Pack (canine)
Animals which typically predominate over others are associated with the term "alpha". Among pack-living wolves, alpha wolves are the genetic parents of most cubs in the pack. Such access to mating females creates strong selective pressure for intra-sex competition.
Pack (canine)
One of the most persistent theories in dog training literature is the idea of the "alpha wolf", an individual gray wolf who uses body language and, when needed, physical force to maintain its dominance within the wolf pack. The idea was first reported in early wolf research. It was subsequently adopted by dog trainers. The term "alpha" was popularized as early as 1976 in the dog training book "How to Be Your Dog's Best Friend" (Monks of New Skete), which introduced the idea of the "alpha roll", a technique for punishing unwanted dog behaviours. Psychologist and dog trainer Stanley Coren in the 2001 book "How to Speak Dog" says "you are the alpha dog...You must communicate that you are the pack leader and dominant".