Dogs only respect leaders who assert their dominance. – Myth
Well, dogs do need effective leadership, but the whole idea of dominance is a very complex and widely misunderstood concept which almost always takes dog owners down the wrong path when applying: See post about dominance.
Most dogs simply want safety and security. They prefer us to provide effective leadership and consistent, reward-driven learning. Only this helps guiding them to make the right choices – the choices we want them to make in order to succeed in our strange domestic world.
So do not get caught up in whether or not you or your dog has the upper hand in the battle for dominance. Instead, work on building a bond, reward the good behavior, ignore minor naughty behavior, and clearly negate unwanted behavior. All this gives your dog confidence to live successfully within the boundaries that you set for your household.