The concept formerly known as "dominance"

 Someone posted that to me on FB the other day.  I think Trish has a great way of saying what a lot of us are thinking.

http://www.theotherendoftheleash.com/the-concept-formerly-described-as-dominance/

have a clicky link, here.

Another excellent article, with some salient comment posts, as well. In the article, I like the point made about the de facto leader of a pack not necessarily walking in front but often in the middle of the group. Almost as if protected by the other canids. In the case of one of us walking our dog and our dog barks and gets defensive against another dog, might it be possible that our dog is protecting us, at expense to themselves? There have been documented cases of a dog that never had aggression towards humans launch on a burglar or robber, often being injured or killed themselves, to save our sorry butt(s).

I, too, like some of the commenters, have often wondered of the description of dominance and alpha is a reflection of ourselves. Maybe not all primates but perhaps our own particular species of primate, homo sapien. Zoologically, I would say that we are great apes (great meaning size, not quality of character) that are relatively hairless and mostly bipedal.