Comments on Alpha Wolf: Cool, Calm Leadership

I wondered if you know about an author and scientist in the early 60, his name is called "Farley Mowat" He worked for the Wildlife Services in Alaska. His book is called, "Never Wolf."
The way he described the wolf family and how the Alpha male and female, just leave you understand that wolves are an important part of god's grand scheme. They can teach humans (just like our dogs can) important lessons that you won't be able to learn easily.

Our amazing alpha just passed away a month ago... he is just as you all have described - calm, quiet, loving, loyal, protective... it's as if he was the one that connected us (human family) to the other dogs (canine family). His birth brother died 9 months before he did, and we know that was as it should be as his sensitive soul would not have survived if his alpha brother had passed first. He was very much his own dog, but he was also always dependent on being led by his brother. We worried about our alpha when his brother passed, and he was sullen and sad for a short while, but he never complained (some might say you wouldn't know if a dog was complaining, but we know better than that... if you know your animals, it's as obvious as someone telling you they're complaining). He made sure to show us that, although he very much missed his brother, he was still happy to be with us and our other dog and would continue to carry on as alpha.
He was so perfect. We have fostered hundreds of dogs and cats, and at least 3 times a week took him on off-leash walks out in the country where we live or at a favorite pond near the edge of town. Not once in his entire life did he ever get in a fight or even get ugly with another creature. As he aged, he got annoyed with the obnoxious foster puppies that jumped on his face and bit at his ears. He would mutter a low growl under his breath but nothing more. If their attack grew more obnoxious, he simply got up and went up to his elevated dog house for a break. Out on our country roads, we encounter numerous roaming "alphas" that get protective of their property... our boy simply met each one standing tall and strong, ears up, but with respect to what others were claiming as their own. He was always friendly, but not in a 'please-accept-me' sort of way. His patience was that of a saint, with us and with all other creatures; and other creatures seemed to just know he would take care of them and gave him respect almost automatically.
I didn't fully see the importance of his role until after he died. Our poor four-legged girl is now all alone, without her leader. Towards his end, he lost nerve-function in one of his back legs and had advanced arthritis in a front leg... needless to say, he didn't get around very well. He didn't bat an eye, though! He led his small pack until he physically couldn't take another step (we resorted to bringing a large jogging stroller to push him in on long walks because it would have broken his heart to be left behind). His leadership wasn't as obvious to the eye in his last months, but now that he is gone it's apparent how much our third dog needed him. She is beside herself, and I've even caught her multiple times running bewildered, random and chaotic circles around the house and barn. She was always prone to anxiety, but that is now through the roof. She is glued to me every second of the day that I am at home (which is a lot because I homeschool my boys!), and it breaks my heart to look in to her lost, sorrowful eyes.
All that being said, her struggles just point every so much more strongly towards the undeniable leadership of our Buck. We can't ever imagine another dog that will compare to his resilient, calm, always loving and loyal, unwavering, silent strength. And he never had to assert these things, he just was!!

This article is right on and I really enjoyed it. The female pack leader at our home is a 5 lb cutie who is never nasty or over-bearing, but she's definitely their canine leader. It's been a joy to see how she operates and how the others all obey. For example, if the 2 young ones are barking too much, she walks up to them and gives one serious bark right in their face. She's just told them to "be quiet, that's enough" and they obey. Nothing aggressive or negative about it. If needed, she escalates it but they've never had a fight. Quiet, confidence with love makes for a great pack leader.

Yes, most people have the Alpha personality mixed up with Beta. Alpha's are calm and in control. They are the head of the pack and know without the support of his/her followers they would be nothing. They make rules and enforce them, but never unjustly.
Beta's are bullies. Pure and simple. They pick on and do things out of proportion to the infraction. They desire to lead the pack but do not have the emotional weight to carry it out properly. They have a deep layer of insecurity and try to cover it with posturing and shows of aggression. These are the dogs most people have behaviour problems with.
Gamma's are the submissive ones. Never wanting to impose and easily intimidated.
Interestingly enough all three personalities can also be seen in humans. ;)

OK.... since you mentioned food David Mechs and his study of wolves as well as your own 28 year study of wolves, are not disputing the alpha research he did or simply confirming his research on the the way wolves eat their food and how we (I feed Raw Prey Model) should approach the 80/10/10 baseline to the raw feeding of our dogs and cats?
My main interest is to resolve the "they eat fruits and berries in the wild, thus you should feed berries and plant matter to your domesticated wolves!" I am a member of the NO FRUITS/BERRIES AND PLANT MATTER group. In fact, I get irritated when I hear or read about pet owners feeding a BARF diet to their carnivores. If the research is really there and if it will improve my dog's health, then I need some documented research and real studies before I go there. :-)

Although David Mech's book may had taught people about "alpha wolf" it is an excellent book to also teaching what our dogs ancestors eat and how our dogs & cats(just study the African Wild Cat--small cat; plus all big cats, mt.lions, lynx etc) and how our pets do so much better on complete raw diets.
And seeing that I have studied wolves for 28yrs too, and am animal behaviorist & dog trainer, I can tell you there is always an alpha male & female in a wolf pack but they are the parents. And I've had my own pack of German Shepherd's from Germany, 12 at one point, and you will see them interacting with each other and how there is always a top dog/dominant dog in the pack along with you being their alpha leader.