DOGS ARE PACK ANIMALS, WITH LEADERS AND FOLLOWERS. HUMANS ARE ALSO PACK ANIMALS WITH LEADERS AND FOLLOWERS. MOST OF US DON’T RECOGNIZE THAT OR EVEN THINK WE ADHERE TO IT, BUT YOU DON’T HAVE TO LOOK VERY FAR IN YOUR OWN LIFE TO SEE THAT IT’S TRUE.
THINK OF ALL THE PACKS YOU’VE EVER BELONGED TO: FAMILY, WORK, FRIENDS, SCHOOL. EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THESE GROUPS HAS ITS LEADERS, MEDIATORS, AND FOLLOWERS.
IN A DOG PACK, THERE ARE THREE POSITIONS — FRONT, MIDDLE, AND REAR. THE DOGS IN FRONT ARE THE LEADERS, AND THEY PROVIDE PROTECTION AND DIRECTION. THE DOGS IN THE MIDDLE ARE THE MEDIATORS, AND THEY COMMUNICATE BETWEEN THE FRONT AND THE BACK OF THE PACK. THE DOGS IN THE REAR ARE THE ALERT SYSTEM — IF THEY DETECT A THREAT, THEY SOUND THE ALARM.
IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT, THIS ISN’T THAT DIFFERENT FROM ANY HUMAN HIERARCHY. FOR EXAMPLE, IN A BIG COMPANY, YOU HAVE THE EXECUTIVES, THE MANAGERS, AND THE EMPLOYEES.
THE EXECUTIVES ARE IN CHARGE OF EVERYBODY, AND THEIR MISSION IS TO MAKE THE COMPANY SUCCESSFUL SO THAT THE PACK SURVIVES. THE MANAGERS ARE IN THE MIDDLE. THEY ANSWER TO THE EXECUTIVES, BUT THEY ALSO EXPLAIN EXECUTIVE DIRECTIONS TO THE EMPLOYEES AND EXPRESS EMPLOYEE CONCERNS TO THE EXECUTIVES.
FINALLY, THE EMPLOYEES ARE NOT IN CHARGE OF ANYONE. HOWEVER, THEY ARE CLOSEST TO SEEING THINGS THAT MIGHT THREATEN THE PACK, AND WILL SOUND THE ALARM ABOUT IT, WHICH HELPS THE LEADERS PROTECT THE ENTIRE PACK.
THE PROCESS OF BRINGING BALANCE TO A DOG IN NEED IS AN AMAZING THING TO WATCH.