Another 2nd dog question

Question
Hi Again!

Thanks for the advice re: the fighting between our 16 mo female cockapoo and newly rescued 18 mo male cockapoo.  They were a bit feisty this morning and I really needed to see your answer :)  On a related note:  I have found that when I go upstairs (only up, not down), the female wants the male to follow (dominance thing again, I'm guessing), and if he tries to run past, she gets very aggressive with him.  He gives it back pretty well, and this is obviously upsetting for everyone else in the house that it gets so wild with the stair situation.  Not to mention dangerous for all involved.  I have begun to have him sit at base of stairs while I go first, then female, and then call him when we are almost to the top.  This seems to have helped.

Should I "interfere" with this or let him learn the hard way to let her go first?  Naturally, she goes out the door ahead of him for walks, as well as the return.  He doesn't mind that at all - in fact, it seems he enjoys jumping on stairs just for fun, not to prevoke her.

Thanks again for your help!

Answer
Oh yes...that's definitely her saying "me first".  You're handling it perfectly.  She knows the pack order...first you, then her and THEN him...lol and now he has two alpha females telling him what to do.
If he'll sit and wait then you have a very good little boy there.

When I got a second female puppy when my then male was 6 years old I deliberately picked a feisty girl because I thought he'd have problems.  Instead he became her slave
and I often wished he'd let her have it.  She took ALL his toys..bit his ears..pushed him away from his own food and he just would sort of sigh and wander off.

Anyway, you're right..the staircase is not a good ground for "lessons" :) and you don't want either one to take a tumble.  Or YOU to take a tumble. :)
Delores