Alpha Male and Alpha Female in same household? it's hard to tell who is alpa between my 2 dogs, is it?

Question

possible to have both? They both submit to each other sometimes when they play, they both are treated equally.

what are your thoughts??

if you read my last question, my husband and I ARE ALPHA, so Rephrase my question:: IT's hard to tell who is BETA between my two dogs.

they submit to one another, and play......there is no sign of aggression between the two.

Answer 1

None of the above. You should be Alpha. If they are submitting eachother, then neither see them selves as alpha and they are probably just fighting over the "Beta" role under you. If thats the case your are doing nothing wrong. They will work it out.

Answer 2

It is possible to have a happy household with an alpha female and an alpha male because usually in dog packs there is an alpha male who reigns over the males and an alpha female who reigns over the females. If they aren't fighting over things then they already know who is a alpha between the two of them. You get dog fights when both try to be alpha. The submissive one tends to lick the mouth of the alpha, or will drop their ears back and go into a slightly submissive posture when greeting the alpha one. Sometimes it is hard to tell if you don't know what you are looking for. The big signs are the alpha eats first, the submissive one will get up out of the alpha's way when in the alpha's path, etc.
In play the alpha can easily become the submissive one because dogs know that it is just playtime! Just like kids who pretend play and change roles when they are playing. That is what the play bow if for, to signify that we are all just playing and what ever may happen during this time is just pretend.
Hope that all makes sense!

Answer 3

Could be - or not. In real life things are not quite the cut & dryed "alpha in all things" and "beta in all things". Many times a laid back secure alpha will let the lower ranked dogs take the lead in some this they don't care a lot about. Being oppisite sex they are not quite in compition with each other as well.

PS: the joke on the alpha pack leader mentality of training is that only an INSECURE alpha insists on ALWAYS demnenstrating the alpha position, so be too insistant on the little stuff - you can send the worng message....

Answer 4

Actually they both need to see you as the Alpha. Usually in a pack there is an alpha male and alpha female, all others in the pack are either Beta or Omgea. It works the same way with our dogs with one exeption......they see us as Alpha. Alpha rules the pack, gives it the orgaization it needs to have structure. Beta pack members will be more dominant with the Omega members, but both will be submissive to the Alpha pack members.
It sounds like your dogs know there place in the pack. I have 3 dogs and one is usually more submissive with one of the others , but all 3 see me as the Alpha leader.
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I have to agree with Golden, as that about sums it up!!! If one was more dominant, he/she would be picking fights with the other. I have one that tends to do this on occasion.......Until I step in and remind him that I am the one in charge!

Answer 5

Good question!

Our thoughts about dominance and who is alpha have changed drastically in the last few years. First of all, ethologists and other students of animal behavior find that it is not nearly as important in the lives of dogs as we thought. Second, it is frequently situational, and it can switch back and forth. Some dogs almost seem to take turns being dominant. Others are only dominant in certain places or situations.

So, the fact that your dogs both submit to each other sometimes in play is normal, and in fact, shows that they have a very nice relationship together. I think you're very fortunate.

Remember, alpha or dominance is about being quietly, calmly in charge, and preventing aggression. It's not about being noisy or bossy or snappy. Studies show that when the dominant animal is removed, there is an increase in aggression in the remaining animals.

This also applies to you, as the alpha human. Your job is to provide a sense of quiet, calm and order to your dogs, not chaos.

So as long as you're trading the dog's quick response to your obedience command for whatever he wants -- dinner, tummy tickles, walks, etc., you're doing just fine!

Answer 6

THAT'S GOOD THAT YOU AND YOUR HUSBAND ARE THE ALPHA,

YOU JUST HAVE TO WATCH THEM CLOSELY

THEY ARE ABSOLUTELY WITH OUT A DOUBT GOING TO ESTABLISH IS BETA AND OMEGA IN THE PACK.

MAYBE ONE IS A BETA FEMALE AND THE OTHER BETA MALE, IT'S POSSIBLE.

DON'T LISTEN TO THOSE IGNORANT ANSWERS, THEY DON'T EVEN KNOW YOU TO TELL YOU THAT YOU SHOULD BE THE ALPHA..........YOU GO GIRL, CONTINUE TO BE THE ALPHA WITH YOUR HUBBY, AND CONTINUE TO TREAT YOUR DOGS EQUALLY, DON'T GIVE IN TO FAVORITISM, THAT'S WHEN PROBLEMS ARISE.

Answer 7

There is always an alpha male and female in a pack.

Answer 8

The Alpha in your home needs to be the adult of the house that deals with the dogs the most. You are the leader of the pack and have the control not them. Watch The Dog Whisperer with Ceasar Milan for great tips that helped me out alot even though I am not a professional I am the Alpha.

Answer 9

I think you don't now what your talking about. If you had 2 dominate dogs in your home they would be fighting most of the time or growling or bearing their teeth at one another. You have 2 dogs that like to play with each other and are good together. Don't try to label them ok.

Answer 10

I'm alpha, NOT my dogs. Play fighting is fine. Real fighting is not. If my dogs start posturing, I step in.