The Hype About Being The Alpha Dog

By now you are familiar with the term alpha dog. Hollywood even made a movie around that phrase. But what does being the alpha dog mean?

Good Question!

First, a short lesson in science about a hypothesis. A hypothesis is the question scientists ask which leads them to do research.

For example: Do Wolves Avoid Human Habitat?

The research either supports (yes, the data supports that wolves avoid human habitat), or does not support (there is no evidence to support that wolves avoid human habitat) the question. Science does NOT have to come up with reasons why wolves avoid or do not avoid human habitat.

Now for the alpha dog question. Somewhere along the line research determined that a wolf pack has a leader (or two). Scientists like to use greek symbols in research papers. Alpha is the greek symbol for the letter "A". So when you use the letter A in greek (alpha) to describe WOLF NUMBER ONE (the leader) in your research paper...

Presto! The alpha dog was born. It probably wouldn't sound the same if you started saying "my dog is a beta dog" or "my dog is a gamma dog". Unless of course you are a Trekkie.

Science does NOT have to determine WHY there is an alpha dog. But everyone wants to know why! All of a sudden you start to hear philosophies about WHY.

Presto... Dog training now has an alpha dog philosophy!

If your dog is growling at you, does he have an alpha problem? If your dog does not get along with other dogs does he have an alpha problem?

If the phrase alpha dog describes the leader of the wolf pack, and the leader of the wolf pack is in charge of keeping his group safe. Why would he march around picking fights with everyone?

In wolf studies, the alpha dog rarely fights. He can't afford to waste his energy.

Sidebar...

In biology, the core idea is reproduction (from cells to entire species). If you don't reproduce you become extinct (your genes and your species). Therefor, if you waste your energy on silly things like fighting for the sake of fighting, you may lose out by a younger stronger version of yourself. A version that had been home lifting weights and eating right, while you were whooping it up at the bar.

Is your dog constantly jockeying for the leader position at your house?

It's unlikely.

A wolf pack has much more going on than everyone fighting for the lead position. They work as a pack to survive and reproduce.

It is not every wolf for himself.

It is more probable that your companion dog is just defending himself.

Why?

Confusing social structure.

He doesn't know where he stands so he just protects himself. He notices what type of mood you are in and acts appropriately. Growling can mean several things, most importantly it means I'm warning you to stop doing what you are doing. Ask yourself what your dog wants you to stop doing (trimming nails? petting him? going near his food dish?). Then ask yourself it that response is appropriate.

Have you clipped his nails too short before or held him down in a frightening way? Is mealtime threatening? or confontational or confusing? Are you trying to take food from your dog after you put it in front of him? Is he sore where you pet him? Do you give him some personal space? Do you just reach out whenever you want and expect him to accept it? Is he ill and doesn't show symptoms?

Training Tip: Address each behavior issue that you and your dog have individually. Make a list if you have too. Don't give your dog a label like alpha dog issues because training a dog is a two way street not a dictatorship.

Ever wanted to dog mush? Check out these articles

home from alpha dog

Click here for my dog care book.