Odd behaviour - can you advise?

[Luci07]

About 6 weeks ago I took on another staffie bitch. This means I have 3. Bitch, 11, dog, 5 and latest bitch 11 months. All staffords. Last bitch was very very carefully integrated and all looked well with a lot of introductions and time out.

Now my dog has always liked to take himself off (normally to my bedroom) when he wants a bit of p&q but I have to shut the door now as youngest bitch has taken to weeing in there if the door is open. (another story)

He has now decided he will go outside in the garden - for a very long time. He is eating as normal. Very happy to play with the youngest bitch at the yard. Happily sleeps with all at night (with me) but is he protesting? or should I be more worried. He is quite a sensitive dog - you can't raise your voice even in jest as he is terrifed and starts hyperventilating.

He is happy to say hello if I go out in the garden. Last night when I made a fuss he got more stressed so I just sat quietly with him on the sofa and then he was fine.

All are rescues, all are on a worming programme, all are vaccinated. Any ideas?

 

[Pendlehog]

It sounds to me as though he has simply traded one "safe" place (your room) for a new one (garden) now that he has no access to the bedroom. Is he acting differently in the garden than he did in your room? Could you make him another aafe place inside and enforce the fact it is his only to the younger bitch? Perhaps an open crate or other quiet space with his bed/something that smells of you in it?
Without meeting the dogs it can be hard to pinpoint the problem but it sounds as though he is a bit insecure after losing access to his old room and needs somewhere new to chill on his own

 

[Luci07]

He isn't acting any differently in the garden - very happy to come and see me if I go out and call him. I might see if I can put a child gate up so I can let him go upstairs but not shut my door (which he doesn't like)

He has just come back in (after an hour in the garden) and is snuggled up next to the oldest bitch in one of their beds - but I am going to try your advice. He might be a real boy and people mugger but he has to be one of the most sensitive little souls I have ever met..!

 

[Dobiegirl]

Having another dog in your home might have unsettled him, the fact this bitch has been weeing in your bedroom he might have thought he would get the blame for it. The thing with rescues you never know what happened before and can only guess but sounds like this poor boy spent a lot of time stressed. A change of routine etc has unsettled him.

I would imagine he will settle down soon but dont over compensate and molly coddle him as you will teach him to be needy.

 

[Luci07]

Many thanks - its very hard to know the right thing to do. Not helped by the fact that my YO (who used to be terrified of staffies) keeps asking me if she can have no 3!

 

[Damnation]

I've always been told that 3 dogs are a pack, more so then 2 dogs.
Our old boy - the pack leader - always takes himself off on his own when he is fed up of the rest of them.
As far as I am aware pack leaders do spend quite a bit of time on their own. Just treat him as usual and wait for the new "pecking order" to be established.