18. The Whelping
Although the female wolf might express desire for her human counterpart
to stay with her until one cub is born, she usually will tell one to
leave immediately after. It seems that she might feel insecure until
she has whelped the first one; then confidence returns and she just
doesn’t need anyone. I comply with these wishes completely, making sure
that the temperature is just right, 65 degrees at floor level and no
draft. Dog whelping temperature will stress a wolf till she will
hyperventilate excessively and might even abandon her den.
My dens are 3 feet by 3 feet by 6 feet long, rugs on floor, protected
from digging instinct by 1″ x 1″ 12 gauge wire stretched taut and
fastened securely around the entire perimeter. 1″ boards for floor so I
can use nails to hold the wire, small large headed nails to hold rug
solid. The bitch will keep this den immaculate, and it will need no
human attention.
The opening in front of the dens are 13 inches wide and 22 inches high,
and one can keep a swinging piece of rug over it for a day or two, so
that it swings inwards when the bitch enters and outward when she exits,
but drops back to cover the entry way. In a day or two after whelping,
she will rip it off as she knows instinctively when her body heat, along
with the electric heater, can supply the correct ambient temperature.
I mount my 1,500 watt heaters in a plywood box near the rear of the den
with a wire mesh protector in front of it at least three inches away, so
that the bitch cannot stand unsuspecting until the direct heat
penetrates the winter fur and burns her. I have my ambient temperature
adjusted at least 3 days on a gentle wolf.
A week ahead of time, I also have a 10 gallon garbage can, upside down,
mounted near the front of the den with a circular hole just smaller than
the rim of the inverted can and a 250 watt heat lamp mounted in the new
top (formerly the bottom) of the garbage can. Thus the cubs can
instinctively creep to this source of warmth or move back away from it
as need be. They are infallible in being able to select their needs in
heat or cold.
Now with a gentle bitch, I will sometimes make a tentative attempt to go
back and peek in to see the cubs. If she objects by barring my way or
shows displeasure or fear for their safety, I desist and try to wait
patiently until taking time. Most of my bitches show pleasure at my
interest in them and encourage me a bit to observe them. An exclamation
of “My, what beautiful cubs, they are the finest,” will cause her to wag
tail and show great pleasure at my interest. Why not? After all, I am
the pack leader and this is the way of the wild after the cubs are a few
days old. I do have and have possessed a few bitches that did not, nor
never would, tolerate my being even close to the den unless I was
bringing food or cleaning.
One must know the individual. After maturity, wolves seldom change
philosophy very much. One must bend or mold the future psychology while
the cubs are young. We begin by petting and handling without fear
trauma as soon or before the eyes open at 9 to 12 days, and WE KEEP IT
UP FOR THE LIFETIME OF THE ANIMAL. Though so much is not needed as it
becomes more mature, BUT never a days passes that each and every wolf
doesn’t have the opportunity to kiss our cheeks and be fondled and
praised — NO, NEVER A DAY. This is so very important.