Things were going smoothly once the girls were out of heat. Until today.

Clover visits us about every other week. She is one of Maggie's pups, my daughter took her and she is an only dog. When Clover comes to visit we always have at least one major fight/beating of less dominate Berry. It is like Clover can't start it but she eggs Choklit (second alpha bitch after her mom) on until she starts it and then it is a free for all untill humans get involved with yelling.  I was willing to let them all work it out, but today Berry really did get bit enough to make blood. One on her neck and near her eye. This upset me as usually this type of thing has been only grab/brusing and has not had much real biting happening.

I need help to figure out how to keep this from happening when all the dogs are in the playyard together.  Berry is very submissive too all the dogs except Ginger the Border Collie. I am sure that she is bottom of the pack of ratties.

the dominate alpha Maggie was not involved nor was Simon and he was kind of freaked. He is the only male in the pack and most apt to play too hard but he always stops if somebody yelps. He was not at all dominate as a puppy and not alpha even though only male.

As far as I can figure the dominance goes: Maggie, Choklit, Mysty, Ceecee, then Berry.   Clover and Jeb come and visit sometimes. Jeb is brother to my C named girls. But he was always in the middle too. Him and Simon do not fight, they seem to enjoy playing without alot of drama like I get with the girls.  Thank God for small favors!

WHY DO THE BITCHES FIGHT MORE THAN THE MALES?!?!

Susan.... it's pack behavior. In a pack, if a dog or dogs perceive that another member is weaker than themselves they will display aggressive behavior. I would not allow them to interact freely in the play yard, because if it's as bad as you describe... Berry could get hurt. As with stopping any behavior problem, preventing a dog fight is easier than stopping a dog fight and there's a lot you can do to avoid dogfights in the first place.

Both sexes fight, but not for the same reasons or goals. Dog fights between males are primarily for dominance, status, and pack rank. They don't fight to kill because a pack with few healthy dog fighters is weak and vulnerable. If one male submits and dominance is established, the dog fight usually ends. But females often fight to eliminate their opponent. So, stopping dog fights between males or females can have different consequences. SOMEthing is triggering the aggression... and dogs feed off each other's energy (and our energy too!). Watch them closely when they interact. Separate them from the others and take them somewhere just the two of them and watch them. Are they ok without the other dogs around? If so... this will tell you something.

The fact that the females have not been spayed probably is part of the equation... even if they are not in heat.

You may need to start working with a crate. Put the younger dog (Clover) in a dog crate in the house where your older other dog can go up and look at and smell it. If there is growling, correct the older house dogs for showing any sign of aggression but never use a hard hand as aggression breeds aggression.

Making the dogs to wear a head halter or body harness with trailing leashes and a basket muzzle will increase the owner's level of control and safety when the dogs are together. If they growl give a correction but not so hard as to cause physical injury. Remember, YOU are the pack leader in this family. Pack leaders determine when the pack members get aggressive. It sounds like your house dogs genetically understand this. If you have a rank problem with your relationship then this needs to be addressed and corrected.

The pack leaders is the one who determines if and when a dog will fight. So if your position in the pack is firm (as a result of solid obedience training) a correction for growling will tell the house dog that "YOU WILL NOT ALLOW AGGRESSION TOWARDS ANOTHER DOG."

So for the first three weeks (or as long as it takes) when you want the one dog to be loose in the house or yard, the other dog is either in a different room or in his dog crate.

In order for aggression to stop, both dogs must accept you as the pack leader.

When the dogs are allowed to meet face to face. Allow them to sniff one another. Talk to them in a happy voice. Keep the meeting short. Then take them for a walk together. If there is any growling a VERY STRONG VERBAL NO ! Command is given and they are separated.

Good luck with this, Susan. I'm sorry I'm just now responding... I just saw the thread.