It’s completely natural for two male dogs to establish a pecking order—just like in any pack, there’s always one who tries to take the lead. This kind of dominance behavior is common and not necessarily a problem, as long as it doesn’t escalate.

If one of your boys starts to cross a line, it’s important that you step in right away. As their human parent, you’re the ultimate leader in the pack, and your dogs need to see and feel that. Interrupt the behavior firmly: use a calm but confident voice to tell him off, and if needed, gently remove him from the situation to reinforce your position.

We know it’s not easy emotionally, but this is how you help set boundaries and teach your pups that aggression isn’t acceptable, especially when you’re around.

Let us give you an example: Tom’s Frenchie doesn’t usually let Sandra’s (Tom’s partner) English Bulldog into the doghouse. But as soon as Tom or Sandra shows up, the Frenchie immediately backs down and lets him in. Why? Because he knows the humans are in charge, and when the pack leader is present, there’s no room for fighting or misbehavior.

If you’re dealing with something similar, we highly recommend reading our blog post on how to become your Frenchie’s pack leader, as it’s full of practical tips and real-life examples that can really help in situations like this:

How can you become your Frenchie’s pack leader?

If you ever have a question about training your TomKings Frenchie, feel free to email us at [email protected]—we’ll be happy to forward it to our expert!