[technochick99]

The rottie is not the "Alpha male" of the pack, the owners are the "Alphas." He is just the top dog in the household, UNDER the owners.

Travis, you're babbling. He might have been the alpha. Heck - he probably was. There are tons of people not in charge of their households when it comes to dogs.

Dogs don't consider people to be the leader - they respect the leader because the leader commands respect. No way any dog would assume that a baby was a new top dog.

The hierarchy of the pack is not a new discovery. Gillman has it right.

[Travis McGee]

You're saying that dogs never get jealous of a new child or baby, which suddenly gets all of the love and attention formerly given to it?

Added to the owners being gone, and a "new owner" in the house, and you have a recipe for disaster.