YES!
But we cannot be dogs - so we have to find the way to inter-species communication and acceptance!
This is not about "going through doors first" or indeed "not sitting on sofas" - as you should see my Gt Dane on his sofa, afterall we are not dogs!
The "Dog of the Month" for January is Max my Doberman - in his DNA he is a high ranked dog, but this does not mean dominant in the way we can sometimes understand this. To dominate others is not to use aggression, as this would be insecure behaviour - not the behaviour of a leader!
A true "Alpha Leader" dog only uses calm/assertive energy to lead the pack, never aggression, they are followed out of respect by other ranks including other high ranked dogs. These dogs have no need of training their pack, like we humans teach dog obedience, they simply have a structure - rules/boundaries/limits.
MAx, now 7, has always had this confidence - it is his DNA to be high ranked and dominant over lower ranks - but not a single case of aggression from my Dobey yet all the pack members show respect naturally. This is why I prefer the term "high ranked, confident dog" than "Dominant" and don't forget we can always climb to be higher - the leader of the pack!
The really interesting part in all this is that to have a balanced pack with human leader all my dogs need to be my equal followers - they are and this stops any fighting over rank...Max is just fine with this as he respects my leadership and rules.
So I "mimic" Max, this is how I learned to show leadership from a "would-be leader" - I raised my status to be accepted as his Leader and he will follow my lead anywhere...anytime....just today he followed my communication to "be with me" rather than his instinct to chase a wild deer, this I could not train him to do but he knows to be a safe and a valued member of the pack is to follow my lead...even off-lead!
Max has taught me so much I could not learn from a book, for example "how to reunite" - this is amazing to watch him - he stands tall...aloof..."no touch - no talk - no eye contact". My Dobey is 7 this year, I hope for many more years with my best friend and incredible teacher.
So even with other "would-be" alpha dogs we can indeed be the leader, we just have to "talk" using energy and body language...not words! - Watch your dogs and you too can learn how to talk with the animals. Remember don't try to lower a dog - it won't work as it goes against nature - raise yourself to leader and it works! Max agrees!
Max loves being "just dog" but he is so much more to me...our dogs share our jounrney through life for a reason - what is your dog sharing with you? Max is showing me the way to help dogs...many dogs back to balance - what a truly wonderful gift between species.
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