An alpha dog is the dominant or lead dog in a pack. The alpha dog typically exhibits confident and assertive behavior, making decisions for the pack and enjoying privileges like eating first and having access to resources.
In a domestic setting with a single pet dog, the alpha dog role may be taken on by the owner or the dog, depending on the dynamics and training.
The concept of alpha dogs originates from the study of wolf packs, though the applicability of strict hierarchies to domestic dogs is debated among experts.
Related Terms: Pack Hierarchy, Dominance, Leadership.
