We have two dogs. One is a chow/shepard mix, Maggie, who is a year and a half old. The other is a border collie mix, Ginny, who is about 6 and is smaller than Maggie a little bit.

When we first adopted Maggie last year there were some issues but we cleared it up by flipping Maggie over on her back when she was acting all aggro and it cleared up the problem. Every so often they would fight if Maggie ran her ass over in the yard or stole a toy (she's a tank, seriously) but lately Maggie has become a bit more dominant in the house. Mostly with food and toys. Ginny would bow out gracefully most of the time since she's usually a good natured dog (although neurotic. She's a border collie. go figure). But for the most part they play hard, lay next to each other, play together on the floor and share the ball most of the time. They're like sisters.

Well all morning today they were fine. They went outside shoulder to shoulder like always. they were chilling out in my room while I was working. Ginny was under my chair and Maggie on my bed. Well, Maggie got down from my bed and was doing her thing with sniffing Ginny's girl parts and Ginny submissively rolled over, like she does. Then Maggie went to the other side and was staring her down. Ginny was baring teeth but not snarling. So I got between them and pulled Maggie back and scolded them like I usually do when they act up. But then a second later they were at each other's throats under the chair and across the room. They tore the fucking place apart. Usually when I grab Maggie the fight stops. Ginny will go off and sit and chill out because Maggie won't ever back down. well this time Ginny wouldn't back down so I had to put my fan in between them (one of those square, floor ones witht he dials on top) to get them to stop. I dragged Maggie out by the tail

I took them out into the yard. They kinda bumped shoulders and stared each other down until I went to get the house. Then Ginny would walk half circles around Maggie and hide behind me. SHe walks all hunched over and sits hunched over with her fur ruffled but for hte most part no snarling or growling. I took them in and they went at it again. Ginny hid under my dad's desk and I had Maggie by the collar but they still snarled at one another. I had to splash water on them to chill them out. I checked on them individually and there weren't any marks or blood. I ended up having to put Ginny in my parents room and Maggie in mine which didn't really have the same affect, but as soon as I put Ginny up Maggie went hunting for her, sniffing the floor and running back and forth in the hallway.

A friend of ours came over and we tried it again. Ginny ended up getting cornered in the hallway (mostly because said friend was being an idiot and didnt hold onto Maggie like I told her to) and fighting broke out again. This time Ginny tried to get past the friend to get back into the hall to fight again but we locked her up. I called my boss who is a trainer and runs the dog boarding kennel and ranch that I work at. She told me to crate Maggie and let Ginny walk around the house freely since it seemed to be a dominance thing, and to check Ginny for any signs of sickness or wounds. So we did that. When my mom came home she took Maggie out on a lead into the yard. The two of them rubbed noses, Maggie snapped at her once but Mom caught her. SHe said they played for a bit too.

But as soon as we brought them into the house, Maggie sat down on the floor and Ginny on the couch. Without any provocation Ginny starts growling, so Maggie goes to see what's up, they end up fighting. We crate Maggie again and shut Ginny in the room (time out). Then we try again. They walk past each other in the kitchen. Mom accidentally steps on Ginny's foot and has her by the door. maggie busts her way in to see and Ginny snaps on her. they end up fighting. we separate them and roll them over on their backs but they are trying to go at each other even upside down.

SO we separate them again.

This time my dad comes home and he wants to see. So they come out and they're fine for the most part. Ginny is up on the couch and Maggie comes over to see my mom. Ginny ends up bumping shoulders with her again and doing what we THINK is shying away, but she's guarding her right side and hunching again. Dad checks her for stuff but she doesnt yelp when he touches her or presses on her. Her nose is warm but other than that nothing. I try to tell him what's going on but he just fucking talks over me not listening.

SO Maggie comes in and visits with my mom again. Ginny starts growling so Maggie starts growling. Mom gets a hold of Maggie and starts to pull her away but they go at each other again. Dad just kind of lets them fight for a minute until he's had enough and he pulls Maggie back (she has her leash on), smacks her, and scolds her and sends her to my room. Ginny just gets a tap and a "whats wrong with you??" and gets dragged to her room again while my little sister is screaming and crying. I've had to crate Maggie again until a potty break. Now she's hiding under my bed.

My boss said to take them for a long walk together if they do fine int he house but they haven't been. I even took them out individually to play ball thinking that if I played them out they'd get rid of some pent up energy and be too tired to fight. But nope.

I'm just at my wits end. I want to take Ginny to the vet but we haven't got the money and my parents take forever to do shit they're supposed to and it takes a lot for them to even care enough to do certain things. I'm upset because they were fine up until about 2pm and then they just snapped. I know they are dogs and dogs can be unpredictable. Trust me, it's my job, and some dogs are just that way with other dogs and some days are just bad days. But this is really BAD! I don't want to give my dog up because she was already abandoned once. She's my baby and my companion and I'd die without her, no joke at all. I don't even know if she'll be able to sleep with me tonight, because my family are all fucking idiots and they wouldn't bother to close their bedroom doors and since I only have a curtain as a wall Maggie would get out and there would be a fight on my little sister's head at 4 in the fucking morning.

It breaks my heart, it upsets me, its completely destroying me. I can't even mediate the fights like I do at the ranch because it's hard. I just don't understand.

Does anyone have any advice for me? Any one who is a vet or knows any behaviorists or have any personal experiences? Should I just let them fight it out until they have it resolved? Is it a dominance thing or is my border collie sick? What the hell is going on? I can't live with having to lock my dogs up all the time. I can't live with bad dogs!!!

SOmeone please help me.