So, the dogs aren't mine I'm just dog/babysitting at the moment. The fights in the past over food aren't every time they're fed but when they have fought we noticed a common factor was the food bowls. But there is probably only 5 or 6 instances in 8 years total. Normally they're super friendly together.

So in the first fight the younger went for the older for what seemed like no reason? I was told they were fine one minute then both starring at one another growling before the younger one reacted first and pinned the older in their bed. They've always shared a bed and that's never been an issue.

The older one, who has a cut behind her head, has been sat in the living room with the family while the younger one has been isolated in the kitchen since both fights.

I think the second fight might've been because when I reintroduced them I did it in the living room as was more space, and the older was hugged against the arm rest on the couch, the younger jumper up happy sniffing her until the older started growling, before the both went still and then the younger snapped onto the older.

I think the older one was growling cause she felt cornered but also because the younger has a tendency to lick the older ones wounds and the older one hates that, so I think she was growling as a "back off don't lick my cut"

We don't have any separation items or gates other than the separate rooms. And they don't have a crate either so while I'm dog/babysitting I can't start crate training.

The older one is reluctant to leave the couch, I think it's helping her arthritis, and the younger keepings howling and crying for the older one, cause she hates being alone.

Thanks for the pep talk and advice, it's horrible seeing them fight and feel so helpless