The family store Some packs appear to function like old family businesses, with one dog maintaining the leadership position throughout his entire life and the second dog assuming that slot only when the first one dies. However, in these cases, the younger or more inexperienced animal most likely did challenge the leader in some way, was rebuffed in a manner the owner either missed or didn't notice, and then gave up. In other cases, such as Diele's, the second dog doesn't give up. Typically, this occurs when the animal perceives himself as equal to, if not more capable than, the current leader. Whether and how a successful takeover occurs depends on the willingness of the current leader to cede his position.
Dogs use rank as a method of ensuring peace.
Some owners, however, have difficulty believing this because the see dominance in terms of humans who claim their position by virtue of their willingness to beat their adversaries into submission. In reality, though, the more confident the leader, the more tolerant, and the less likely he or she will be to display behaviors typically defined as dominant or aggressive. This makes sense because fighting requires energy and risks injury. Wild animals who routinely resort to this aggressive strategy are eliminated from the gene pool. Thus, Pepper tolerates Diele's behavior because she feels confident enough about her position that there's no need to waste energy communicating this unless Diele exceeds her limits.