As long as my dog respects me as the leader and has manners, I'm fine. Every once and a while I get down on my hands and knees and "play like a dog". He loves it, and I don't always play the big dominant leader, but he isn't a very testing dog.

I expect my dog to sit when I tell him, go out the door only when I tell him he is allowed to, and he is not allowed on the upstairs furniture (my parents' choice)

When I was younger I would subconsciously NEED to go first, have him walk behind me, do exactly as I said, etc, and it was way too harsh. I realized what I was doing and backed off.