Thanks for replying and clarifying your position Terry.
Do you think that, in the end, it's all a matter of semantics? You mention your role as a "leader" and also as "class monitor" - but whether you call it that or "alpha male" the result is still the same; what you say goes and the dogs obey you. And I also understand that you are doing this as a safety measure and not because you are jostling with the dogs for the "top" position, but from the dogs' perspective the end result is the same. They won't be able to follow your reasoning as to why you are stopping them going first through doors etc - you know it is so that you can recon but from their perspective you go first and they follow - ie you are the one in charge, whether you call yourself leader, class monitor or alpha male. Something worth thinking about?
I have five dogs - three bergamaschi and two border collies - all of them are well trained and accept both my OH and myself as being leader (or whatever term you wish!
) but between the five of them there is a definite leader and a definite second in command - which amuses me greatly because I've never experienced a dog wanting to be second in command before. We don't get fights or squabbles, but if Evie (the oldest border collie) wants a toy or access to food or to go through a door first the others defer to her. Gabby, the oldest bergamasco, will defer to Evie but not to the others, and the others except for Evie will all defer to her.