Alpha or aggressive?

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prose

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I have a three-year-old Boston Terrier who is super sweet with all people, strangers and kids included. She is great with most dogs, too, although I'm wondering whether her behaviour, on the whole, is alpha or borderline aggressive.

We go to the dog parks every day. For those of you who don't know, these are enclosed areas, a few acres in size, where dogs go to play with other dogs. She has been going to these since she was four-months-old.

Yesterday, there was a scrap between two French Bulldog male and my dog, a female, thundered over to get right in the middle of it. She marks A LOT and some female dogs don't like her at all. She has never started a scrap but has no qualms about fighting back or jumping right in to sort it out. for the most part, she wrestles, runs around and marks.

Does this sound like alpha behaviour or aggression?
 
Alphas never normally need to fight. They assert their position and don't normally join in with fights as far as I understand it.

Emma
 
Usually she doesn't, but this was between two unfixed males. She usually keeps herself to herself, sniffs out the place, marks, but will definitely fight back if challenged directly, though this has only happened three times in three years, out of the hundreds of dogs she's come into contact with.

She certainly has lots of alpha behaviours (other dogs greet her by "kissing" and the males, erm, are very interested in getting around the back for a good looksie, but she will snap if they try and hump her).

I must say I find all this dog behaviour stuff very fascinating.
 
If you are interested then, there is a book called The Culture Clash which makes a very interesting read. I'm certainly no expert but find it fascinating too.

Emma
 
[ QUOTE ]
If you are interested then, there is a book called The Culture Clash which makes a very interesting read. I'm certainly no expert but find it fascinating too.

Emma

[/ QUOTE ]

Funnily enough, I ordered it off Amazon two days ago! Thank you, though.
 
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