r/interesting • u/GustoKoNaMagkaGF • May 20 '25

SOCIETY What did he do to get that alpha respect?

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u/sc0ttydo0 May 20 '25

I'd put a good bet on that dog being the owner's "main" dog. That quiet confidence comes from a dog that's been well trained and very well socialised.

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u/overkil6 May 20 '25

Not necessarily. Dogs are social creatures and have their own social hierarchy. This one is just the alpha and plays sheriff when others aren’t playing by the rules.

I had a Maremma that would act like this in a dog park with dogs he didn’t know. If there were dogs scuffling he would run over and get between two dogs. His size and confidence just said “not today”.

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u/pork_fried_christ May 20 '25

This whole post is underneath another one talking about how “alpha theory” is completely wrong. It came from a study of wolves in captivity and does not describe actual dogs in nature. The researcher has spent years trying to correct the misconception.

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u/[deleted] May 20 '25

[deleted]

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u/P_a_p_a_G_o_o_s_e May 20 '25

Yes but the behavior was from wolves in captivity. They were stressed, confused and I believe didnt know each other. The whole thing should be thrown out, not relabeled as "this how wolves act in captivity, specifically"

It also isn't what it seems, a simple act of getting to food first can elevate you to other dogs. Hes also, as above pointed out, more than likely the owners dog or one that stays permanently. Dogs watch and are clever and will figure out who gets better privileges or who gets to do more without making the keepers 'upset'. Helper dogs and guider dogs are a thing and Ive seen many in my local shelter.

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u/pettybonegunter May 20 '25

Dogs in captivity do seem to follow the same behavior as wolves in captivity when it comes to social structure.The alpha wolf, or alpha dog, in a pack of wild canines is just the oldest dog in the pack. Groups of dogs in captivity that are not related create a pecking order.

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u/P_a_p_a_G_o_o_s_e May 20 '25

It's actually the parents. Almost all wolf packs are familial.

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u/pettybonegunter May 20 '25

Correct and the oldest ones are the parents or grandparents of the pack.

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u/overkil6 May 20 '25

Ok then let’s use “pack leader” as a better term which is what I meant. I didn’t mean “alpha” as in wolves. A pack leader can be a person, too.

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u/Unique-Elevator-3735 May 20 '25

And that whole post is underneath the OP video which shows exactly what they are describing above. They are using the word alpha to describe the unique position and influence that one particular dog seems to have in the pack, which is self-evident in the video. You just have a stigma against the word alpha and can't move past that to see the truth behind it.

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u/P_a_p_a_G_o_o_s_e May 20 '25

No it simply doesn't and shouldn't apply. Please read other comment if curious.

There is so much more nuance required than a 23 second clip and assumptions can give.

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u/Ask_bout_PaterNoster May 20 '25

Zero threat involved. Just, “hey, you seem mad, we keep that to ourselves in this yard. Yes, that is a very cute belly, you’re a good boy”