[yorkietalkjilly]

A lot of people think Cesar Millan rather than momma dog when they think pack leader. But real pack leaders are usually the ones with the most confidence and attitude of authority and in the wild realize they need each member of that pack to do their part and maintain stability so they lead and reprimand without attempts to injure. Pack leaders recognize without a leader the pack becomes unstable. The are not mean or vicious. I don't guess I have ever seen with my own eyes out observing feral dogs, wild dog packs, any kind of film footage on TV or read any book or article about an observer seeing, a four-footed pack leader alpha rolling another member of the pack or attacking one. I've never talked to a dog expert who has ever seen one dog alpha rolling another as humans do dogs. Alpha rolling is done voluntarily by a subservient dog wanting to curry favor. Mostly the alpha pack leaders use eyes, pure self-confidence, body attitude, teeth and low growls to correct misbehavior. Fights usually only ever occur when another pack member out and out challenges the authority of the pack leader and won't back down. But in the wild, the pack leader is just that - the leader, the one who teaches and shows the way and directs the others. From my experience and observation, the pack leader of animals in the wild isn't meant to be a dictator, more like a mom. Domesticated dogs seem to live healthier and happier lives and not venture into a lot of neuroses or misbehavior when they have some boundaries and a strong but loving human leader who fairly closely mimics the techniques of the pack leader in the wild. And pack leaders let their pack get away with things all the time! They have senses of humor, play silly games with the others, show great tolerance and give. They show their bellies! But the leader is so strong that when he does step in and indicate that certain behavior must end now, the others know when to stop and stop they do.