can anyone help me i have got two bitches out of the same litter they are seven months old and have always got on very well,but the past week they have started to fight on a daily basis. could this be that one or the other is coming into there first season, neither of them are showing any sighs of being swollen or showing any discharge.if this is the case would spaying them calm the situation any advice appreciated

They are trying to establish which is higher staus, and as they are the same age and litter sisters at that there is nothing to automaticaly put one higher, and they are fighting it out.  It is one of the reasons most people do not advise having two pups at the same time, or too small an age gap.  If one of them had been say two years old the puppy would have automatically accepte the estqablished adult as superior, unless the adult was particularly low status and pup very dominant.

You need to keep them apart when not directly supervised, as these fights can become more and more serious, and can even be fatal.

Thanks brainless i asked if it could be down to seasons because it is the same bitch that starts it each time, i also kept a dog out of the litter and he stays well out of the way when a fight starts so does the mother of the pups. I have temperally rehomed one of the bitches as i try to get the problem sorted

It could be a season on the way, have found in the past that if you are going to have a problem with bitches it usually starts around the time of a season. Do not want to depress you but think you may find that the situation will not improve and you will have to rehome on a permanent basis. As Brainless says it is one of the reasons why 2 pups at the same time is not recommended but having said that I have had trouble with a bitch of 4 and 1 year started when the younger came into season and decided she wanted to take over the world.

My girls start sometimes about 3 weeks before a season.  The day before I went away last month two of my girls had a really bad fight, they are mother and daughter, aged 10 and nearly 4.  Two weeks later mum was in season and they've not argued at all. 

I've never kept litter sisters so I'm not much help unfortunately but dogs can usually tell 2 to 3 weeks before a season.

Hi bonniesmum, agree with Brainless & Jackie H, but I would not consider spaying except as a last resort. There isn't a lot of research, but such as there is seems to show that spaying can increase bitch aggression. I's separate them totally for a bit. Thye are still young and some 'time out' and maybe letting the seasons come on and get by may well allow them to forget their differences. Unfortunatly as Jackie H says, a properly established dislike between adult bitches is often insoluble unless you rehome one or keep them completely apart, so in your shoesI'd try to nip this in the bud.

Hi everyone thanks for your advice i have been given the number of a pet behaviourist i will give him a ring see if he can do anything for me fingers crossed will keep you informed

Hi everyone thanks again for your comments, brought the little lady home today but only to find the same probs, so had to take her back for her own good. We are really gutted but her new family are over the moon to have her full time only consolation is we will see her regurally as she has gone to friends near bye