It's A Dog's Life
Social Structure of Canines

By nature, dogs are highly social animals. In the wild, they live in groups that center around a male and female pair, with relatives as the other members of the pack. The pack hunts together to bring down prey that one member could never capture alone. Together, they share in defending their territory and caring for their youngsters. They also learn from one another such things as where water holes are in times of drought, and how to avoid particular dangers.

To reduce conflict and promote cooperation within the pack, social rules evolve. Where there is a social hierarchy, there is little fighting over food, resting places, and mates. The male/female pair, known as the alpha have first access to whatever they want, and the others in the group usually defer to them. This is beneficial to the pack due to the lowered risk of injury and reduced stress that is the result of everyone having a place and staying in it. There are very few challenges to authority and, contrary to popular belief, the Alpha animals are so confident in themselves that they rarely engage in battle to prove their standing.

In general, males are dominant over females; older animals dominant over younger; larger animals over smaller; and those that have been in the group the longest over new arrivals. Sometimes a canine's relationship to another animal determines his/her place in the pack. Temperment also plays an important part in the position an individual takes in the pack, as some animals are determined to dominate, regardless of their age, size, sex, or experience.

Go to "Dogs Are From Sirius - Part 1"

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