Dogs are a SUB-species of wolves. Dogs are really domesticated wolves that have been shaped by man to our own fancy over the course of many many years.
About this whole "the wolf will turn on the dog to become alpha" thing, modern day domestic dogs do the exact same thing, just on a lower level. A "pack" always needs an alpha, whether we're talking about an actual wolf pack, or Sandy from down the street with her poodle. The reason Sandy's poodle won't do what it's told is because it's under the impression it's alpha, and poor Sandy doesn't know the difference.
In other words, all dogs, and wolves, and even dogs vs. their owners, challenge each other for roles in a pack environment. It isn't a matter of the wolf simply "snapping" one day and deciding it wants to be alpha all of a sudden.
About this whole "the wolf will turn on the dog to become alpha" thing, modern day domestic dogs do the exact same thing, just on a lower level. A "pack" always needs an alpha, whether we're talking about an actual wolf pack, or Sandy from down the street with her poodle. The reason Sandy's poodle won't do what it's told is because it's under the impression it's alpha, and poor Sandy doesn't know the difference.
In other words, all dogs, and wolves, and even dogs vs. their owners, challenge each other for roles in a pack environment. It isn't a matter of the wolf simply "snapping" one day and deciding it wants to be alpha all of a sudden.