I have 3 cattle dogs :) none of them are related and 2 of them are female. We bought the 2 girls at the same time, about a year and a half ago. Most of the time they are the best of friends...they are practically joined at the hip. I usually catch them every other day having a growl at one another (one puts its head over the others and they both growl....it doesn't escalate from there though). However, it is becoming increasing more frequent...i'd say once every week or 2, that they have a massive fight. Last night they had another one. I'm pretty sure last nights was over food, and from now on I will be putting them on leads so they cannot get to each others food, but sometimes they fight and there isn't any food around. I tried to break it up, but as usual, it aint over until they say its over. And as usual, they both end up bleeding. Nothing major, but a small scratch here or there.

What i'm wondering is does anyone else have multiple dogs? Especially more than one female? Is this type of aggression normal? They are not aggressive in any way to people, or to the male dog, they just seem to have these power struggles between the 2 of them. Is there anything I can do to help the situation or am I perhaps doing something to make it worse? I am concerned for their safety (i don't want one of them to loose an ear or something) and I just flat out hate that they fight.

I contacted a dog behavior guy who came highly recommended and his recommendation was to purchase a remote training collar (one that zaps them). I am not interested in this type of solution as I don't believe it will fix the root of the problem....however I don't really know what the root of the problem is!!

Thanks :)