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Old 05-10-2013, 09:18 AM   #9
yorkietalkjilly
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Originally Posted by EvaNoel View Post
Oh my goodness, I wrote a book and left out that she has already been checked by the Vet. Thanks for reminding me to add that in.

Y'all did give me something to consider ... before little Doc came, all was quiet and peaceful for Bella, she and Eva never fought or played rough and they got along so well, but when little Doc came into the pack, things changed. Doc refused to let Eva dominate him and they would play fight over toys, space, food and just whatever. I had to seperate them to start with and even now I will not go off and leave them together. When Eva playbites, she hurts!

That behavior seems to make Bella nervous. She watches over little Doc too. For example, Bella always woke me up at night by licking me in the face if Doc whimpered to go to the piddle pad. Even last night when she was in the other room asleep, she heard him whimper and she came to the gate and gave a few short barks until I got up. She's just sweet like that.

Do you think this could have anything to do with her Pooing in the bed, and in her Pet Pen?
Absolutely. There is trouble in the pack and a dog with a tendency to nerves or lack of self-confidence can get very unsettled during the struggles for hierarchy. Read all you can about pack dynamics and how dogs settle things naturally and with 3 terriers, you can have quite a struggle. An unsure dog watching all this happen is unsure what to do if no clear leader steps forward to calm things, dispense order and put the members in their place. You might try distracting her with treats and some training in another room, a good walk, when the spats start but the best way to help her is to either take over leadership of the pack for her sake and stop the whole thing. Step up and back the disagreeing dogs off one another and send them to each's assigned spot or place until you give the release word. I don't know if little Doc is a puppy or young but if he is, Eva is likely holding back until he's older or been there longer and then she may flex up hard on him or vice versa and Bella probably senses trouble's a comin'! Normally I believe in letting the dogs settle these things if there is no strong leader in the family but because it's likely stressing Bella, if you want and are a strong leader, take over and disagree, stop that type behavior. Soon the dogs will know that you are going to step in and will start to catch themselves before they begin to do what you dislike or stop it once you point a finger. Other times they will plain forget or not care and just do it. Stop them and get Bella playing and otherwise engaged, take her for a walk while the other two are in their crates if you can't walk all 3 at once.

Until things are settled down and structured better, you might put her in an airline crate at night and put it beside the bed on a chair or right on one side of the bed with the back of a chair holding it in place so Bella can sleep with you or near but can't keep up her stress/protest/frustration pee/poo.

These are just some thoughts about what you might try in handling your little pack but if I were you, I would just read all I could about how to handle pack troubles from some respected websites about dog behavior regarding a new pack member is causing some upheavals and handle it the way it seems best for you and your babies. But I would also work in obedience and NILIF to give Bella some work to do and keep her focused a bit on working and learning and gaining self-confidence so she can handle pack changes with more aplomb.
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