Do you have a alpha/top dog/bitch and are they born or made?

Karen 

In my opinion i think they are born that way like you get natural born leaders as people, my westie luicy is the head of our house hold, she cant just sit on your knee when on the couch she has to sit on the arm or at back of the couch on the top then sits there like lady muck, my new bullmastiff puppy nina constantly plays with charlie my male west higjland terrier when they get to serious luicy will stop them from playing or if they are just annoying her, and she does it because she can, i think she thinks she is a large breed, mind you they say small animals and people have chips on there shoulders.

Don't mistake the dog who takes a physically higher position for one who thinks it's 'Alpha' - this is the position of the watchdog, not the pack leader - the pack leader is most likely to be found curled up somewhere warm with it's nose under it's tail (and maybe other pack members piled on top of it) keeping one eye on things, rather than exposed and vulnerable....

Must agree there my least alpha bitch is the watchdog in thsi family with secodn youngest a close second, but the oldest was top dog,a dn the midle one is now,a nd theya re the ones who tend to curl up somewhere out of the way with a superior distance from the others, but teh others will seek them out and lie near them at times which they tolerate :D

Hi Digger i dont mistake her for the alpha female because she is the highest she wont tolerate any other dogs near her unless she says they can shes always been like this in the wild the alpha female would look after the pack and lead them to water and so on.

Agree.  Totally think they are born that way.

Born. When she 6 weeks old I knew my present top bitch would become the pack leader as soon as my then pack leader died. And so she did :)

I am Alpha Bitch in my house :D  Despite Satan Fillys constant challenges, cos I am the smartest one.

Hi Lorelei,

My OH just calls me a bitch - do you think that's what he means, the "Alpha" one in the household????    or     ?????

Teri ;)

Bitch =
BABE
IN
TOTAL
CONTROL of
HERSELF!!!!

Most defff Alpha Bitch.........

Margot :D :D :D

Cheers Margot,  now I'm smirking!!!!!  Just might make him toast with his tea in the morning - sort of a weekend treat  :P  (see, I am a B.I.T.C.H. )

Teri  ;)

you and me alike Teri!!!!!

yes I have a 'alpha' female, a strong minded girl whose management of the rest of my pack is re-enforced by myself.   good 'alphas' or managers, as i prefer to call them, do not fight lightly and are excellent communicators of dog speak, only getting rough when absolutely required to - the rest of the time - they lay down the law in a strong positive way, using body language signals to let the others know not to cross boundaries. it is usually beta dogs that fight - always with a reason, such as defense aggression, fear aggression, resource protection etc.

Do you think it is unusual for a male the be the leader in a pack of bitches ?