Hierarchies

"I think you're the alpha female, to the dog," I say, as the dog finishes nosing around the tree and, seeing that Katie is walking, decides to follow.

"Well, I should hope so!" Katie says, laughing.

"I mean, of course," I correct myself. "But what I mean is, I'm pretty sure she thinks it goes you," I hold my hand out, palm down, at about eyeball height, and then my other hand, a little lower, "then her, then the cat, then me."