female packs

Question
Hi Kristin
Our 14 yr old female Shep-Chow passed away 2 months ago. I have a 7 yr old son and 8 yr old female Lab-Shep. We all want another dog.  A couple rescue sites turned me down on adopting a young (4 to 8 mo)female stating the dogs would fight later on in years. I've had two pairs of females in my life and no problems. I feel aggression including fighting is due to poor socialization, boundries and training. Am I wrong? Does it depend on the breed? On the ages? Must I get a male puppy for peace of the pack?  I prefer females.
Thank You
D

Answer
All the experts say 2 females is the combination most likely to cause problems with a male, female the least.  Put 2 females, each with a strong drive for dominance, together, in the hands of somebody that doesn't take the top dog role themselves, and trouble wouldn't surprise me.  It ignores reality to suggest it never works.  We have 2 females ourselves, and have friends that keep 6 in their house.  More than anything else, I think it is just the individual character of the dogs.  Each litter has a dominant female.  Two of such can be a problem.  Like much of the conventional wisdom, I would like to see some real figures on this.  

I am very supportive of the rescues.  I often suggest rescues to those wanting a dog.  
''One of the best sources for dogs with a predictable personality is the rescue
dogs.  These are dogs that lost their home, but were taken into a foster home
to be retrained as necessary and placed in the right home for them.  You may
find a rescue near you starting at http://www.akc.org/breeds/rescue.cfm  The rescues charge a fee to help cover their expenses, but is much less than the price of a puppy plus all its medical expenses the first year.''  Perhaps the link I include would lead you to a group that would let you have a female.  You can't go wrong with a nice neutered male either.  The better rescues are very picky about where their dogs go, wanting each placement to be a forever home.  One big advantage of the rescues is that they do work with the dogs preparing them for a new home.  I just hate it when somebody has gotten a dog from a shelter and they are having problems beyond what I can help with.  Some shelters will let anybody have anything just to get it out the door.  

I have kind of rambled here, but I do hope I have helped you think it through and give some dog what sounds like a great home to me.