Observing the behavior of wolves and wild canines in general may be helpful in teaching some specifics when it comes to being a good pack leader. While dogs and wolves may appear like distant relatives, in a similar way as humans and monkeys are, they still share many behaviors related to dominance and submission.

In nature, wolves demonstrate dominance in various ways. One of the most common signs of dominance is placing the foreleg or head on the other wolf's back or shoulder. The other wolf then may decide to submit by lowering the head and the tail or it may retract causing an altercation. In a domestic setting,this explains why some dominant dogs dislike being touched on the head and shoulders.

This behavior can be seen in dogs that are playing as well.The dogs may take turns in demonstrating dominant acts towards each other. Often, such games can be confused with real fighting with all the growling, snarling and fight drives seen in real fights.

Games however, are also a way to demonstrate dominance and submission. Indeed, a dominant dog is most likely the one to win when playing a game of tug of war and the one to pin the submissive dog to the ground and bite its neck.

A dominant dog may also playfully chase a subordinate dog but it may do so in an assertive manner. The submissive dog therefore, will as well demonstrate submissive behaviors throughout the game.

Dominant dogs as well may use their body to block subordinates. In a domestic setting these are often dogs that will block hallways and entry ways and will not move when asked to. They may even resort to growling if forced to moved out of the way.

Stares are used a lot by dominant dogs and are a warning.In a doemstic setting,staring a dominant dog is downright dangerous. It is best to not look these dogs straight in the eye and rather avert the stare and back away slowly without showing the back. In the wild, if the subordinate dog does not submit to the stare the dominant dog may resort to gripping. Gripping consists of simply ''sending the point across'' it really does not hurt the dog, because it is sort of a ''symbolic bite'' without breaking skin.

However, when in a domestic setting a dominant dog attempts to use ''gripping'' towards a human and worse a child, the bite may easily break the skin creating substantial damage. Because in the wild puppies are often the ones to be corrected the most, dominant dogs may feel that children need corrected in the same manner.

Many times a submissive dog will respond to a dominant dog by rolling on its back on their own and showing their stomach. This is a submissive ''alpha roll''. It is the way the dog apologizes to the dominant dog. This is often seen in sensitive dogs when their owners get angry towards them.

Dominant dogs often ask a subordinate dog to stand still while they sniff the anal area. They will approach the subordinate dog with their tail high and the subordinate dog is expected to stay still with their tail tucked. If the submissive dog refuses to be sniffed, there may be a fight.

Subordinate wolves will often greet their leader by licking their mouth.The submissive dogs will be seen protruding their tongue with their head low, ears back and lowered tail wagging as they approach to lick the dominant dog's mouth. This is how dogs often greet humans and why they like to lick chins and lips of owners.

In a domestic setting behavior issues often arise from dominant dogs that feel the need to correct subordinates or strangers. The incidents of dog bites often start with a stare or a growl. Many people however, are more often than not able to read these subtle warning signs. Cases of dominant dogs should be assessed by dog behaviorist to determine the correct course of action .Dealing with a dominant dog may be dangerous and if the behavior is not taken seriously the aggressive behaviors may likely escalate and exacerbate.