Episode 103. Don’t Be Your Dog’s “Alpha” (and What to Do Instead) with Marc Bekoff, Ph.D.

Have you ever heard someone say that you should be your dog’s “alpha”? I’ve heard all types of odd advice over the years, like don’t let your dog walk through the doorway before you or never feed your dog before you eat.

And I’ve always had lots of questions. Do dogs have alphas? or is that a wolf thing? You often hear the term “alpha male,” but in nature aren’t alpha females just as common? What is the role of the alpha in a pack? Are dogs even looking for humans to be their alpha?

Fortunately we have renowned ethologist Dr. Marc Bekoff to answer all these questions and more for us. Though a self-proclaimed “terrible student,” Dr. Bekoff is a prolific writer, and his remarkable career often has him collaborating with the likes of Jane Goodall.

As a pet parent companion animal guardian, Dr. Bekoff makes me think about the type of relationship I want to have with my dogs and the type of human I want to be. (And also about some of the past blunders I’ve inadvertently made.)

From sniffing & playtime to navigating dog parks, Dr. Bekoff gives us practical ways to truly honor our dogs’ “dogness.”

Dr. Bekoff & I discuss:

His childhood love of animals;
His non-linear career path;
Collaborating with Jane Goodall;
How our understanding of alpha dogs and alpha wolves is often misinterpreted and why this is a problem;
The purpose and role of a pack alpha;
Navigating dog parks;
Alpha males and alpha females in nature;
Dispelling myths about humans being their dog’s alpha;
What are dogs looking to humans for?
Understanding consent and agency in our relationships with our dogs;
Being intentional about our language and vocabulary;
Honoring our dogs’ dogness;
Trends in companion animal culture;
How to be your own ethologist