David Mech on "Alpha" in His Own Words

I don't have a facebook login to see it but if it's the statements he's made before, they are the ones to which I have referred. Mech repeals the use of the word alpha, as it doesn't accurately describe the natural wolf pack. And, with the modern and even popular notions of "alpha" as "pack leader", it totally bites as a descriptive term. Thanks to his research, literally in the field, studying wolves in their own environment, most packs are actually families. A breeding pair and their cubs. And the "lead" wolves are simply parents.

But thanks for providing a link to explain what we have said before.

That is basically what he's saying, although he did describe an instance where a breeding pair could be considered in an "alpha" role - as with the wolves in Yellowstone.  Reason being that there are three breeding females in that group.  But, he does say it happens very rarely.  I personally have little problem with anyone describing a hierarchy among wolves, because I don't believe it directly translates to the same behavior in dogs.

spiritdogs

 I personally have little problem with anyone describing a hierarchy among wolves, because I don't believe it directly translates to the same behavior in dogs.

I agree. Dogs are socially and behaviorally different from wolves.

I read an interesting paper today about cooperation in free-ranging dog packs. The key finding in my view was that the number of affiliative relationships was the best predictor of cooperation between dogs when they get into an aggressive encounter with another dog pack. So if you get a lot of nuzzling and licking, or do a lot of it, your buddies are more dependable in a tight spot.

corvus

I read an interesting paper today about cooperation in free-ranging dog packs. The key finding in my view was that the number of affiliative relationships was the best predictor of cooperation between dogs when they get into an aggressive encounter with another dog pack. So if you get a lot of nuzzling and licking, or do a lot of it, your buddies are more dependable in a tight spot.

That's very interesting, and would probably predict that Sequoyah would be my best ally;-)  Although, I'm also confident that Sioux might step up to the plate to fend off dogs - maybe not people.  My hound, who is the least nuzzly-licky of the three, has, on one occasion, actually barked at someone who stuck a hand in my car, so I wouldn't take his lack of "warm and fuzzy" to mean that he doesn't care at all;-)))