Pack Dog & Alpha Dogs

Hierarchic relations in dog packs determine the dominant and the subordinates. How the dominant dog reacts when facing a difficult situation? This will enable us to understand the dominant dog's attitude in relation with his owner, and why you have to avoid that situation.The dominant dog tries to intimidate the dominated through menacing attitudes: wrinkled snout, growls, bristly hair, erect ears. The owner must not accept, in any case, this situation.

The Dominant Dog

• wrinkled snout
• open mouth
• erected ears forward
• lifted tail, bristly hair
• animal standing over his legs
• fix looking
• growling
• body shakes

The Dominated Dog: Lies over his abdomen, makes piss. The owner must learn the dog has surrender, due to a reprimand for example, and must stop grumbling so he goes back to his normal position.

The Territory: Regarding territory, there are three different zones. If you watch your dog carefully, at home, you'll see he is instinctively searching these three zones.

The Central Zone: Is always occupied by the dominant male (the owner). The most appreciated females also are in this zone, as well as those with their puppies of less than seven months, that means, sexually immature. The male guards this zone so nobody can enter it. This is why some people can't go into their room when the dog is there. Comparisons may seem funny, but it's not so much in reality.

The Middle Zone: In this zone live some females, those pregnant and some males. Females fight to access the middle zone.

The Peripheral Zone: Is occupied by young males. They do not share the pack's food, they are autonomous. During hot periods, hierarchies are questioned, and produce frequent fights.