Unraveling the Controversy: The Truth Behind the Pack Leader Theory in Dog Training

The Pack Leader Theory in Dog Training: Effective BUT Misunderstood

Prior to the mid-20th century, it was largely believed that wolf packs were led by an “alpha male”. This suggested they were governed by a merciless dictator, lending itself to a shorthand for a kind of dominant masculinity.

But in recent years wildlife biologists have largely dropped the term “alpha.” In the wild, researchers have found that most wolf packs are simply families, led by a breeding pair, and bloody duels for supremacy are rare.

It’s worth noting that the term “Alpha” simply refers to the leader. An uncle may become a “Beta” wolf who takes care of the pups when Mum and Dad are away hunting for example, and the wolf at the bottom of the pack who eats last and sometimes gets picked on, is referred to as the “Omega” (the last letter of the Greek alphabet).

Thankfully, more extensive research on the topic of wolf hierarchy was conducted by American biologist and wolf behavior expert David Mech. He began his studies in 1986 by watching a pack of wild wolves in natural settings on Ellesmere Island in Northwest Canada. His 13 Summers spent there, carefully observing the pack's interactions, brought a different picture to the table.

David Mech—a senior research scientist at the U.S. Geological Survey—proved that with wolves:

• There are Pack Leaders: a breeding pair,
• Acknowledges they are the ‘dominant pair' (where the word ‘dominant’ is more a reflection of leadership as opposed to bullying-type behaviors),
• They operate in a hierarchy with leaders and followers,
• The leaders lead in a loving parental way.

Basically he's saying that within a pack of wolves there is not really an “alpha male”, but there is a distinct parental pair that leads, and the rest of the pack follows.

This is hard-wired into the wolve's DNA, and because dogs share 99.99% of their DNA with wolves, it applies to our domesticated dogs too.

This means that our dogs have a very strong basic instinct to either be a leader, or be a follower. Wolves act as a coordinated unit, and therefore, our dogs know that SOMEONE has to be in charge. If they don’t see us behaving like Mama or Papa wolf, then they will feel OBLIGATED to take on the role of leader. Believe me, they don’t want the job!

For example, consider if you were thrown into the wilderness and were responsible for taking care of a pack of wolves… How would you feel?

Well, I don’t know how to hunt, I can’t run fast enough to catch a deer, and I can’t find water with my nose. I’d be pretty stressed out. I am responsible for caring for these wolves and I am simply not up to the task. This is how many of our dogs feel in our human world when we don’t pick up this leadership role for them. They try their best to be good leaders, but in our eyes, they consistently exhibit unwanted behavior. That’s because their wolf-style leadership behaviors in the wild simply don’t fit into our human world.

“What would be the value of calling a human father the alpha male?” says David Mech, “He’s just the father of the family. And that’s exactly the way it is with wolves.”

So, has the “Pack Leader Theory” been debunked? A quick answer: NO.

(I talk more about this in the video below.)

The term “alpha male” may be outdated (largely due to misinterpretation of the term), but what David Mech observed of wolf packs reveals the very heart of the “Pack Leader Theory:” 

• Dogs DON'T thrive under AGGRESSIVE leadership
• Dogs need a trustworthy leader to make decisions
• Leadership MATTERS to dogs

This is all wonderfully true and scientifically proven (read his white paper here).

However there are two problems that have arisen…

First, the outdated word “alpha” has become intertwined with Mech's proven theory that the pack is led by a parental pair — leading to confusion about what is true and what is not.

Further to this, there were experiments done back in the 1940s whereupon recognising dogs and wolves were so closely related, unrelated captive wolves were observed in an enclosure that was too small. (In the wild they live in families, and are generally spread out to reduce competition over territory and prey.) They saw a significant amount of dominance and aggression, and from this came the practice of bullying, forceful and aggressive training that, sadly, some trainers still practice today. Mech recognized this error of not observing them in their natural environment and has been working hard to correct the resulting dogma that led to these not-so-nice, and potentially damaging, training methods.
It was these earlier incorrect conclusions that have been debunked, not leadership itself.

Second, some people have confused what he said about the “dominant pair.” Yes, they are the leaders of the pack, but they don't lead through DOMINANCE.

The debunkers have seen the word “dominant” and misunderstood it to mean leaders should lead through overly harsh and aggressive parental behavior — which of course is NOT true.

This is why a lot of dog-lovers don't like this theory — because they mistakenly think it promotes aggressive, dominant force over our dogs — which is utter rubbish. They've associated “pack leader theory” with dominant and aggressive training, and thrown the baby out with the bathwater, so to speak, mistakenly discarding the fact that there is a hierarchy of leaders and followers within wolves and dogs, along with correctly discarding aggressive training methods.

