The Pack Order in Your House

Especially when you have multiple dogs in the family, knowing the pack order is important. To your dogs, you are part of the pack. To have a happy home, you need to be at the TOP of the pack order.

Alpha Dogs

Alpha dogs are the boss dogs. You may have an alpha dog if she acts like this:

• Your dog usually wins at tug-of-war with the other dogs.
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• Your dog hoards toys and treats.
• Your dog wins staring contests with the other dogs.
• Your dog pushes to be the first one out the door.
• Your dog humps the other dogs, regardless of gender.

There is nothing wrong with showing a little preferential treatment to your alpha dog. You should put the alpha's bowl down first at dinner time, and greet her first when you wake up or get home from work. If you try to be fair and give more preference to the lower dogs in the pack, your alpha can get upset, to the point of aggression towards the other dogs to reclaim her place as leader.

Omega Dogs

Omega dogs are low dogs on the totem pole. Your omega dog may act like this:

• Your dog goes belly up when she meets other dogs.
• Your dog piddles when she meets other dogs or people.
• Your dog gives up toys and treats to the other dogs.
• Your dog gives up first at tug-of-war.
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• Your dog may not make eye contact, or will be the first to break a stare.
• Your dog gives up sleeping spots to the other dogs.

Don't feel bad if you have an omega dog; they are perfectly happy in their place in the pack. In fact, they will feel less secure if you try to treat them like the alpha to even things out.

So what's a pack leader to do? Understanding and following the pack order will help keep your dogs coexisting harmoniously. However, keep in mind that you are the ruler over all. Letting your alpha dog boss you around means she won't obey you when you give commands.

One good way to help your dogs adjust to the pack order is to share the feeding duties between all the human members of the family. Your dogs will learn that each member of the family is a food provider, and should be respected for their high pack rank.

By Catherine Foreman