At the Wolf Science Center in Ernstbrunn, Austria, wolves and dogs are raised in the same way. They are trained and socialised by humans from a young age. The centre’s twofold goal is to advance behavioural science and shed light on the long evolutionary journey from wolf to dog.

Wolves have always captured the human imagination, being feared as predators, revered as symbols of the wilderness and romanticised in myth. Yet despite their genetic closeness to dogs, much about wolves remains elusive. By studying the two species side by side, the centre reveals unexpected and sometimes counterintuitive differences that frequently challenge long-held assumptions about both animals.

Lina is an animal trainer and scientific coordinator who has worked at the centre for almost a decade and has daily, hands-on experience with both species. Her observations reveal more than can be shown by controlled tests. “People still imagine wolves living in rigid hierarchies, ruled by an alpha,” she says. “But it’s a myth. In fact, we find clearer dominance structures among dogs. The idea of an ‘alpha wolf’ is outdated and misleading.”

Hand-raised

All animals at the WSC are hand-raised from early pup stage. Wolves and dogs are trained using positive reinforcement and housed in species-specific social groups. The aim: to remove environmental bias and pinpoint how evolution – and specifically domestication – has shaped canine behaviour.

“Of course, we treat dogs and wolves differently when necessary for their welfare. Dogs need to be fed daily, whereas wolves are used to eating large meals followed by several days without food. We heat the dogs’ benches in winter, since their fur isn’t as thick as wolves’ to protect them from the cold.”

The centre, founded in 2008, is currently home to nine wolves and twelve dogs. The wolves are sourced from international breeding programmes, never taken from the wild. “They arrive at about two weeks old, just before their eyes open,” Lina explains. “That’s the critical window. If we wait any longer, they become too shy. Early contact is essential for a safe and respectful working relationship.”

Raising a wolf pup is no small task. For the first five months, a caregiver must be with them around the clock. “You take turns sleeping next to them, feeding them and playing with them, and gradually expose them to new experiences,” says Lina. “It’s intense, but it’s the only way to build trust.”

Because the WSC does not breed its own wolves, each year’s intake is uncertain. “Our work depends on partner institutions. When they keep pups with their mothers, as they should, it can mean we prepare for months only to end up with no wolves that year.”

From the lab to the pack

Lina’s path to wolf research began with psychology studies involving rats, monkeys, and children. A PhD in comparative psychology brought her to the WSC. “When my research funding ended, I stayed on as a trainer. I didn’t want to just measure behaviour. I wanted to build relationships. That’s what keeps me here.”

And those relationships can be profound. “When a wolf who once avoided you decides to approach, it means something. It’s not habit, not obedience. It’s a conscious choice and it’s powerful.”

Perhaps the starkest difference between wolves and dogs is how they relate to people. “Dogs can bond instantly,” Lina says with a smile. “Be friendly and bring food, and they’ll love you.”

Wolves are far more cautious. Even hand-raised individuals may never fully trust a human. “It can take one, two, sometimes three years to build a connection. And even then, a degree of distance can remain. Each wolf is different.”

Even proximity means little. “Just because a wolf comes close doesn’t mean there’s a bond. They might be after food, but that’s not trust. Real connection takes time, consistency, and mutual respect. Wolves are always evaluating you.”

How domestication changed dogs

One of the research focuses at the WSC is how domestication has affected dog behaviour. By raising wolves and dogs under very similar conditions, researchers can isolate inherited traits from learned ones. “Wolves are clearly more persistent,” says Lina. “When faced with a challenge, they keep trying. Dogs are more likely to give up and look at the human, as if asking for help.”

In one imitation study, animals observed a trained dog opening a box with its paw or nose. Wolves were more likely to imitate the specific method they saw, which is a sign of deliberate observation and replication. Dogs, on the other hand, were inconsistent. “At least in that setting, wolves pay closer attention to detail. Domestication may have made dogs more human-focused, but perhaps less autonomous.”

Dogs are often said to possess a special sensitivity to human gestures. But can wolves interpret our signals too? “Yes, they can,” says Lina. “They just need more time to learn it.”

In pointing experiments, dogs as young as three months could follow the gesture. Wolves caught on later, but by adulthood, they performed just as well. They also respond to human gaze, a key indicator of social intelligence. “They’ll follow your eyes to a hidden object or target. It’s more than training, and they also do it amongst each other.”

The myth of the pack

The concept of the ‘alpha male’ has been debunked, as should the idea that dogs are pack animals. Despite their wolf ancestry, dogs do not live by rigid hierarchies or engage in constant battles for dominance. Yet this myth persists, fuelling outdated training methods and warped ideas about how dogs relate to us and each other.

Scientific research tells a very different story. “Wolves live in close-knit family groups, typically consisting of parents and their offspring, that work together to hunt, raise young, and defend their territory,” explains Lina. “It’s a structured and supportive group, more like a human family than a competitive pack.”

Dogs, on the other hand, have taken a very different path. Around 80 per cent of the world’s dog population lives without a human carer, and their behaviour reveals just how far removed they are from their wild relatives. “Free-ranging dogs may form social groups, but these are looser and more fluid compared to a wolf pack. There’s less cooperation, and they don’t help each other raise pups.”

This has practical consequences. “Many owners assume their dog needs a pack or will always benefit from the company of other dogs. But domestic dogs are incredibly diverse. Some thrive in canine company, while others can’t tolerate it at all. There’s certainly no universal pack dynamic.”

More than behaviour

While much of the WSC’s research focuses on behaviour, the centre also supports studies in physiology, conservation, and communication. These include:

• Saliva and urine sampling for hormone analysis

• Hair cortisol testing to assess chronic stress

• GPS collar trials and eye-tracking experiments

• Evaluating non-lethal livestock protection tools

In one case, researchers tested flashing lights designed to deter wolves from approaching farms. “Our wolves just stared at them,” Lina recalls. “No reaction. But they’re used to human-made objects. Wild wolves might behave differently.”

Collar testing is another important task. Wolves in the wild are often fitted with tracking collars, but researchers need to know whether the animals will tolerate them. “We help trial designs before they’re deployed in the field. It’s a testing ground for conservation research.”

Despite decades of scientific progress, outdated ideas about wolves persist, especially around dominance, aggression, and social structure. But the WSC’s work shows a more nuanced picture.

“Dogs have been shaped by millennia of human companionship. Wolves haven’t,” says Lina. “They’re close relatives, but they’ve taken very different evolutionary paths. They solve problems differently. They interact differently. And they relate to humans in their own way.”

For those who live with dogs, understanding that difference isn’t just interesting. It’s essential.

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Fast Facts – Wolf Science Center, Austria

• Founded: 2008

• Species housed: Nine wolves, twelve dogs

• Purpose: Comparative cognition, behaviour, physiology, and welfare research

• Approach: Hand-raising, positive reinforcement, non-dominance-based training

• Location: Ernstbrunn Game Park, Lower Austria

• Affiliation: University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria

• Website: www.wolfscience.at