what you do not see is the fact that we were just playing. And... My sleeve is in his mouth, and he is trying to tear my jacket from off of me. Look at his back legs- ready to jerk backward. See the look in his eyes? Not really focused on anything in particular, pupils somewhat dilated. That's the look of a wolf that is caring less and less about what I want, and more and more about what he wants. And when he wants my jacket, and I do not want him to have it, then there's a conflict. Oftentimes he would begin to growl, just a little, intermittently. It was easy to become afraid, but I just kept pulling.

If you look at my right hand, I am not petting him, I am trying to bolster the awkward grip I have on his neck skin, keeping him from beginning jerking on my sleeve. His ears are still back, (Submission) so he is allowing me an element of control over his will. This is always a good thing.

If he continued to maintain his wolf-bite strength grip on my article of clothing, I discovered the wolf- button, a place inside either side of his jowls where they came together, pushing my index finger back so far it would not travel back any further, then jamming it between the areas where his teeth ended and there was just smooth, hard gum.

If I wrenched my finger in there, it created an irritant in his mouth and he would let go, usually, but I had to keep my finger in there to prevent him from re- asserting his grip. It's a funny feeling to feel a wolf close his jaws on your finger. Usually this provided enough of a mental distraction for him, so he could switch gears and get back on track, thinking of me as a friend and not some increasingly annoying guy who was withholding super fun jacket toys from him.

That, I think, is where so many people get into trouble with captive wolves. They do not read their signs or their emotions. They do not rely on their God- given instincts.

You have to watch: Posture, tail position, eyebrows, ears, eyes, mood- when did he eat last? Was he sick after? Did he eat it all? Who did he see, and what was his temperament, then? How has he been behaving the last few days? Has he been bored, and wants to play with you, and your clothes?

All of these things must be accounted for. There's so much more to it than just walking in and hoping he's going to be the same wolf he was, yesterday, or even last week.

OTOH, some wolves are just naturally kind to people. They might get nosy, but that is rare, and if they do, they have an ingrained respect for people that allows you more control.