I have asked this on another forum and got some good responses, but thought i would ask here as i know there are a lot of members here with multi bitch households...

Friction is building between Ripley and sadie. Ripley is always the one that seems to start it, she is the one that growls. Ive found no consistent thing that elevates it, if sadie lays on the sofa near ripley or walks too close to ripley she begins growling. This has been going on for weeks, even months and nothing has got worse or better(until today).

Sadie generally ignores her, continues to where she wants to lay/walk. I believe because sadie never really retaliates it has never elevated. Thats how it was until today anyway, ripley did her normal growling as sadie went to lay down next to her but ripley increased her annoyance at sadie, her body froze and the growling became more intense, i think sadie had had enough so had a snap at her. She never made contact and i dont believe she meant to.

What im concerned about is the increase in this behaviour, i make it clear to ripley that her growling is not acceptable and will not be tolerated.
I dont want it to get any worse so does anyone have any advice/ideas of what could help diffuse the situation a little.

Sadie is a spayed GSD bitch and Ripley is an entire Border collie bitch.

thanks.

Is Ripley building up to a season?

Spay Ripley.

No, she is 3 months from her last season (comes in 6 monthly)

I dont want to spay ripley as i hope to have a litter from her.

Spaying rarely makes any difference in hierarchy issues between bitches.

Personally I have found a good drubbing of both is needed.

It may seen that one starts it, but ti actually takes two.

what you perceive as the one growling at the other for no reason may actually be growling at the other for getting above itself and not giving way/respect.

So Ripley walks past Sadie or goes to lie near her and the other growls I would have them both sent out of the area, so neither gains from the behaviour.

By telling the growler off you may inadvertently be telling the one trying to raise her rank that she is entitled to do so.

I have had these issues with my pushy youngest and my currently nominally in charge eldest, first at puberty of the younger and recently when the youngsters pups were newborn.

I have 3 bitches all in season together at the moment (never occurred before) hope it never happens again..:( as it has caused some disruption between a normally happy household.
No arguments as such just a lot of eye contact and slow movement around each other. I think you have to be aware of the eye contact ..I would think the bitch who is doing the growling is reacting from the 'look' she is recieving from the other bitch.

'pack it in' is enough for my lot in a loud deep tone and they wag thier tails and jump on me as if to say 'me ...no I wasnt doing anything'!! thankfully with my girls the seasons are past the worst and nearing the end ....hope you can come to some sort of decision on how to deal with it.

i know its changing the subject but when my 2 were in season together, they used to spend all their time humping each other?

Have you checked her for milk? Two of mine had their seasons in December and currently are both having phantoms. They were both booked in for spaying now this has to be postponed. The younger one is EXTREMELY moody and has had to be seperated.

I seem to be a bit different.  My older(highest ranking) bitch has a total dislike of our 11 month old bitch.  I have a 9yr old entire, 4 yr old entire and the 11 month old entire all girls.  The friction is between the oldie(boss) and the pup(will be boss one day).  My 4 yr old is very subservent and is not involved in the nonsense.  The pup will walk too close to the oldie and the oldie will start to grumble.  This will build up to a proper growl.  If I make eye contact with the oldie, she will imediately stop but I don't normally intervene.  Eventually if the pup doesn't stay away, the oldie will snap at her which finishes the conflict.  I think this is teaching the pup manners.  She does get rather big for her boots and pushes everyone about including the kids given half a chance but she never pushes it with the oldie.  Maybe her way of training is the way forward!!
In a natural wild pack, the subordinates would not be allowed to approach higher ranking members of the pack without severe groveling which sometimes would not be enough to appease the 'topdogs'.  I think this is just a way of keeping lower members in their place.  I know this is what/why my dogs act this way and me getting involved will upset the apple cart in my house.  It's not constant fighting and the snapping is never escalated into a full blown fight.

I think Brainless makes some good points.

Yes, Sadie may be fed up with being growled at - but look at it from Ripley's POV.  Something is worrying her enough to start her growling, and she is being completely ignored every time.  I think teaching Sadie to heed those growls would be a very good idea.

I would also consider getting Ripley checked out - it may just be season-related (my 4yr old used to get horribly grumpy from about a month before her season until about 2 months afterwards), but equally it may be something underlying that isn't very obvious apart from this growling.

Soli looks healthy, but she grumbles and growls horrendously if the others go near her when she's in her chair - it's because her joints are sore and she's worried they will get too close and hurt her.  I'm seeing it with Tia at the moment too, although it's improving with her new painkiller.

She is definately not having a phantom.

I would normally consider the possibility of pain causing it but she allows my young male to lay on top of her, kick her off the sofa etc.
Im not sure how to make sadie take notice and respect her space when she growls as it can happen at times when sadie walks past her towards the kitchen to get a drink, or if sadie is already laid down ripley will go over and growl at her in her face- often enough sadie just sighs and nods off!!!