I am really worried about my girl. She had to go away for a few days to stay with a friend while she was mated. This was 3 weeks 2 days ago. On her return she was really grumpy with the other dogs and very posessive of me. Obviously making her presence felt and making sure she was top bitch again. This settled down after a day or so . However in the last week things have gone from bad to worse. Not only has she been suffering morning sickness and been of her food, but the last 3 days has had some really bad fights.
It is always with the puppy who is now 13 months old. The last few fights I have had them by the scruffs of the necks waiting while one lets go enough so I could part them . Even when I have one in my arms the other is jumping up and biting the others tail. I have to push one in another room or outside before putting the one in my arms down.
It is getting really bad and I have read that they should sort it out themselves but these are really nasty and one will get hurt.
They usually start with licking their lips with each other (what is that?) and if after 10 seconds or so one has not backed off they just fly at each other. It is usually about who is sat with me, food or who greats visitors first? I now do not let any sit up with me, I supervise meal times and put them away when visitor come but still they have found reasons to fall out.

I also never know which one to pick up. Am I making it worse by picking the wrong one up?
Loads of questions I am sure but I am worried about the TS who should be 3 weeks in whelp???? This is a crucial time for the puppy development and she should be resting and calm. Do you think the adrenaline from the fights will be affecting the puppies develpment?
Do you think it may stop? Should i let them get on with it, sort it out and maybe it will get better???

I have red when TS bithes take a disike to one another they have to be permantely parted....OMG I'LL be no more good if I have to loose one of my girls.

I have really appreciated everyones advice on the forum and recently have gone from one problem to another. But it is nice to be able to ask for help rather than struggle on alone.
Thank you all.....

Could you answer a few simple questions, it may be that you have in previous posts, but could you just clarify on this post too. :-)

How old is the bitch in whelp?
Is the 13 month a daughter of the in whelp bitch?
Is the in whelp bitch larger, stockier than the 13 monther, or are they evenly matched?
Are the characters similar?

The Alpha bitch generally has those of a lesser pecking order licking her mouth to show submission to her, it is confusing that the 'Alpha' also is licking the 13 monther who is a young lady now, this to me is saying that they are on an even status, which is strange as the 'older' bitch should be the more Alpha and may well have a little tussle with an adolescent yougster pushing her luck.  The 13 monther is obviously justling for a higher status, but the signals from the 'Alpha' are wrong?

Due to her also licking the youngsters mouth, it look as though they will need to fight this out for top bitch with the signals being given.

Hopefully the in whelp bitch is a little larger? If so make her status higher by doing everything first with her. Grooming, feeding, fussing. Due to her condition I would not allow any pecking order fights or allow them to try and sort this out, seperate if problems happen and especially when you are not in the room. Don't allow the in whelp bitch to become stressed, it is the wrong time for her to have to defend her status.

After the pups etc, she should have her Alpha status automatically, but if the 13 monther is still wishing to take her on, and they can not sort out status themselves, then you may well need to seperate or even re-home.

Just make the in whelp bitch the Alpha yourself for now, and I hope that things will settle. Generally with a good age gap they do. :-)

Afraid the older bitch sees the younger as a challenger to her position in the household, and yes, sorry to say you will be fortunate indeed if you can get them back together in harmony. Think at he moment you had better kennel one or the other either on your property or with someone else, once the pups are born and weaned you could try again to get them back together but the hope is not high and will depend on the breed and how they see you, leaving them alone together will always be risky even if they can be made to behave in your company.

Hate to suggest it spaying the younger may help but it may well be to late now they have decided they hate one another.

This is happening in my household too!
My bitch was mated (has missed) but since her season and mating she has taken a dislike to my older westie. She has flown for him about 3  times in last 6weeks and ends up in a very nasty fight and needing to be separated. Not an easy job as her daughter who is 15mths decides she's gonna help her mum with the fighting.

Like yours it seems to be when i am fussing my bitch  and the westie comes to close she attacks, its the same with her food bowl or if he goes near her daughters food bowl.

I have now reduced attention to the 2 girls and make sure the westie gets more (he was here first), my springer bitch has also become intolerant of him too. He seems very inoffensive to me so cant understand it.

Because my girl had a bout 2 fights with him early on i wondered if this made her miss because of the stress.

Hope your gilry goes onto have a healthy litter - it is a worry though and the whole feeding & fussing routine has to be changed to keep harmony!!

Packs of bitches do often get like this with males, neutered or not, especially after mating, they need to let the male know to stay away, bitches in whelp do give off hormonal scents and they nautually wish to protect there unborn and born litter, so she needs to put the male in his place, or he would have his nose permanently in her back end. :-D Dogs are usually lower ranking than bitches, so when you have a few bitches, he may well get told off quite often to keep him in the pecking order.

He will learn to take it all in his stride, it's a dogs life I'm afraid. :-(

Thank you for your replies. The eldest female is the one in welp. She is not related to the younger one either. They are both the same size and weight...nothing much in them at all.

Things have been quieter today. They have been staying out of each others way. Even tonight one is sat with me (the one in whelp) in the conservatory while the other is in front of the stove in the Kitchen.I just hope it lasts.....

Just to say I would never let my dogs sort out a scrap for themselves.  If there is even the threat of trouble you should restrain them both and make them behave.  There is no place in my household for scraps like that as I have 6 bitches and 2 dogs.  They don't always love the sight of each other but it is relatively harmonious here.  I simply don't let them even start a fight regardless of whoever thinks they are top dog, and it is definitely never the boys - poor lambs - they are always the bottom of the heap.

Just to say I agree with Echo. I too live with bitches, now four with our latest addition. It wouldn't work to let them sort things out among themselfves. I'm the one who decides who's who and who's doing what, not them. Otherwise it wouldn't work out to mate a younger bitch and still have them live peacefully together. There are of course times when they "disagree", but fingers crossed, we've never had a fight or serious disagreement yet. They live happily together, helps each other out with bringing up litters, and acts like nannies for each other.
I think they like not having to take charge of things, they are quite happy to rely on me sorting things out for them.
To the OP, I would try to separate the two unless they quickly improve in behaviour, otherwise your girl might resorb her pups due to the stress of fighting for her position in the pack.
Good luck with the upcoming litter!
Karen