top dog and socialising

Question
Hi - I hope you don't mind but I have a couple of queries and I would really appreciate your help?

We have 2 Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, one is 18 months old and the other is 12 months old and both are males. They both get on great with each other, however occasionally after playing for a while and chasing each other one will try to mount the other, usually the older dog on the younger one. Someone once told me that they were trying to state their authority of being 'top dog' is this true? Also, the older dog is constantly licking the younger one's ears, is this normal?

My second query, if you don't mind, when we're out walking the dogs they're ok until they see other dogs, they pull towards the dogs barking, yelping, whining, making all kinds of noises. If we let them meet other dogs the older one seems to get a bit too close when smelling and always goes under the legs of the other dogs to the genital area. Other dogs have growled and snapped at him and I'm scared that he'll get bitten/attacked one day. Is this normal? what's the best & safest way to socialise my dogs with other dogs?

Both dogs have haemophilia so neither of them have been neutered as the vet has advised it's too risky on their health.

Thank you in advance for your help.

Answer
Mounting behavior can have a number of meanings. It can be reproductive, it can be play, it can be a sign that the dog is over-aroused, or it can be information-seeking behavior("will you allow me to do this to you?") I wouldn't be too concerned about it, just redirect the dog from doing it if it bothers you. Grooming family member dogs is also not unusual.
Your dog's greeting behavior isn't abnormal, but it is going to get him in trouble one day (and with a bleeder, you definitely don't want him to be bitten). On leash greetings tend to be tense, because they don't allow the dog to approach others dogs politely. And it's possible your little dog is lacking in proper dog-greeting skills.
The pulling and vocalizing at other dogs is probably frustration. A great book for you to look at, for strategies to teach them to be calm in these situations would be Leslie McDevitt's book "Control Unleashed." And here is an article in which I was interviewed which also gives you some things to think about for this behavior.
http://dogs.fox10tv.com/Conduct/rehab_your_reactive_dog/index.html
For socializing your dogs, I'd arrange some off-leash play dates with other people who have really appropriate dogs. You might have good luck meeting such people by taking an obedience class. Sandy Case BFA MEd CPDT www.positivelycanine.com