I think this is pretty normal and you should allow them to sort it out as long as neither is actually hurting the other. You should be the leader and step in if it gets out of hand. I have two Bichons, ages 11 and 9 and the older one, Lacy, a female, has always been the boss and she doesn't hesitate to put the male, Cosmo, in his place. If Cosmo is laying in one of the snuggle beds, Lacy can just walk up to him and look at him and he will get out of the bed and go lay down some place else. If Cosmo is laying on the couch or in a chair, Lacy can go up to him and he will move. Cosmo has never tested Lacy being the boss and he obviously doesn't care. Sometimes Lacy decides she wants a toy or chewy that Cosmo has and she will go up to him and look at him and maybe even bark at him, but he doesn't always let her have what she wants. Sometimes he will let her have it, but not often. Cosmo doesn't offer to fight with her, but will hang on to whatever he has and ignore her. She doesn't attack him, just looks at him and might bark. Lacy bosses Cosmo and corrects him if she thinks she is doing something he shouldn't, like barking at something he sees out the window. She will rush up to him and bark, obviously correcting him. Both Lacy and Cosmo have good manners and I am definitely the boss, but Lacy is the Queen Of The Castle. Cosmo isn't bothered by her. He acts like a tolerant kid putting up with a fussy older sister. He gives me a look that says "Oh, boy, here she goes again!" And Lacy gives me a look that says "Mom, do I really have to put up with him?" They are like siblings who have the normal amount of conflict with each other, but are attached to each other and miss each other if separated. |