Can a Little Dog be Alpha?

Does breed or size matter in the realm of a dog’s position in the pack?  What if dog’s knew the stories that are perpetuated about their breed?  What if being big and muscular automatically made you alpha dog?

Observing dogs as they live in their world of thought and not mine, it can appear they are being courteous to another dog rather than acting out their role in the hierarchy of the pack.  For example:

The Great Dane is sometimes possessive of her food and toys.  I looked over to see her lying wait by her giant food bowl as she patiently “allowed” the tiny Yorkie to eat.  She circles away from her bowl as she eats, and I’m sure she was surprised to return to see she was unintentionally sharing her food.

While I know it’s not the case, what if she learned from me to pick her battles?  With me being present and observing, this is not one she’d win anyway.  It’s always a learning experience to sit back, relax, and watch as dogs show us who they are.  If I had jumped up startled that the Yorkie would dare eat from the Dane’s bowl, I could have contributed to a nervous response from either or both of them.

Patiently waiting, Melody moved away and the Dane went back to eating.  It could be that Melody is alpha, or that she is no threat so sharing is accepted, or maybe the Dane was just being courteous to a senior family member.