Are Dogs Really Pack Animals? (cont.)

We can and must help our dogs by providing a stable structure for their lives in the human world. For example, they need early socialization and a well-learned repertoire of mannerly behaviors, such as sitting to greet people and not charging out the door every time it opens. We can call our role “pack leader” if we want to, but it’s unlikely that that notion has much to do with what’s going on in the dog’s head. And worrying about our rank can even get in our way, if it primes us to see every problem that comes up as a potential conflict. As the great animal trainer Bob Bailey has said, “It’s just behavior.”