Haha! I am very easy with my dogs! Tis a mystery how I survived so long! A dog should have "snapped" on me ages ago.
Having said that, pups need guidance as do new adults fitting in, but once they understand the basic rules it goes on auto-pilot, dogs want harmony and stability and they are way more democratic than the whole "alpha dog" thing implies. Dogs do NOT like chaos, insecurity, or aggression within the pack.
The whole alpha dog thing implies dogs think humans are canine. Dogs KNOW we are not canine, we don't look or smell or act like like canines. The whole "dogs think humans are canine pack leaders" is simply idiocy.
I lay out my human rules (don't run out the gate, kill or seriously harm other pack members, pee in the house *unless you are the blind/deaf cocker spaniel* or steal food off my plate/off the counter when I told you I was paying attention, etc...) and I let my Alpha Dogs do their thing in the canine realm (as long as no canines are hurt).
Human/Canine balance of power, strong dogs and the smart humans that understand strong dogs. That is perfect harmony.
Great video below (slow download, was on youtube but copyright issues got it pulled, strong alpha dogs doing what they do best legally):
http://israeldogs.com/jwvideo/greatdogattacks.html