HELP!!! Big dog just put 7 month pup very firmly in place - normal?

[MuminPinny]

My 7 month retriever pup has been very pushy and bitey with her 3 year old sister for months now and the 3 year old (both females) has put up with everything and probably been far too tolerant. Today she'd had enough and it was a full blown fight. At first I couldn't work out who was coming off worse but then it seemed clear that the big one was trying to show the pup who was boss. The big one held the pup down until I managed to separate them, at which point the pup went back for more, the big dog pinned her down again for a while until I separated them by which time the message had got through to the pup (I hope) and the pup seemed genuinely relieved to be rescued. I kept the dogs apart to cool off then the pup wanted out to the garden where the big dog was cooling off so I took her on a lead and kept them apart until I was sure that they both seemed calm and they wagged tails and sniffed each other. Is this a normal thing for two dogs to do when they reach a similar size? A woman I met dog walking forecast that this might happen at 9 months. Usually the two dogs are as friendly and lovely as you would imagine retrievers to be and seem to get on really well. Sorry for long post but all experience really appreciated. It was horrible to see happen.

Was either dog actually injured? My two play fight and it sounds like Armageddon sometimes but neither is ever hurt, and as you said, they often go back for more.

Neither seemed hurt but I was panic stricken when the big one had pinned the pup down by near her throat that she wouldn't be able to breathe. They play fight frequently - sort of wrestling - but this was really aggressive and not like anything I've ever seen before. It was really hard to separate them. I really hope that the pup will now be more respectful of her big sister who has put up with her being a bit pushy for a while now. They seem ok now but is there any way of knowing if this is sorted between them other than waiting and being very careful?

It sounds like your older dog was just telling the pup off. I'd stay out of it unless there was actual injury, especially as you said they were friendly afterwards :)

Thank you so much for your advice. I agree about staying out of it generally. It was only when I genuinely feared serious injury that I stepped in. They have wagged tails again and pup being less annoying so hopefully all well. I'm sure a message has got to the pup quite clearly. Hope she doesn't forget it too soon.

It's definitely normal behaviour. Dogs are pack animals, and they need to establish who's boss - they wont treat each other as equals.

We have this occasionally, though ours are both boys. When the LandShark was very small it was several times a day, just a growl and snap but nothing more. Now he's bigger it's less often but more substantial IYSWIM.
I don't get involved but just say "boys" in an exasperated voice so they remember I'm there.They know I don't approve but are not reprimanded for it as I think it's important they can sort themselves out.

Definitely normal behaviour. Our older girl tells her boisterous younger brother (OK not actually same breed but for the purposes of thread will suffice) in no uncertain terms when she's had enough.
She will turn away from him or move away but he follows. This dense behaviour on his part usually ends up with her grabbing him round the throat and ramming his head into the floor with a sharp, deep growl as punctuation. He is not hurt, not even the slightest yelp or squeal is heard from him and he just gets up and wanders off to find someone else to annoy.

Most advice is do not intervene in them working out their relationship boundaries. As an analogy imagine you and someone else were having a heated discussion but were making some headway but someone kept stopping you from working it out.
The only time to worry is if it goes to the point of blood being drawn and vets being needed.

Also remember due to their folds and fur it takes a lot more to actually injure a dog through a bite than it would a human.

Funnily enough, my 2 year old spaniel just floored the puppy because he was being an annoying little twonk Spaniel trying to sleep, puppy tugging on his ears and growling. Spaniel put up with it for a bit, mouthed him, moved away but was followed (pup now attached to his back leg), so turned around and rolled him before laying on his head. Pup squealed and struggled, but was only let up when he lay still. They both stared at each other, shook it off, licked faces, and then the spaniel lay down and had his nap. Uninterrupted