Semantics - words words words

[OnceInAWeil]

Assertive? Though that doesn't seem to convey quiet...Hmm.

[minkee]

'There's matriarch / patriarch too.

The lady who runs the dog training classes we've been going to was talking about her dog in the context of being listened to by all the other dogs when she ran a kennels. She said "she was such a matriarch" and it struck me as just the sort of word you were looking for, Nettle. 3 months too late

Looking through, though, it looks like Flyby already brought it up, too, and I'm also not sure if 'patriarch' works in the same way. I just wanted to stick it in the pot anyway

[Nettle]

All help eagerly accepted


Anyone else?

[WufWuf]

Hows about "noble"?

[wvvdiup1]

I need a word that conveys the concept of the very quietly confident dog to which other dogs offer respect, without resorting to poisoned terms like alpha, dominant, top dog, leader etc.

Any ideas?

I'm thinking of the word "reserved", however, that word could have a different meaning in the UK as it does in the US.

[Nettle]

What do you all think of 'fine' as in 'fine dogs'? I know it can also mean lightly-built, but I'm really struggling for this word and I really need it.

Thanks for all of your help so far.

[minkee]

Do like the scientists do and name them after yourself?

[Nettle]

[WufWuf]

Fine in Ireland would most often be used as "that's a fine (looking) dog" meaning good looking dog, so it's be a bit confusing here, it's used quite a bit.

that's not much help to you really though so I'm going to throw out "levelheaded" or "self-possessed".

I think minkee's got it though...

[minkee]

I've gotten my wordy friend on the case, and while he may not know much about dogs (and therefore whether these words are any good or not) they might trigger a thought or something that IS right, hopefully!

e.g. inspiration, foundation
core

something about charisma
or panache

focus
(as in, ...of the pack)
see also heart

crux, essence, bedrock
or just centre

think that's probably about it for now, I haven't had my morning cup of tea yet
heh. Paragon?

[minkee]

Also, an example sentence might be helpful, to see if the word slots in 'right'

[Sanna]

Hmm centre.. What about a centred dog?
It strikes me you're looking for a similar word one might use to describe Buddha, chi, Ghandi or a yoga teacher

[JudyN]

'Dignified'?

I'm thinking of the word "reserved", however, that word could have a different meaning in the UK as it does in the US.

To me, in the UK, that would mean a dog who, if not necessarily shy, wouldn't greet all strangers as if they were their long-lost best friends, and would be generally polite if a little distant. (And treat other dogs similarly, either ignoring them or giving a brief sniff.) What would it mean in the US?

[minkee]

That sounds like a very British dog, what what.

[minkee]

It went a bit down hill from there...

[10:21] <@Andy`> nub is quite a nice word
[10:25] <@RaK-Work> boss dog
[10:29] <@Andy`> hahaha guide dog
[10:29] <@Andy`> or shepherd, even better
[10:29] <@Andy`> pace-setter
[10:29] <@Andy`> (oh, the puns)
[10:31] <@RaK-Work> big dog
[10:32] <@Andy`> ooh
[10:33] <@Andy`> bellwether, doyen
[10:50] <@Andy`> minkee: linchpin
[10:51] <@RaK-Work> sugar doggy

bellwether and doyen are words I'd never have considered though so perhaps we are expanding in all directions here