Wolves as pets and working animals
Some wildlife centers housing captive wolves prohibit handlers from entering wolf enclosures if they happen to have a cold or other vulnerability which the wolves can detect. Captive wolves are generally shy and avoid eye contact with humans other than their owner, as well as not listening to any commands made by any other humans. They usually vacate rooms or hide when a new person enters the establishment. Even seemingly friendly wolves need to be treated with caution, as captive wolves tend to view and treat people as other wolves, and will thus bite or dominate people in the same situation in which they would other wolves. Ordinary pet food is inadequate, as an adult wolf needs 1–2.5 kg (2–5 lbs) of meat daily along with bones, skin and fur to meet its nutritional requirements. Wolves may defend their food against people, and react violently to people trying to remove it. The exercise needs of a wolf exceed the average dog's demand. Because of this, captive wolves typically do not cope well in urban areas. Due to their talent at observational learning, adult captive wolves can quickly work out how to escape confinement, and require constant reinforcement by caretakers or owners, which makes raising wolves difficult for people who raise their pets in an even, rather than subordinate, environment.
Attachment behaviour in wolves
Wolves are animals which live in social groups referred to as packs and are known for forming affiliative bonds with others in their packs. Wolves in packs are known for initiating play with one another. It has been observed that wolves initiating play are not doing so randomly. It may be a reflection of the relationships present in the pack and will reflect the tension, cooperation, and competition present. Tensions are noted to become higher around breeding session where the cost and benefits are weighed against each other. Female wolves are known for being the main initiators of affiliative interactions though a small percentage of males will initiate affiliative interactions. The omega male was not a target of any affiliative interaction. In other studies researchers have separated the most dominant wolf and the most subordinate wolves. It was recorded that the dominant wolf spent less time sleeping and showed more behavioural stress compared to the omega wolf. The dominant wolf was reported to rest in the section of his enclosure closest to his pack. It has been noted by researchers that the younger subordinate wolves seem to have less attachment to their pack compared to their higher ranking compatriots.