resident dogs "challenging" each other

[fostermom]

I'm hoping for some insight here. I just got an email from the family that had adopted a gsd, Holly, from me several years ago. Last year they adopted a nine month old rotti mix (male). From her email, it sounds as if the dogs are vying for the "top dog" position. Holly would be about six years old now and the pup probably about 1 1/2 years...obviously, both are neutered/spayed. It sounded as if they got along fine when the pup was younger. Holly did fine in my home and I had two other males, one dominant and one submissive, and another female (who pretty much ignores the other dogs). Any thoughts???? Here is her email:

Holly and Drake have a love hate relationship. They will play like they are best friends one minute....then the next minute a fight breaks out and you would swear they are going to kill each other. They both do this strange charging thing at each other. Holly also has been guarding the stairs and the livingroom at time and wont let him anywhere in the area. Then...other times....he growls at her from across the room and gets things started with her. He is always the last one barking and showing teeth at the end of each fight. The fighting only lasts probably 5 or 6 seconds and neither of them has actually hurt the other but it's driving me crazy. It happens anywhere from 1-10 times a day. Any suggestions?

[AngelBunny]

If Holly was my dog, I'd take Holly to the vet and have her completely checked over. She's getting on in years for her breed. I'd want to rule out illness in Holly as the cause of the unrest.

If illness/sickness isn't at the root of the disfunction, I'd look at my behavior and interaction with the dogs--am I still clearly in charge or have I slacked off?

[fostermom]

I agree..I told the owner that she needed to make sure the dogs understood exactly who was alpha so they wouldn't feel the need to vie for it themselves. I'm not sure she "gets" the concept though.