Pack Hierarchy

He'd picked up plenty of information about the way Packs worked over the years. from Wild Dogs who came into the city, but it seemed there was still a lot he didn't understand. It was strange to realize that. He'd gotten so used to being the one in the Leashed Pack who knew about the wild...but he was still a City Dog who'd never had to think about rank or status before.

— Lucky's thought on Pack Life in Darkness Falls, page 104

Pack Hierachy is a wild dog ruling system in which the roles of dogs are divided amongst various roles that depend on each pack.^[1] A dog's rank determines their honor, power, loyalty and respect within a dog pack.^[2] Sometimes it dictated where a dog slept as well.^[3]

Description

The system works with all dogs assigned to their individual role in the pack.^[4] Their role in the pack gives them a meal before subordinate dogs and respect from lower-ranking pack members.^[5]

The positives of this ruling system is that each dog knows their role and can follow the orders of an Alpha without concerning about making important decisions.^[6]

The cons of this ruling system are: although a dog can be promoted by an Alpha without challenging another dog, a dog can be misplaced in a role that does not align with their skill level.^[7] Also, a dog that is not physically powerful is by a disadvantage to more powerful, bigger dogs.^[8] Food is not distributed equally among the pack, and while some are gorging themselves, some go hungry.^{[9][10][2][11]}

Spoiler Warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

 

Each Pack Hierarchy

Different packs can have various ranks and roles amongst themselves.^[12] These list examples found in different packs or packs during different times of leadership.^[13][14]

Alpha's Ruling List (In Order of Rank)

For more information regarding each rank, see their individual pages through the hyperlinks. This is the hierarchy when Alpha was in charge of the Wild Pack.^{[15][16][17][13]}

Alpha

Beta

Hunter

Patrol Dog

Omega

Pup

Sweet's Ruling List (In Order of Rank)

For more information regarding each rank, see their individual pages through the hyperlinks. This is the hierarchy when Sweet was in charge of the Wild Pack.^[18][14]

Alpha

Beta

Third Dog

Hunter

Scout-Dog

Patrol Dog

Omega

Pup

Wolf Pack Ruling List (In Order of Rank)

For more information regarding each rank, see their individual pages through the hyperlinks. This is the hierarchy when the wolf Alpha was in charge of the Wolf Pack.^[19]

Alpha

Beta

Omega

Pup

Spoiler Warning: End of spoiler warning.

Trivia

• According to Lucky's prior knowledge, all Packs had an Alpha and an Omega, but usually not a Beta.^[20]

Other Ruling Systems

Four Paws

References and Citation

1. ↑ Revealed in The Empty City, page 92
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} Revealed in A Hidden Enemy, page 107
3. ↑ Revealed in Darkness Falls, page 15
4. ↑ Revealed in A Hidden Enemy, page 116
5. ↑ Revealed in A Hidden Enemy, page 125
6. ↑ Revealed in The Endless Lake, page 219
7. ↑ Revealed in Darkness Falls, page 16
8. ↑ Revealed by Whine and Sunshine's physically small stature and Twitch's lame leg giving him a low rank in.
9. ↑ Revealed in The Endless Lake, page 220
10. ↑ Revealed in The Endless Lake, page 109
11. ↑ Revealed in A Hidden Enemy, page 191
12. ↑ Revealed by the comparison of Blade's Pack and the Wild Pack
13. ↑ ^{13.0 13.1} Revealed in The Endless Lake Pack List
14. ↑ ^{14.0 14.1} Revealed in A Pack Divided Pack List
15. ↑ Revealed in A Hidden Enemy Pack List
16. ↑ Revealed in Darkness Falls Pack List
17. ↑ Revealed in The Broken Path Pack List
18. ↑ Revealed in Storm of Dogs Pack List
19. ↑ Revealed in Alpha's Tale Pack List
20. ↑ Revealed in A Hidden Enemy, page 92