Editing Dhole (section)

===Social and territorial behaviour===
Dholes are more social than [[gray wolves]],<ref name="heptner1998"/> and have less of a dominance hierarchy, as seasonal scarcity of food is not a serious concern for them. In this manner, they closely resemble African wild dogs in social structure.<ref name="f85">{{Harvnb|Fox|1984|p=85}}</ref> They live in [[clan]]s rather than [[pack (canine)|pack]]s, as the latter term refers to a group of animals that always hunt together. In contrast, dhole clans frequently break into small packs of three to five animals, particularly during the spring season, as this is the optimal number for catching fawns.<ref name="f81">{{Harvnb|Fox|1984|pp=81–2}}</ref> Dominant dholes are hard to identify, as they do not engage in dominance displays as wolves do, though other clan members will show submissive behaviour toward them.<ref name="f86"/> Intragroup fighting is rarely observed.<ref name="nowak1983"/>

[[File:20140303 7687 Pench Dhole.jpg|thumb|Dholes playing, [[Pench National Park]]]]
[[File:Asiatic Wild Dogs (43518944044).jpg|thumb|A pack of Asiatic wild dog]]

Dholes are far less [[territory (animal)|territorial]] than wolves, with pups from one clan often joining another without trouble once they mature sexually.<ref name="f92">{{Harvnb|Fox|1984|p=92}}</ref> Clans typically number 5 to 12 individuals in India, though clans of 40 have been reported. In [[Thailand]], clans rarely exceed three individuals.<ref name="cohen1978"/> Unlike other canids, there is no evidence of dholes using [[urine]] to mark their territories or travel routes. When urinating, dholes, especially males, may [[Raised-leg urination|raise one hind leg]] or both to result in a handstand. Handstand urination is also seen in [[bush dog]]s (''Speothos venaticus'')<ref>{{cite journal |title=Einige beobachtungen zum verhalten des Dekkan-Rothundes (Cuon alpinus dukhunensis Sykes) im Kanha National Park |trans-title=Some observations on the behavior of the Deccan Red Dog (Cuon alpinus dukhunensis Sykes) in Kanha National Park |last1=Keller |first1=R. |journal= Vierteljahresschrift. Naturf. Ges. Zürich |volume=118 |year=1973|pages=129–135 |language=de |url= https://www.ngzh.ch/archiv/1973_118/118_1/118_13.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190812095239/https://www.ngzh.ch/archiv/1973_118/118_1/118_13.pdf |archive-date=2019-08-12 |url-status=live }}</ref> and domestic dogs.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Wirant |first1=Sharon Cudd |first2=Betty |last2=McGuire |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/248335168 |title=Urinary behavior of female domestic dogs (''Canis familiaris''): influence of reproductive status, location, and age |journal=Applied Animal Behaviour Science |volume=85 |issue=3–4 |year=2004 |pages=335–348|doi=10.1016/j.applanim.2003.09.012 }}</ref> They may defecate in conspicuous places, though a territorial function is unlikely, as [[faeces]] are mostly deposited within the clan's territory rather than the periphery. Faeces are often deposited in what appear to be communal [[Animal latrine|latrines]]. They do not scrape the earth with their feet, as other canids do, to mark their territories.<ref name="f97"/>