Hello, Dixieland Dancer, and thank you for your feedback. You are quiet right in your assessment -- Tuco and Evita did play together sometimes before Blondie joined the pack, but Tuco has never seemed to want to play much with other dogs. After some inittial "getting-to-know-you" sniffs, he usually reserves most of his attention for humans, especially my husband. Tuco is clearly bonded to my husband. Evita -- since I have had to work so hard with her to get her over some behavior problems that stemmed from her abuse, is most closely bonded with me. Blondie is everybody's friend, right now, although he is sticking pretty tight to my 3-year-old son.

Oh, my! this will be hard, but I will take your suggestions and stay out of the dog "arguments," unless it is to reward the winner. I need to remember that the fights sound a whole lot worse than they are. It will be very difficult not to cuddle and coddle "poor Blondie," but as you suggest, human relationships and emotions are different from canine relationships and emotions. At this moment, I just want PEACE IN THE BACKYARD!

As for the peeing in the car, Tuco is limited to the truck bed (and the crate anchored there) until he can get over his need to mark. Now that I think of it, Tuco marked the vehicle just the day after we had Blondie in the same vehicle on a trip to the vet.'s. Could that be why he was whining and carrying on?

Again, thanks for your help! As usual, the wonderful members of PET TALK were there when I needed them!