Wolf scent marking with raised‐leg urination

Raised‐leg urinations were performed almost exclusively by dominant male and female wolves ( Canis lupus ). The alpha male and female in two captive groups showed full raised‐leg urinations (RLUs) throughout the year. Each alpha male and female sniffed and marked on one another's marks frequently; however, the pair that bred did more marking and more double marking. They increased their marking frequency prior to and during the breeding season, decreased it at the time of parturition, while the female was in the den, and then increased to a moderate level when the female took part in pack activities again. Because the alpha pair was the principal sender and receiver of the message within the group, it is likely that double marks function to maintain and advertise the pair bond. Because the group that did not breed also did not double mark frequently, the presence of double marking in a captive group may be diagnostic of the viability of the group as a pack.