Hi zuskamiller,
I am happy to hear that you adopted those 2 stray dogs. I am so impressed with that the lady successfully coaxed the dogs and socialized them! She really has a heart of gold!
As for your question of which dog is dominant, this is what I think:
When those two dogs were with the lady, they were with her 3 other dogs so the situation is totally different. She thought the female was more dominant than the male but it doesn't mean that the female was the dominant of the entire pack of 5. Also, as far as I am concerned, dominance can not always be decided by who eats first, goes out first and who challenges the others, etc. especially when dogs are living closely with human beings. I have 3 dogs of my own and a foster dog most of the time and they rush out our back door in the order depending on their interests, such as squirrels, going potty, barking at bikes, etc. Coming inside through the door is also depending on what is inside that interests them; because it's meal time, because it's raining outside, because someone at the front door, because it's time to go to bed, etc.
I think Holly is the most dominant, because she is the most confident, mature, and the oldest in age, as well as the time she has been with us for the longest time. She also pees over everybody's markings on walks.
Regardless of which dog is dominant, I think you are doing the right thing to step in and to make the male sit and wait. I strongly believe that as the respected leader, you are the one who can control the relationship between the two dogs (or three or four).
Good luck and have fun with your 4 legged kids!
