Hi All!

I'm new here, wanted to find a spot to get some advice on my dogs behavior.

I have a 3 yr old english bulldog and an almost 3 yr old red doberman (both spayed). I bought them only months from each other and they have grown up together. Neither have been crated, good dogs in general. Over the past year they have gotten more and more aggressive with each other. Both are females and I have a feeling they both want to be alphas. Our bulldog is a pusher...always jumping at the doberman, growling at her in a "come get some" sort of way. The doberman is fairly passive around her, but will randomly walk up to her and start licking her (which bugs the bulldog), puts her paw on her head, etc. The doberman is clearly the alpha.,..but it is like the bulldog won't accept it and is always trying to get on top of the food chain. They have over the past 6 mths become more and more aggressive with each other...some of the fights have gotten very rough. puncture wonds on ears, cuts, punctures on legs...you name it. I had asked the vet about it before it got bad and he said that they just need to establish the pecking order and to let them work it out on their own. Now we feel we have to break it up though...the bulldog is no match for our doberman and the doberman will just chew her up...and the bull dog will NOT back down. I'm afraid they will really hurt each other if I don't step in some how. They use to back down immediately when my husband or I walked in the room...now the doberman will back down but the bulldog will just lunge at her and keep attacking. Any suggestions at all?

The dogs 90% of the time get along well, play together, won't go outside without the other, etc...but the fighting is horrible when it does happen! They NEVER show any aggression towards people, gentle as can be with adults and children...just have issues with each other.

I'm so lost...what should I do???
Deborah

I agree with Rags. Both dogs want to be alpha and English bulldogs are known aggressers and will back down at nothing. They will fight to the end. You do need some good dog training to help your situation.

Our bulldog is a pusher...always jumping at the doberman, growling at her in a "come get some" sort of way. The doberman is fairly passive around her, but will randomly walk up to her and start licking her (which bugs the bulldog), puts her paw on her head, etc. The doberman is clearly the alpha

I'm sorry, but I don't see the dobie as alpha. Alpha dogs don't approach subordinate dogs and lick them or try to initiate "play" (paw on top of head). Your Bulldog is alpha and is possibly causing 99% of the problems here.
She needs a reality check at who's the boss and it's not either one of them. You may want to seek out the help of a behaviorist or Cesar Milan
I really feel that your Dobie would settle right down if you could get your bulldog straightened out.

There are many good books on this type of behavior as well as others when dealing with multi-dog households. Brian Kilcommons and Cesar Milan come to mind, as well as, Patricia McConnell.