She was pulling on leash but with tail between legs???

[KikiDeAnime]

Please make sure you read the whole post before replying because I do put in as much info as I can.

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We've been slowly getting our dogs, Mika and Hazel Grace, use to being around each other again. Both are mother and daughter.
We figured out that my dad is the trigger that causes the fights because the dogs 'claim' him as theirs. My older brother let them out while my dad and I were out and he told us that they got along well. As soon my dad sat down on the couch after walking inside, however, both dogs started fighting when they walked over to him.
Both are getting spayed on Dec 29th so don't come at me saying to spay them.
Mika is 3 years old and her daughter, Hazel Grace is 2 years old. Mika is a poorly bred Dutch Shepherd. Hazel Grace is a DS/GS mix as we own her father as well.

They got along well until my mother passed away and then they both 'claimed' my dad as theirs which started the fighting.

Anyways, my dad and I just took both dogs on a short walk with a lot of distance between us to prevent them from attacking each other. Mika did well and didn't seem to notice her daughter at all.
Hazel Grace, however, kept pulling to go towards my dad and her but her tail was between her legs. She had it like that the whole time we were out.

I'm curious to know about that.

What does that mean??
And please only answer my question because I won't bother replying to anything other than answers to my question.

 

[Quatie]

Usually when a dog has its tail between it's legs, that is a sign they are nervous or scared. The dog may be trying to seek security and protection from your dad. My dogs when especially nervous and scared will hide behind my husband, because they see him as the main protector. What the dog is nervous or scared about, unsure. Walking dogs and getting them moving can often help them get over that insecurity. For instance, my dog is afraid of fireworks. I start walking her and she starts to relax. The dog may also need to build up more trust with you to feel secure, and walking with it more often will help build that bond.

I am glad to hear you are starting to figure out what is triggering the dogs.

 

[Windrider]

Hazel Grace may have been trying to approach your dad in a submissive posture. Since he was walking her "rival," she may have thought he favored Mika and Hazel was trying to get in his good graces. That tucked tail and low stance is not just a fear thing, but how they approach a dog or human they consider above them.

You have a tough situation on your hands. I don't have DS or GSD, but I am around people who do at agility trials. None will own two females, spayed or no. B**tch fights are a thing in those breeds (look it up) and far worse than two males fighting. Spaying may or may not help. Mika is the mom and her daughter is grown and she think she needs to be out of her territory and not competing with her. It may be that previously they thought of your mom as the alpha female, but now they are both vying for that position.

What you describe sounds like common pack behavior in breeds that really display those behaviors. I have always had only females together, but in my breed they don't care.

 

[Bigtom Turkey]

I have a German shepherd mix, and he quite clearly has a pack mentality. When we got our new dog it took 11 weeks till they were able to be together without supervision. But they were total strangers and he weighs 120 lbs so I was more cautious with him.

 

[21hens-incharge]

What does Hazel Grace do when walked by your dad?
Walked alone by you without dad or Mika?
Walked by dad with you walking Mika apart from them like when you had Hazel Grace on leash?

If her behavior is the same when walked alone by you and dad it could be she is just not comfortable walking on leash yet.