Pack Life & Rules

"You think Iam an ignorant savage

And you've been so many places

I guess it must be so

But still I cannot see

How the savage one is me.

How can there be so much that you dont know?"

As many can tell you I tend to get along better with animals than I do that of human-kind. In a way humans are my kin and I should fair well amongst them but (as stated in the post "We Are All Connected") so are the rest of the creatures on this earth. I get along better with animals perhaps because they are so simple, not held down by the drama-trama of human lives. I can walk into a house that has a dog and that dog will be okay with me because we will get an understanding. It is not my territory in which I enter and I make sure that is clear; humans dont understand animals and though animals try more than humans they do not understand us either but when we meet hald way than it is easier for us to coexsist. I, however, tend to meet them fully.

I live, and will die, by pack rules.

"You think you own whatever land you land on

The earth is just a dead thing you can claim

But I know every rock and tree and creature

Has a life

Has A Spirit

Has a name"

Pack rules are a very simple set of rules set up by nature, for nature. They keep the balance and control the system, unfortunately humans have lost this way of life and it truly a shame. I call them pack rules because the simplest way to describe them, for myself, are to use wolves as examples. Wolves are noble, misunderstood, creatures whom I relate to better than I do humans.

"You think the only people who are people

Are the people who look and think like you

But if you walk the foot steps of a stranger

You'll learn things you never knew you never knew."

A pack is set up like a hierachy. There is an Alpha who runs the pack, protects the territory as well as those within it and who makes sure that they are taken care of, fed and safe. None oppose the Alpha without punishment and when their is a rival, is a challenge is drawn, the winner is the Alpha. To hold your place at the top you must be strong. You cannot be strong only in physical strength for if you are merely a warrior than you will lead your pack in destruction and you cannot by strong only in mental strength for then you cannot defend your pack, or you will be over thrown by a stronger rival. You must balance these in order to be a good leader and a strong fighter. Only fighting when you must and when the cause is just; not just to fight nor to prove a point.

"Come run the hidden pine trails of the forest

Come taste the sun sweet berries of the earth

Come roll in all the riches all around you

And for once never wonder what they're worth."

I can sit in my room, the door open and my dogs do not enter without my permission. They do this because my room is my territory; I am the Alpha and within the house, especially my room, I am higher then they are on the hierarchy. They understand that is it mine and they respect it. When I eat, if they beg, I pause and stare into their eyes. Within seconds they look away because to hold the gaze is a threat and is a way to challenge another; they do not challenge me.

My dogs to not bite me because I am the Alpha and it is known, they do not challenge my rank and do not question. I work like a wolf, thus they understand me. When they misbehave or get too far out of line I pin them to the floor by their throat. This is not done in a violent manner and I no not cut off their air throw, I hold them there with a gentle grasp but strong enough so that they cannot get up. Some may say that this is animal cruelty but its not, there is no harm done to them. It is a way of saying that you are the Alpha, any dog that growls, nips/bites, tries to escape you, does not show their belly to you, they are challenging your athority and this is where many problems can come from. many people let their dogs run their lives with no punishment, no rules nor guidelines. The dogs become the Alpha and the human a mere person within the ranks below them.

"The rainstorm and the river are my brothers

The heron and the otter are my friends

And we are all connected to eachother

In a circle, in a hoop that never ends"

In another sense, I do not see my dogs are pets; they are my companions, friends and family. All animals are, to me at least. I play tug-of-war with my dogs, like a dog, with one end of the rope in my mouth and the other end in one of the dogs mouths. Its wierd, I am sure, but its natural for me and its good for them. Maybe they respect me more because I see the world as they do, or maybe they dont. Perhaps I just have the aura to let others know that I am not a threat but an not a push over, or maybe the understanding is just there and respect is shared between us.

Whatever the reason, pack rules, pack life works for me and if only the strong survived like it was meant to me, then the world would be better. If we gave back and lived in the long forgotten harmony we would not have to fear the destruction of our world, of our mother...

All song lyrics are from Disney's Pocohantas "Colors Of The Wind"