Who Rules Your House?

Our dog Leaf is such an alpha guy that we started to think he was top dog in our home. But then, we began to notice signs that maybe this just isn't so.

Last week, Leaf was regularly following Linda upstairs to her office to sit in a comfy chair and snooze while she worked. Cuddles, our little black-and-white cat, also likes to keep an eye on things from her perch next to Linda's computer.

One day, when Linda was ready to go downstairs, Leaf and Cuddles stood at the top of the stairs to precede her. Leaf started to dart down the steps, but Cuddles was determined to teach him manners. "It's supposed to be ladies first," she seemed to say with a hiss, an upraised paw, and extended claws.

After she took a couple of swipes at the dog, he decided it was in his best interest to pay attention. He backed off and let her go ahead of him. From that day on, when the two of them leave upstairs with Linda, Leaf always lets Cuddles go first.

Okay, does that mean the cat is ruler of our house? We began to be more observant, trying to figure out who's in charge.

That's when we noticed that Leaf would be barking over nothing. He'd stand in the middle of the room, not looking out the window, with no one at the door, yet barking as if to ward off intruders. Before the barking outburst, our cockatiel Sunshine had been screeching. Was this a pattern?

Sure enough, we observed that every time Sunshine screeched over whatever only he could see or hear, Leaf followed the bird's command and began to bark.

Okay, does that mean the bird rules our house?

We affectionately call Leaf "Alpha Dog of the World," because he tends to corral all the dogs at doggy day care and prompt them for when and what to play. Now we may have to amend his title into "Alpha Dog of the World Outside Our Home."

Who sets the pace where you live?