The Pack Hierarchy
All potential dog owners and would be dog trainers should understand how dog society works in the absence of humans. You’ll want to understand the pack hierarchy, and use that understanding to your advantage as you train your dog. Here’s a quick overview: all pack animals have a lead animal. In the case of dogs, it’s the alpha dog. All other members of the pack look to the alpha dog for direction and guidance. In turn, the alpha dog provides leadership in hunting, fending off other predators, protecting territory and other vital survival skills. This pack arrangement is what has allowed wolves and wild dogs to be such successful predators, even as other large predators have been driven to extinction. How does this aid in training? By being perceived as the alpha dog, you immediately gain the respect and obedience of your dog.
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