Maltese anxiety with new rescue dog

A boisterous new rescue arriving into a small dog's quiet world is a really common trigger for anxiety — and it makes complete sense that your Maltese is struggling. The good news is this is situational anxiety with a clear cause, which means it often responds well to the right support. Anxiety in dogs tends to show up in a few ways — separation anxiety, noise phobia, or generalised anxiety — and what you're describing sounds like the third type: an ongoing low-level stress from a changed environment. To point you to the right product, it would help to know: what does the anxiety look like in your Maltese — is it hiding, trembling, not eating, snapping? And how is the rescue dog behaving around them?

That's a really clear picture — Biscuit is overwhelmed, not frightened of aggression, just permanently on edge because her home no longer feels predictable or calm. Hiding, reduced appetite and a heightened startle response are classic signs of chronic low-grade stress. Because this is happening continuously in her own home rather than in short bursts, a pheromone diffuser is the most practical tool here. My recommendation is the Adaptil Calm Home Diffuser. It plugs into the wall and releases a synthetic version of the calming pheromone mother dogs produce — it won't sedate Biscuit, but it takes the edge off background anxiety and helps her feel safer in her own space. Plug it in the room where she spends the most time, ideally not the one the Staffy dominates. One thing worth asking — do they have completely separate spaces to retreat to, or are they sharing all the same rooms?

That's a really understandable instinct, but it can actually backfire with a dog like Biscuit. Forced proximity without escape routes tends to increase stress rather than build tolerance — she needs to feel she can choose when to engage. Alongside the Adaptil diffuser, I'd strongly suggest creating at least one room or gated zone that is genuinely Biscuit's safe space where the Staffy simply cannot go. A baby gate works well for this because Biscuit can jump it if she wants to interact, but it physically limits the Staffy. The diffuser in that safe room will work much more effectively once she has a reliable retreat. Most owners see a noticeable shift in the dog's demeanour within two to three weeks of using it consistently.

Completely safe around both dogs — and around cats and humans too. The pheromone is species-specific so it works on dogs but is entirely inert to everyone else. One refill covers a room of up to 70 square metres and lasts approximately 30 days. You can buy starter kits that include the plug unit and a refill, then just order refills after that. Given Biscuit's ongoing stress and the fact that integration with a new dog takes time, I'd plan on at least two to three months of continuous use before reassessing. If after six weeks her appetite and behaviour haven't improved at all, it's worth a vet check to rule out anything else going on — but in a situation like Biscuit's, the diffuser combined with proper space management usually makes a real difference.

Really glad it helped. Give Biscuit time — small dogs can take longer to feel confident around bouncy larger dogs, and that's completely normal. The gate plus the diffuser should make a noticeable difference once she has somewhere to exhale. Good luck with the integration — it usually comes good.