Is this normal?

It's not enough to just give them separate bowls-- you should feed them in crates or in separate rooms. And you shouldn't allow your dog to eat the other dog's food. Who cares if it's normal, it's not good for either dog.

Ditto. 
 
Also, you don't want one to overeat while the other goes hungry. 
 
Plus, by feeding them totally seperately you are undisputedly in control of meal time and food is their most valuable resource.  Currently one of the dogs is starting to think she is in control of this resource which IMO is not healthy. 
 
In another week or two the new dog is going to be finding her feet and may have the confidence to challenge that behaviour......  Mealtimes can be very volatile, the #1 reason to feed them seperately IMO.  Particularly seeing as you have 2 bitches - if bitches fall out it's much more serious than if it were two males, or a male and a female so you need to prevent it if at all possible.

But it is the new dog who is getting to eat forst. It is my old dog who won;t eat from her own dish but is waiting for the new dog to finish, and eating from the new dogs dish. there isn't any aggression, but when the new dog decides she would like a few more bites, the old dog just bcks away and sits until the new dog is done again. Even when the new dog is completely done and there is no more food in that dish- the old dog will STILL not return to her dish. She waits until I dump the food from her bowl into the other bowl.

I have been trying to keep them on a leash while I feed them, but it's hard to hold both leashes far enough away from each other. I have an open floor plan, and unless I put one in the crate while the other eats, eating seperatey is not an option...I guess I could feed one in the bathroom?

I guess I just saw it as being odd- not being dangerous. Both my dogs ultimately get enough to eat because I refill the new dogs dish for Heidi. If I don't let her eat from that dish, she chooses not to eat at all.

I would feed seperately (crates or sep. rooms) to be on the safe side.  Get the dog used to eating out of her own bowl to remove any chances of conflict in the future.  This is doubly important because you have two bitches.  Chances are they will live out their lives happily, no worries.  But if they do fall out, they may not ever "make it up".  So avoid any scenarios where conflict could occur so that you never have to make a difficult decision.

yes, crate one dog if necessary. this is normal doggy behavior-- submissive dog lets dominant dog have first dibs on all available food, but it's not acceptable in a human household. You're going to end up with a really fat new dog.

Stop thinking in human terms and what's convenient or not.  Dogs need to eat in peace in separate quarters, either in a room with a shut door or a crate.  What you are doing isn't working, so it would seem prudent to try the suggestions offered here about feeding them separately. 
I have four dogs that all eat in separate areas.  They are happy, and no one is going hungry or getting too fat. []

If I don't let her eat from that dish, she chooses not to eat at all.

So, she misses a meal, and maybe next time, she'll be a little hungrier.

No maybes about it.... dogs are smart enough not to starve themselves!

All my dogs (and any visitors that I am sitting for) eat out of their own bowls in separate locations twice a day at specific times.   I pick up the bowls after about 20 minutes.  If a dog doesn't eat, it is S.O.L.  No grazing or coming back later to pick.   They are not allowed to nose in someone elses bowl.  You would be surprised how easily they get with the program if you are firm and consistnent.

I am feeding them separatly now. thank you all for your advice. Being a newer dog owner is almost harder than when I had kids. The amount of information flying at you at a stunning pace can make one a bit dizzy at times. But I am making sure they eat from their own dish now.

Thanks again...the girls will eventually be appreciative[]

Hey Great[].  Believe me, it's the best way and if you are consistant, they will learn.  A lot of people don't give their dogs the credit for what they are capable of understanding and learning.