lakota – Oct 28, 2000 12:00 AM

Lakota still has moments where she is driven to the den by Mackenzie, but her behavioral displays have included more play bowing, and she appears to initiate some of these chase scenes. She's been subject to far less pack mobbing in recent weeks and has interacted with handlers more frequently and has been observed with an extremely high tail position for a Beta female.. Overall pack dynamics has settled into a quiet routine. Certainly, this may change as the pups reach maturity, but so far, Mackenzie is clearly the alpha female with Lakota as Beta. Lucas maintains alpha male status by default. The pups are primarily interacting with each other with Shadow more dominant than Malik. The pups are generally not dominated by the adults unless Lucas or Mackenzie are laying down and the pups come over and attempt to sit on them, then the irritation factor kicks in. Lucas especially, growls and snaps at the pups, but generally ends up running away leaving the pups as they stand. Occasionally, Mackenzie gets mobbed by the pups and Lucas joins in, initiating a chase scene, but usually Lakota stays out of the interaction. Mackenzie's response has been one of high hackles, tucked tail and lunging snaps until the interaction stops. She doesn't appear too conformable on the receiving end of this attention, actually, Shadow and Mackenzie have allot in common that way.