New Dog Help Desperately Needed!

Hi everyone!

I just joined the forums today, because we really need some help with
our new baby girl...

Short background: my boyfriend's dog Lancer well, we live together, so
he more or less became our dog) lost his battle with Lymphoma in
December. Lancer's buddy Thor (my dog) never really recovered from
Lancer's death (moping around, didn't want to play, etc.), and last
weekend we went to *just look* for a buddy for him. Riiiiight. How many
of us have ever *just looked*?

Anyway, we came home from the shelter with an adorable, hyper, skinny
as could be "hound mix" (she's definitely mostly beagle, but she's too
tall to be 'just beagle'), who was brought there as a stray from a
neighboring county (which has a reputation for having a lot of stray
hunting dogs), and we named her Madison (Maddie, for short). As a
stray, we obviously don't have a lot of her history. She's about a year
old, and had her first check-up on Saturday. (she's healthy, but does
have worms, which she's on medication for now) She has not been spayed
yet, but will have that done next Monday.

Here's where I need help....

She's getting along wonderfully with Thor (although he's not quite sure
what to think about being in a reversed role...Lancer was the enforcer,
Thor was the trouble maker...now he's the one telling her what to do),
and with the cats, except one. And we don't know what to do about it.

The other cats have gotten comfortable around Maddie, and if Maddie
ticks them off, they whack her, hiss, and go on about their way. My one
little girl, Phoebes, does not like Maddie. She hisses, spits, growls,
and heads for the hills when Maddie comes around. Which would be fine,
but Maddie gives chase, and then becomes totally fixated on Phoebes.
For example: We have the main living area open during the day, with a
baby gate blocking the hallway and the rest of the house. If Maddie
sees Phoebes on the other side of the gate she'll stand there. And
stare. And stare. And she'll stay there forever, just watching, even if
Phoebes isn't in view anymore. It's like she's waiting for her. Nothing
will get her attention away, and even if it does (a treat, for
example), she'll eat the treat, then go right back to the gate. This
has escalated over the past couple of days. She has no interest in
playing, chewing, sleeping, and we have to practically force her to go
outside to go to the bathroom!

It concerns me a little, because even though she's only showing signs
of wanting desperately to play with Phoebes (when she does get close
enough to engage her, she paws at her, does the bow-down stance, hops
around...everything she does with Thor and the other cats), but the
obsession just doesn't seem right. It's even to the point where if
she's in the middle of a stare-down, and we take them outside to play,
she'll just wait outside the door to go back in.

What can we do about this? Is this something that may lessen with time,
or when she gets fixed? Do we just keep trying to distract her? Is this
a breed instinct of some kind? Do we just let them be to work it out on
their own? There are plenty of 'dog-free' zones where Phoebes can hide
out, so that's not an issue. And Phoebes doesn't appear to be scared of
her (she'll go wherever she pleases), just doesn't like her!

We're really frustrated with this, because I'm anxious for both Maddie
and Phoebes. We'll be taking obedience classes as soon as she's fixed,
and she seems to be very intelligent (however clumsy she is) She really
is a joy, and we love her dearly already, and I really appreciate any
and all help, advice, insight you can give me!!

Handsome Jack Morrison...

Before you can be given advice and insight (especially insight,
which costs a bit more), you first have to send me some information.

For example, your real name, address, phone number, Social Security
Number, and credit card number, of course.

You should send all that to me PRIVATELY, because we wouldn't want
the whole world to see it, right?

My fees are $175 per hour, with a two hour minimum. So your card
will be charged $350 for all the advice and insight you can get from
me in 2 hours.

I'll even buy the drinks.

Hurry!

My insight is ready to explode!

Thanks! -Amanda