Well, I'm gonna get slammed for this, but IMHO, No! In my pack, I am the alpha female, period, end of conversation. I make the rules and I enforce them. The dogs know that. They know when they hear the "wrath of Mom" voice that whatever they are doing will cease and desist immediately. I wish it worked that well on my husband, but somehow yelling "NOW" at him is not effective!

The dogs have an order amongst themselves, but it's not set in stone. It changes every day. Muskwa is a very dominant male, but he doesn't always want to be charge. Somedays he is very submissive. I've seen him approach Goldie on his belly trying to get her to play. He is protective of Earle. None of the other dogs are allowed to be nasty to Earle or Muskwa will step in. I've seen Antare decide to be boss dog and he's afraid of his shadow! The pack order is a very fluid thing, not a clear heirarchy.

I don't follow any "alpha rules". I feed them all at the same time, I let them through the door before me, I step over them instead of making them move and they get fed before I even start cooking my supper. I don't reinforce one dog as the boss dog. Muskwa, who most people would call my alpha dog, is fed with the others at the same time, he doesn't get different food or fed first. He gets the same treats, the same attention.

I think that alot of people use "alpha" as an excuse for tolerating aggressive behavior. A true alpha leader uses aggression as an absolute last resort, not as their first tool.