1983, Boitani and Ciucci 1995, Marshall-Pescini et al. The established social control of reproduction in the packs serves two important purposes: (1) it limits the number of reproducing individuals (2) the non-reproducing individuals might increase the chances of pup survival ( Packard et al. Their social system is a linear hierarchy, where dominance and subordinance are regulated by agonistic behavior. Gray wolves live in single-family units (packs), formed and maintained by the social bonds among the members.

The social ecology of the gray wolf is well studied (Bibikov 1985, Mech and Boitani 2003). These differences are of special interest when studying feral dogs (dogs that live without direct contact with humans nor directly depend on them for food) ( Boitani et al. However, the process of domestication has influenced not only the morphology but also the ecology and behavior of the domestic dog compared to its wild ancestor ( Saetre et al. Being this closely related, dogs and wolves can interbreed (producing fertile offspring) and have continued to exchange genetic material after the initial divergence (Benirschke 1967, Vilà et al. The gray wolf ( Canis lupus Linnaeus, 1758) is the direct ancestor of the domestic dog ( Canis familiaris Linnaeus, 1758) ( Vilà et al.

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