[shellyjo68]

I have a 2 yr old and an 11 yr old--both mix breed who have taken up fighting in the last year. (both spayed female)

Part of the problem is the 2 yr old is so full of energy that she made the 11 yr old nervous. I think the other part of the problem is the 2 yr old always made it to us first and started getting greeted before the 11 yr old. Now they cannot be together ever, not even in passing.

Any suggestions for turning this problem around.

[carolbcac]

Don't take this as gospel, because I may be misinterpreting the situation. At about two years old, dogs are becoming "socially mature". This is about the age when wolves and wild dogs will start thinking about challenging the older members of the pack over social status. Generally, conflict between dogs occurs when they do not accept their positions within the pack.

The younger dog may be thinking it is time to overthrow the queen, and she is not quite ready to step down.

If you try to look at the situation objectively instead of emotionally (and that is not easy to do)--which dog is better equipped to be the pack leader? If you can determine that, the more dominant dog should be reinforced. That dog gets fed first, petted first, has first choice of resting place and so on. It goes against our grain as humans to accept that the older dog may be losing its grip.

I am going through this also. I have nine rescued dogs, all spayed & neutered, and for years Mollie, a collie-shepherd mix, has been queen bee. Just recently I have seen a couple of the younger dogs ignore her warnings, and there have been a few tussles at the food bowl. Nothing serious yet, and for the most part I am letting them work it out among themselves. (They respect me & my husband as the Alphas, and we try to let nature take its course as the rest of the pack work out their own positions.)

Someone else on this board may have another take on this situation.