[xine]

I'm so frustrated and stressed right now that I just needed to come over here and vent for a bit...sorry if this is really long, but I feel like I should explain.

Stitch is a rescue we found in late November, so we don't know anything about his history. He's about 2-4 years old, according to our vet...

Since we've had him, I've spent dozens of hours with him on various training things - housebreaking, leash walking, crate training, travelling in the Sherpa bag, and lots of clicker training and commands. He's been such an angel all along, learning things quickly (I'm guessing he was trained before), and he seems to be having fun and enjoying life with us.

Socializing with other dogs has been mixed. He gets along fine with our neighbor dogs - a big bear of an Aussie, a Golden Retriever, and is best buds with a high-energy mid-sized mutt. But I've noticed that he gets really intimidated when he meets two dogs at one time, especially if they're from the same home - he seems to see them as a united front or something and gets very anxious/aggressive with them.

Well, hubby and I had to go to Alabama on a business trip for two weeks, and I decided to take him along since the friend we're staying with has a sweet and mellow Aussie. (Plus, I can't bear the thought of boarding him for 2 weeks since we've had him for such a shor time.)

So...we get off the plane (during which he was a quiet sweetie), and our friend goes, "Hey - so I found this great Aussie puppy last week to keep Maggie company. You guys are going to love her." And I have this sinking feeling inside, but wonder if I'm being paranoid.

It's been about 3 days now, and things are *not* going well. Sweet and fun Stitch has turned into a barky little monster around them, either growling at them when they get too close or spending hours up on top of the couch to avoid them. It makes me so sad, because the two Aussies play so well together, and I know Stitch loves playing with other dogs. I've tried different things - separating them so that he can meet them one-on-one, holding him still while they sniff at him, but he's just determined to be aggressive or scared of them.

On top of all this, he seems to be forgetting all of his training. He starts crying when I put him in his crate at night (which he only did the second night we had him) and is getting really barky and clingy around us. Although I still feed him on schedule, he's not pooping or peeing as regularly as he did at home, so I find that I have to take him out a lot extra as well.

I think the last straw was today when we were out in the yard, and he growled and lunged for the Aussie puppy and got her in a submissive position. It was *NOT* playing. If my friend wasn't there, I'm sure Maggie would've lit into him, and I wouldn't have blamed her one bit.

Anyway, we're back inside, and he's up on the couch moping again while the other two play around. I don't know what to do - we'll be here for two more weeks working, and I hate to see him so unhappy.