Alpha Dogs - What is an alpha?

[glencorgi]

My friend Peggy Newman, Taflar Corgis gave me permission to post this here.

Debbie


Posted to Corgi-L Aug. 22, 2002 (post #108121)
What Is An Alpha Dog?:

I think that all too often we use the term "alpha" somewhat in error.
Having just lost my second alpha bitch let me offer some observations.

Now I've been lucky that in 23 years of living with corgis that I have
had only two alpha bitches. Both my alpha bitches, (alpha meaning they
were at the top of the dog pack here) were peaceful, calm dogs. They
could run with any of my dogs. I could take them anywhere and trust them
When Kristie died there was no fighting among any of my dogs for the
alpha position. There was no obvious "takeover". Tango just became the
alpha. She didn't push the other dogs around to get the position. It
just became hers. She did not fight with the other dogs prior to
Kristies death. She was always a calm, sweet, non-confrontational dog.
(That does not mean that either alpha never got into a fight, they did
not start them, but they also did not back down.)

A true alpha dog in a multiple dog houshold (which constitutes a pack)
is the one that is the calming influence. And usually a bitch (if there

It's not usually the alpha dog that acts aggressive, it's the middle
ranking dogs that are the aggressors - an alpha wanna be.

"Relate temperament to a corporation.
-CEO is the alpha - this dog isn't a fighter, not dominant or
aggressive, he's just there.

"-The vast majority of alpha dogs rule benevolently. They are confident
in their position. They do not stoop to squabbling to prove their point.

- "Alpha" does not mean physically dominant. It means "in control of
resources." Many, many alpha dogs are too small or too physically frail
to physically dominate. But they have earned the right to control the
valued resources. An individual dog determines which resources he
considers important. Thus an alpha dog may give up a prime sleeping
place because he simply couldn't care less."

Tango maintained her alpha position even though due to her ruptured
disk her back legs became useless and she could not walk or run. She did

Alpha:
http://www.clickersolutions.com/clic.../dominance.htm

The Next Taflar Alpha?:
Now having said all that I think we could be in for an interesting
time here, to see which of my girls becomes the next alpha. Right now my
bet's on Diamond as she's much like her half sister Tango, and she's the
only one I've got that I can run with absolutly every other dog here.
Well, except Solo, and that's not Diamond's decision.

[CorgiMum]

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