Unfortunately, Mech's claims have been misinterpreted by many dog training professionals as if dogs don't really — ever — need a leader. 

I feel there must be some cognitive dissonance involved here, as personally, in my decades of dog training, I’ve rarely entered a home with two or more dogs where the owners can’t immediately tell me which of their dogs is the boss.

And isn't it true that even we — human beings — will only thrive with exemplary leadership? 

It seems to me, a little naive to assume our dogs — one of the smartest animal breeds — will change with zero leadership, and a load of cheese and clickers. 

Why Not Using the Pack Leader Theory is Dangerous in Dog Training

Let me introduce this concept through a story. 

Imagine going on a hike with your kids. They're rowdy, excited, and want to run and play. 

But you know better. Even though the hike has breathtaking scenery, you've been through the trail enough to know you need to guide your kids carefully so they won't get into any danger. 

You can't simply say “Well, kids, IF you follow me, you'll get cheese. If you don't, I'll punish you” then you go your merry way, no longer thinking about what decisions will be made. 

And just like every classic story, we know that kids will choose fun without proper guidance. And fun doesn't always mean safety. 

Kids don't understand why they shouldn't get too close to the cliff or avoid some cute-looking insects. 

YOU — their parent, the decision-maker — should guide them on what to do. 

It's the same with dogs.

Dogs don't understand why they shouldn't chew your shoes or electrical wires, or whether they should bark at the stranger bringing a package to your front door.

They need a leader to show them the do's and don'ts  in order to keep them safe, just as Mama wolf will nudge her pup away from a poisonous plant. And that's why YOU'RE THERE. 

Without Leadership, You'll Rely On Clickers and Cheese… Which Can Only Work for a While

I'm all for rewards and incentives; I know how it can make dogs listen and pay attention.

But how far can cheese and clickers work if they don't see you as the leader they must obey and follow? 

It's like being in a company/business. Sure, bonuses and incentives are nice to have. But if your boss is always absent, or they don't take the time to guide you when you're having a hard time, how long will you stay? 

Not using the pack theory is dangerous because if you don't become the leader your dog knows THEY MUST FOLLOW, and the clickers and cheese don't work anymore, what else can you do? 

Unfortunately, several dog owners fall into this trap of thinking, “Oh, so rewards don't work anymore. My dog has become difficult to discipline. How about I try shock collars and punishments?”

And from experience, shock collars and punishment make things worse. 

Don't fall into that trap. 

Without The Pack Theory, You Don't Get to the Heart of Dog Psychology… And Dogs Won't Change

If you want dog training to work, you must think like a dog. You must get into their psyche to make them say, “Ohh, so that's how I should do it.” 

The only way for training to work is to go back to the observations from David Mech: Leadership matters to dogs. 

If you become a leader in your dog's eyes (something I emphasize in my training and online program, The Dog Calming Code™), THEY WILL FOLLOW. They will obey. 

You're the leader. You're putting down rules. Once dogs will see the rules set by you — their leader — they will follow. 

This is how dog psychology works, and it's something cheese and clickers cannot copy. 

With cheese and clickers, you're activating the reward stimuli that make dogs obey for a while. 

But if your dog doesn’t see you as the leader, then our dogs will make the choice between sitting for a treat, versus barking at the stranger – because they are deciding if they have a more important job to do.

… so this is the crux of the matter. A dog who feels they are responsible for the family will always make the decision they feel keeps their family safe. Unfortunately, in our human world, the decision the dog makes is not the decision we want the dog to make, and this is the cause of nearly all dog behavior problems.

Therefore, the ONLY WAY TO REALLY CHANGE OUR DOG’S BEHAVIOR is to relieve them of their leadership position (the role they really don’t want anyway).

Why The Pack Leader Theory Is What You Need in Dog Training

The Pack Leader Theory Clicks With Dog Psychology

Understanding the essence of the Pack Theory is crucial in comprehending the intricate workings of dog psychology.

This theory resonates deeply with the fundamental instincts and behaviors ingrained in our dogs.

By acknowledging and embracing the principles of pack dynamics, we get real insights into how dogs perceive and respond to leadership within their social structures.

It's Founded in Loving Leadership, Not Aggression

Contrary to common misconceptions, the Pack Leader Theory emphasizes nurturing relationships based on trust, respect, and affection rather than coercion and aversive training methods.

At its core, it advocates for compassionate and empathetic leadership between the alpha pack leader and the followers.

By embodying the qualities of a benevolent leader, we create a supportive environment where dogs feel secure, valued, and motivated to learn and grow.