We hear a lot, particularly on TV programmes about how to train your dog, that there is a 'pack leader' (which should be you!) and that dogs in a group have a natural hierarchy.
However after accepting this as gospel (who would argue with the charismatic Cesar Milan?) close observation of my own dogs appears to contradict this.
They take turns in being alpha dog. The set up is two spayed bitches and one un-neutered male. If you take the classic example of going through a doorway, sometimes one will go first, sometimes another. Having confidently told Alan that as Gassie was not the alpha dog and would therefore never step over ZsaZsa the labrador (older and alpha female) he promptly walked over her prone body to get to his bed!
I have seen Maia, the smallest and youngest, get very alpha over a chair and also go first through a gate and yet a few hours later lie on her back in submissive position when Gassie wants her toy. Confusing? You bet!
If you are interested in finding out more there's quite a lot of stuff on the web. I found this article by dog trainer Lee Charles Kelley where he describes how he deliberately 'rolled over and played submissive' with his own un-neutered male dog and it worked amazingly well for their rapport.
What do you think?