Well, that’s a bit of problem, you see. I’m just as much a cream puff as she is. I’m not sure what an alpha does. I can’t growl at her all the time. I wish Peeps had left an instruction manual.
You bring up a good point. What would I do with two dogs who didn’t want to be alphas? Oh the mind reels.
I should have realized this sooner. Terry has never challenged me. She fusses, she whines, she acts out...but she has never directly challenged me. Peeps did every now and then, just to make sure I was still his boss. But aside from that, I never had to assert authority over him on a daily basis. As long as he knew what the pecking order was, he was fine. I apparently haven’t been alpha enough for Terry and it keeps her off kilter.
Eureka! You’ve just stumbled upon something to throw yourself into after the lad sets off to college. Kate (insert surname), Pet Psychologist. I’m sure that Terry would provide a good reference.
LOL! While dogs are probably less complex than humans, I don’t think I’d want to be a dog psychologist. Most dog problems are a result of their humans’ behaviors. So I’d get to analyze the humans at dog shrink fees.
I’m pretty sure that’s what a dog shrink would tell me, too. I’ve been driving my dog crazy. I have an idea that she and I should take a dog obedience course so I can learn how to be a good alpha mommy.
Next entry: A small respite
Previous entry: Cold front. Not.



Alpha-Kate!
What a concept… I certainly hope this new-found dominance position (aka tough love) holds.
It does beg the question of whether getting another dog would work, particularly if the newbie didn’t want/expect/try to be the alpha. I don’t think Terry would ever even think of trying to be the alpha; for one thing, selective breeding and racing conditioning over many generations have done their best to weaken that urge in greyhounds.