I remember my vet once told me two things.

If you stare at your dog and he/she looks away first, you have control.

If your dog literally walks on you, you do not have control.

My dog (the older of the two) will literally jump on my face, walk across me then lay down and kick at my head until he has my pillow. He also will stare long enough you look away first.

The maltese is more gentle, but she'd probably walk on us if she were tall enough to jump on anything. We have to lift her up, if not - she squeals like a deflating balloon (it's the most abnormal sound ever).

On the bright side, I've never had a boss that was so darn cute!
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Ellie,

You are so right about control. The human is supposed to be the Alpha of the pack...

What you said also reminded me of yet another reason Chelsea was so cute and lovable and easy - everytime I told her she was a bad girl ot gave her "that look" (the "you have been a bad girl" look) she would roll over and stick her belly in the air... it was so cute, but it also demonstrated that she knew that I was the alpha of the pack.

Because it was so cute and because she looked so pathetic when she did it, it would make me laugh or smile almost everytime she did it... but she would stay there until I said "ok" or until I rubbed her belly.

I just can't believe that it has been 18 months since she passed away and I still miss her like crazy.

I'd like to point out it is Alex and NOT me who corrupted the dogs. If he isn't home, they obey me. If he's home, they walk all over me. My Maltese PEED on my BED and he pet her after I scolded her. He is a sucker, such a softy and has an excuse for everything.

He will say something like, "But she came from a bad place and doesn't know any better". I explain, "When her tail lowers, she knows she peed and it's a bad thing. She knows that and she knows you will give her treats when I scold her".

Seriously, he is the worst person to train dogs. Our larger dog stole my chicken wing once and it took both of us to pry his mouth open. My maltese would know to spit it out, but if Alex would do that to her - she'd bite him (she is food aggressive, shes from a mill so we just can't break her of it).

Our next dog, i will not let him near it.