Wolves

Maybe it's just me, but the vast majority of Therians all seem to be canine, specifically some kind of wolf. I know that Therians are not limited to that only, but it still seems to be a strong trend from what I see. I'm just curious is there's a reason for this, Especially since a number of animals both live longer and are of equal or greater intelligence than wolves. Dolphins, for example.

So why so many wolves, and practically nothing else?

I recall an article about why there are so many predatory types of therians. I'll try to dig it up.

I dont know!
I know I interrupted my "journey" toward self-discovery for that very reason. Let me explain a little more....
I awakened -- around 18 (OMG that was about 10 years ago now); I knew I was/had the soul of a wolf. But when I finally discovered the online otherkin/therian communities this past year, I decided that I was just following a trend (it didn't cross my mind that when I awakened I didn't *know* about the trend .... <!-- s:roll: --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_rolleyes.gif" alt=":roll:" title="Rolling Eyes" /><!-- s:roll: --> ), and ignored my strong beliefs & knolwedge that my thereotype was a wolf.
I changed my mind many times, all the time ignoring what I believed deep down inside - I decided for a time I was a big cat therian, and for a while denied being a therian at all. <!-- s:oops: --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_redface.gif" alt=":oops:" title="Embarrassed" /><!-- s:oops: -->
I finally came back around to being a wolfie, and am sticking with what I know to be the truth.
But ... I too would love to know what the reason behind the wolf-heavy community is. <!-- s:? --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_e_confused.gif" alt=":?" title="Confused" /><!-- s:? -->

Personally, I think it's not a matter of intelligence or lifespan, but more of similar personality. Dolphins may be smart, but imo their internal wiring's so very different than humans that it'd be hard for one reincarnated as a human to hold on to it's sense of its old self - or that they'd even want to reincarnate as a human, anyway.

Just a theory, anyway.

It's interesting that you bring this up as I've been wondering the same thing for a long time. I actually wrote an essay about it but it hasn't been edited yet. <!-- s:oops: --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_redface.gif" alt=":oops:" title="Embarrassed" /><!-- s:oops: -->

From my own experience, wolves are by far, the most "popular" and widespread therian. This could be due to any number of reasons but I think the main one is that when people are first introduced to the idea of therianthropy, it is through werewolf legends. Now it's true that there are other shapeshifting stories around the world (the Norse berserkers, the Japanese kitsune, the African bouda, the Celtic selkie, the South American boto, etc.) but the werewolf legends are by far the most well known. Perhaps this has to do with the wolf's distribution worldwide. Canines are found on every major continent (accept for Antarctica) so it's no wonder that different cultures had stories about them. Big cats make up another large group in the therian community as do bears and foxes (obsiously this isn't all of them). All of these animals have a worldwide distribution. While animals like the platypus are restricted to just one continent. (And why aren't there any platypus therians? That would be interesting!)

I've seen a lot of people claim to be wolves when they first enter the online communities only to discover that they're something different later. Perhaps people use wolf as the default theriotype simply because they don't want to label themselves as 'I don't know'.

You also have to take into consideration the fact that wolves are easily compared to humans. From my essay that I'm writing on this topic: "The wolf is a symbol of strength, loyalty and perseverance. They’re also seen as a teacher, family oriented and protective. Humans by their very nature are also pack animals and many individuals respect qualities such as strength and loyalty. Humans also share the pack mentality in regards to its hierarchy as well as relying on each other to survive."
A lot of people associate wolf attributes to themselves so that could also be why there are so many wolf therians.

Personally, I'd tend to believe someone who claims to be a wolf that discovered this about themselves before they came to the online communities more. Now that's not to say that someone who says they're a wolf who was in therian forums first and then discovered that they were a wolf is wrong, as I'm sure some people are legitimate. However therianthropy, like being Otherkin, is something that an individual needs to discover on their own. As with all the other 'kin types, there are legitimate people and there are fluff heads. I suppose it would all depend on what information an individual has to back up their claims.

My belief in reguards to this is that wolves used to be the most widespread mammal on the planet, inhabiting everywhere except tropical climates. Now, there are tons of humans, and very few wolves left. Those souls have to go -somewhere-. And wolves do happen to be VERY like humans. This is why I believe that there are so many predators in general...most of them being endangered. With this, I also believe alot of people are mistaken about their theriotype. I'm sure there are alot of raptors out there that havent properly considered Condors and have accidentally labeled themselves some other bird of prey. I personally constantly doubt that I'm a wolf...often considering any type of large pack/social structured animal. I try to often do research and criticize myself to make sure I havent trapped myself in a wrong identity. I've considered hyenas, African wild dogs, but the one that still keeps coming back is coyote. But they are either couples or small family groups, which just doesnt seem to ring true. I will always keep searching for something that will fit better, because there are always things I do not know.

This message says nothing.

As Myenia said, questioning yourself about your theriotype is very important. I question myself and my sanity just about every day and I have also looked into the myriad of other animals my soul 'could' be more than once (not to mention the other 'kin types I could be too). I do it every time I start to doubt what I've experienced. And yet wolf always seems to come back. *shrug* I make it a point to question my therianthropy often and I still feel that I'm a wolf inside. <!-- s --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_e_wink.gif" alt=";)" title="Wink" /><!-- s -->

I don't know either but I have some guesses... humans and wolves from the prehistoric past lived in small tight-nit family groups, hunted the same things and compeated constantly by stealing each others kills. Wolves from most accounts were also the first spieces that humans domesticated and unlike other domesticated speices they wern't food or just tools, they lived with us, joined us in hunts, sat by the fires with us and slept next to us. Humans seem to have a special bond with canines thats different from any other speices on earth almost a symbotic relationship. Historically the only other speices we have almost as close a bond with is horses but usually they have been more tools than companions. People also fear and hate wolves more than any other speices (hate and love are just opisite sides of the same coin).

I think this ancient bond has intermixed the souls of our two speices to some degree... maybe this has caused more wolfen souls to be born human than most other animals.

Looksfar Wrote:Wolves from most accounts were also the first spieces that humans domesticated and unlike other domesticated speices they wern't food or just tools, they lived with us, joined us in hunts, sat by the fires with us and slept next to us.

IIRC this is true, but just as an interesting tidbit, I think the first animal kept as a pet were Hawks, though they never got domesticated.

Off-topic though...so ignore me. <!-- s:? --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_e_confused.gif" alt=":?" title="Confused" /><!-- s:? -->