The dog is a pack animal because it originally lived in groups in nature and still shows this group structure in its behavior today. In the wild, dogs live in packs led by an alpha animal that makes decisions for the group and distributes resources. By living in groups and being subordinate, they can hunt together, defend themselves against enemies, and provide protection and support for each other. This behavior has evolved over the course of evolution to increase the dogs' chances of survival in the wild.
In today's world, of course, dogs no longer have the same survival needs as their wild ancestors, but their group dynamic behaviors remain and may be exhibited in a variety of contexts, such as in their interactions with other dogs or in their relationships with humans. In domestication, dogs have adapted to the way humans live, but they still seek hierarchies and structure within their family or home communities and often take on the role of "subordinates," submitting to the authority of humans. They are social by nature and usually want to be around other dogs or humans who consider them part of their pack.
So, because of innate behaviors, dogs feel more comfortable when they are part of a group. When dogs are left alone or feel separated from their pack, they may feel stressed and unhappy and may exhibit unusual behaviors, such as barking, chewing, or hurting themselves. On the other hand, non-pack animals include, for example, cats, spiders, snakes, and certain bird species such as the owl, which lives alone or in pairs. Other bird species, however, such as parrots, are pack animals and live together in groups. Cats usually do not have a natural tendency to live in packs, they are very independent and like to have their own space. There are exceptions to these rules, of course, and there are species that can be both pack animals and solitary creatures, depending on the environment in which they live.
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