[dipper]

Cally01,

Thanks for the info. on the book and it may be worth reading but going by the quote you choose, I'm not yet convinced.
When the author says:

"The idea that I would go out and pay five thousand dollars for a lead dog, bring it home, and let it fight the rest of the dogs to see if they accept it as the alpha male and leader has to be hilarious. The last thing and dog driver wants is a dog fight. Not only can valuable animals be hurt, but animosities between individuals would constantly stress the team effort. I don't want any dog to feel bad about its rank on the team, or continually test its position. I don't want the dogs submissive to me. Imagine them all on their backs, peeing in the air every time I showed up.

I would say to the author:
Yes, no kidding it would be hilarious and STUPID for you to throw a NEW dog into the mix and let it fight the rest of the dogs to see if they accept it as the alpha---because whether they would or not, you can bet that there WOULD be a fight and you may have a dead dog or dogs in the morning---depending on the NEW dog introduced to the original pack.
That is why sled dogs are usually kenneled or tied out separately--and--there are fights sometimes even when the dogs are in the harness--happens all the time and if this guy is a champion sled dog racer, I am SURE he must have seen this.
I don't see any NEW ground here---it seems he MAY acknowledge the fact that if he introduced a new dog, there could/would be a fight without his interference--like keeping them separated and when its time making a slow and cautious intro.
Sound like typical pack order to me---nothing new.
When he says:
"A pack is about chasing something. Sled dogs are running because other dogs are running. They are motivated by something the animal behaviorists call social facilitation."

There is a lot more to pack behavior than "chasing something".
JEEZ, I can't believe some one with his credentials boils down pack behavior to "chasing something" really!!
Social facilitation is a real part of pack life---like when wolves, African wild dogs, and Coyotes etc. work together to bring down a kill---that is an example of social facilitation.
Watch what kind of behavior takes place AFTER the kill and you will get a real good idea of another part of pack behavior---and it will have nothing to do with "chasing something".
Nothing new here.
I hope he sells a lot of books--I also hope he gets questions from some of his peers on some of his views.
Sorry for the long post.

Rich