Understanding the social behavior of dogs is not easy, but it is very important to understand it if you have a dog in your home. You have to look at their ancestors first if you want to understand the social behavior of your dog. Dogs are descendent of tamed wolves, some even came from breeding a type of wild dog. Looking to all this fact you can tell that dogs are a pack animal and fairly social that like the company of other animals or even the humans. That's why dogs associate with the family they live with very easily.
It is in their gene that make them a perfect social animal that enjoy the company of their owner and his family. Since they are descendents of pack animal where each pack have its pack leader that control and maintain everything in the pack, dogs need to learn to see and value their owner as a pack leader in order to behave properly. Every theory of the pack animal applies to them so you will need to learn that to connect with your dog properly and make the a well behaved dog. As in the pack a canine alpha refuses to take instructions and orders from an omega, they also refuse to take instructions if they don't see their master as a superior power. This is reason why a dog trainer is able to train the difficult dogs and turn them into obedient and well behaved dog easily.
Another important behavior you need to understand is their territorial behavior, they are very determined to maintain their territory, and it is why most of the dogfights happen. They try to claim a territory on a natural ground and a dominant dog will not like if some unknown dog is trying to claim a new territory in from of them. Dogs implants their scent on the ground as a marking to claim the territory and they do that by urinating, spraying anal gland, or scratching the ground to implant their body scent in the ground.
Because of all these traits, dogs can be a great companion when they are trained properly. They see their owners as an alpha that will protect him in any situation, the dog feels safe with the owner. As a part of the pack when an owner instructs the dog to do something he obey the order, but if he doesn't see the owner as an alpha he sees himself as an alpha and most of the time they try to establish new territories and become disobedient and violent.
Dogs are canine, they are generally a social being and ready to accept and forming a close bond with each other. That's why they socialize with humans so easily, they see all the family member of the owner as pack members and they respect them and be friends with them, it's in their nature. As in the pack alpha protects the pack and when alpha is in danger the pack members protect the alpha this is the same reason dogs protect their owner and their family.
There is no wonder why the dogs behave the way they do, and there is no double that human can't get a good companion that a dog.

Gerrard Floyd is a pet expert who has been writing on the benefits, challenges, and methodology of pet ownership for over five years. His areas of expertise include canine, feline, and reptile care as well as animal psychology. If you are interested in more information on Understanding The Social Behavior of Dogs, please visit http://www.worldpetstore.com, a supplier of high quality pet food, grooming supplies, and toys.