My two dogs fight all the time...

I have a 5 yr old Golden Retriever and a 1 1/2 yr old Brittany Spaniel Lab mix. I love both my dogs. However Hank the Saint/ aka Hank the Gentle Giant (My Golden) is my favorite. Roxy- the Brit/Lab- is a spoiled obnoxious and demanding pup. However she...

is a good Guard dog so that makes me happy. Hank loved the tiny pup at first, and tolerated a lot from her- like her stealing his food...etc. He'd even back off if she snapped at him!
Hank has finally had enough of her and is finally standing up for himself. I love it. In the past I have broken up the fights when Roxy was beating up on Hank. But now I let them fight it out- if I see that Hank is winning.
Mostly these fights consist of loud growling and some movement but neither Dog ever gets injured that I can see. There is never blood. Thes fights are usually caused over a bone or food.
When Roxy was being bossy our lives were chaos. Now that Hank is in charge We are back in harmony. Roxy knows her place and things are calmer.
Is it bad that I let these fights continue? (These fights happen about twice a week- sometimes more) I really want Hank to be the Alpha Dog. Let me know your opinion.

Well, what you want might not be how the dogs see it. I can only tell you what I'd do in this situation...one...I'd NEVER feed them close together...if they each get bone...put them on opposite sides of the room...if one starts making a move for the other, YOU STOP THE MOVEMENT, by staning up...and a sharp sound...like Achhh...

So yes, it is BAD if these fights continue...and YOU should be alpha, and both of them should be beta's. You're favoritism (like letting a fight go if Hank is winning...and probably feeding him first...petting him first...etc etc) while the dogs know who is the alpha personality...causes more disharmony than anything the dogs could dream up on their own. Nature provides the alpha personality...NOT the human.

p

with a male and female dog, the female will always be the alpha (boss) its just how it is no matter if she is younger etc.
I have a girl puppy and a boy dog who is 2 and she isa slowly becoming the boss!!!
NEVER LET YOUR DOGS FIGHT IT OUT!!! having a fav dog will only cause problems with your dogs!!! treat them the same, disaplin them the same and play with them the same!!!
you are supposed to be the Alpha not the dogs!!! any fights that are playfull are ok but when it gets rought seperate them and disaplin them!!!

one day the fight will be serious and you many loose one of your dogs or have a huge vets bill!!!

I beleive that the problem is that one of your dog is trying to be the leader in your family. and beleive me if that dog beleive she is the leader of the other dog then she thinks she is your leader also. the only way to change things around is to show your dog that YOU are the leader. your first mistake was to let you baby dog bug the older one. you do not need to hit your dog or to raise the voice. what you need to do is to show that you are strong and seperate the dogs when they are fighting and DO NOT allowed any bad action from any dog they will then realise that you are the leader and that they cant act like the house/property belongs to them. it is yours.

think of it like a bunch of wolves there is only one leader .. this has to be you not one of the dog. he doesnt respect you.

oh I almost forgot... have you ever seen a dog punishing her puppy? she takes him to the ground level and held him there. try it good luck