means that even if they come into contact with humans during this period, they may still be wary and fearful of them.

Dr Lord says, ‘No one knew this about wolves, that when they begin exploring they are blind and deaf and rely primarily on smell at this stage. This is very exciting.

The difference may not be in the gene itself, but in when the gene is turned on.

The data may help to explain why, if you want to socialise a dog with a human, all you need is 90 minutes between the ages of four and eight weeks.

But with a wolf pup, achieving even close to the same fear reduction requires 24-hour contact before they reach three weeks old.


And even then you will not get the same attachment or lack of fear.'

Dr Lord's research studied the behavior of three groups of young animals: 11 wild wolves from three litters, and 43 dogs total.

Of the dogs, 33 border collies and German shepherds were raised by their mothers.

A control group of 10 German shepherd pups were hand-raised, meaning a human was introduced soon after birth.

She believes this new information has implications for managing wild and captive wolf populations.
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