Until then she guards the pups. Also protecting them is their own sandy coloration, which helps pups camouflage with the surrounding terrain to avoid predation by raptors and other threats. At only a week old pups begin to fight over milk and the food delivered to them to establish dominance. Males participate in fights, but only for ranking within the family, which loses its importance when they leave to establish their own territories. Once the pups have established a hierarchy, fighting becomes play and teaches them to chase and pounce on prey.
Pups reach young adulthood by autumn.
Dominant females inherit the territory of their parents, while males depart for new, unclaimed territory. Intraspecific competition is dealt with through the social hierarchy, with the dominant, or alpha, female eating first. The dominant female of each territory also has exclusive breeding rights. Submissive females must leave and establish their own territory in order to breed. Courtship is an important ritual for culpeo foxes.