*nods* We only have two dogs, but they have a very obvious familial relationship, with the younger dog treating the older dog as his "mom". Even though she's now old and feeble, and he could very easily dominate her if he wanted to, he's never even tried. If he tries to sneak a bite of her food and she growls, he scarpers pretty quick. And it's very obvious from the way that they interact that he adores and respects her, as opposed to being, say, dominated by sheer strength, which is never the relationship they've had.