How many dogs does it take to make a pack?

Dogs thrive in a social hierarchy called a pack, which consists of the pack leader, or alpha, and a strict order of successive dominance among the beta dogs. A pack of dogs can have as few as two members, consisting of an alpha dog and a beta dog.

The social hierarchy of the dog pack is a way of establishing order among the members. The establishment of a chain of command allows a successful dog pack to provide mutual protection, more effectively hunt for food and correct dangerous or disruptive behaviors that could compromise the efficacy of the pack structure.