Black lab female dominance with other female dog

Question
QUESTION: Our dog will taunt and follow and almost hurd the younger black lab and is always over dog in aggressive way.  the younger female almost looks scared even when she is not being hurt by other dog and she is not provoking or teasing her in any way.  what can we do to make older female leave younger female alone and not always being so mean to her?  what is this?  sometimes we take older dog to lake to run and swim and when she returns she immediately will go up to younger dog and growl while wagging her tail in front of her and almost looks like she is teasing her that she went to lake and it scares younger dog.

ANSWER: Dear Zack,

I need more history.  Please write back with the following info:
1) How old is the older female?
2) Is she spayed?
3) How old was she when you got her?
4) How old is younger dog?
5) Is she spayed?
6) How old was she when you got her?
7) Has the older female bitten the younger?
8) If yes, how often?
9) If yes, how many times broke skin?
10) Did any of the bites require veterinary care?
11) What breed is the younger dog?

Thanks.  I'll write back when I get this info.
Suzanne Harris

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: The older lab is 8 years old-she is not spayed and neither was the younger dog.  We got her when she was 8 weeks old and the younger dog is 4 years old and was 6 weeks old when we got her also.  the older lab has biten the younger lab just about everyday but usually just will nip at her or hold her jaw with her mouth but she has broken skin on several occasions but usually when the younger dog will react to her constant stalking.  Both dogs are black lab.

Answer
Dear Zack,

I hate to say this but I have to refer you to a behaviorist who has to meet both your dogs and determine what is going on here.  

The reason I can't handle this online is the number of bites your older lab has given your younger dog.  Without meeting these dogs it's really hard for me to spot the older lab's reason or motivation for this behavior.   

Do NOT just call the biggest ad in the phone book, or use someone just because your friend or neighbor did.  There are many trainers out there, and most of them will utilize dominance theory to recommend aversive training methods which traditionally do nothing to help the situation and usually makes it worse.  Please get a good positive reinforcement behaviorist/trainer at http://www.apdt.com and find several trainers in your area, contact them by phone and get at least 3 references that you can call to check on the trainer.  You may also follow your gut instinct on which one to choose in addition to checking the references.  Do your best to not use finances as your decision-maker; it'll be worth the extra $50 if it solves the problem rather than just exacerbating or postponing it.

You have a pretty touchy situation here, and frankly an urgent one.  I'd immediately separate the dogs until you've met with the trainer/behaviorist, because your older lab is really terrorizing the younger, who may soon start mimicking this behavior as well.  Keep the dogs separate until you can really get a grip on this.

You are clearly a caring owner, and I can tell you want to do the right thing.  Taking the time to find the right behaviorist is the way to go.   

Thanks for writing, and good luck.
Suzanne Harris, BSc, CPDT
http://www.dogdaysusa.com