Maltese won't leave me alone!

My puppy (5 mos.) won't give me any space/time to myself. He follows me everywhere. He follows me from room to room (even to the bathroom). I worry because he is always under my feet and I sometimes trip/step on him. I don't want to crate him all the time. When I eat dinner (which is usually on the couch), he is there beside me with his face just inches from my plate. I raise my voice and tell him to go away and point him to the direction of his bed...but that doesn't seem to work. Does anyone have any advice? I don't won't to resort to any rolled newspaper techniques (if you know what I mean)...I just want him to get the idea that I need my space.
Peanuts mom

• I have Maltese littermates. One is the independent type, content to lay down in a central place where she can keep an eye on everything that's going on. The other one is the clingy type; she likes to stay by my side or under my feet at all times. Sounds like you have one of the clingy types. You should probably try to get used to it; getting older helped mine some, but not much.
  Alice

• I am really sorry that new little friend's clingy behavior is a bother to you. I have a 3 yr old Maltese who is just the opposite. He wants his space. He will usually find his own little corner of the world and sleep and would rather not be disturbed.

  Anyway, I think that because your little friend is only 5 months that he a little insecure and he is trying to find his way in his new environment. Maybe you should try talking to him when he comes up to and try caressing to give him reassurance about his new home. I really think that age has alot to do with his behavior. You would not believe the changes that have occured in the short 3 years that I have had my Maltese. Age is a major factor in changes in a dog's behavior. They almost always improve in whatever they fall short in. Once your Maltese learns his way around in life he will learn when to cling and when not to cling. I used to get a little frustrated in the beginning with my dog, but what I would do is try to understand the circumstances that he is put in. That is a new environment, and taken from his mother and the closeness of the other littermates. He may be seeking some of that closeness that is now void to him. Please have patience and understanding with him and I am sure you will appreciate him in future times when he is there to comfort you. I really hope that this helps. Thanks for writing your concern before resorting to other measures. Much luck!
  Nastasjia

• It has been a few days I posted my message and since then, i have been visited by two of my friends who have flatly pointed out to me that the little guy need obedience training. He had jumped all over them and was "in their face" as he is with me...except it seems that he overdoes it only when guests visit. It is obvious that he is trying to get attention..and believe me he gets plenty of it from me. He just doesn't understand the word "NO"! Should I consider obedience training? Does it really work? Is he of the right age? Thanks for any advice.
  Peanuts mom

• One of the attributes of my Maltese I like the best is the fact that she is always by my side. She too, will not let me go to the bathroom without her. I love that, I just have gotten used to watching where I step. Trust me, going up and down the stairs can be a challenge. But this is what I wanted, a dog to lay in her basket on my desk and sleep while I work, she is at this very moment laying in a chair next to this computer. She is only 8 mo. and at first I gave her a basket with all her toys in it and she felt secure there, I would move the basket around so she had her own place but was still close. I would have to agree with the others that as your puppy gets older it will be more independent. I however, love the fact that my Cescie seeks out my company. I take her everywhere, even my husbands (he is a H.S. coach) basket- ball games. She is passed around the crowd as everyone seems to want to play with her, but she keeps her eyes on where I am. His team won district and the players insist that she be at every game they think she is good luck. Says a lot for the breed, for macho West Texas teenage boys to fuss over a little white dog. She is truly my favorite dog, and I have had several breeds. I will admit however that she has had more attention spent on her, and she likes it. Hang in there, you two will get used to each other.
  Joeline

• Lucy went to kindergarden obedience training when she was not quite 4 mo old. She learned sit, stay, down, heel, and come faster tha any other pup there. She loved the attention (good girl) when she did it right. She doesn't always listen to NO, despite the training, but I think that has more to do with me than her. A half-hearted NO is a maybe to her, too. Big NOOOOOs work (she tried to chew an electric cord only once; the NO with a big thump on the desk above her put an end to it immediately. The thing I was told by the trainer about obedience training is that it reinforces the fact that you, not the dog, are the dominant, alpha dog. So I would try training and it isn't too early. However....

  Lucy is where I am all the time. She prefers sleeping on my lap to sleeping on the floor (though she will move to the floor if I am disturbing her too much by moving around, getting up and down, etc.). She does play by herself with toys or whatever, but always nearby me. I like her wanting to be with me, so don't see it as much of a problem, and I suspect this may be the personality of most Maltese and other dogs too to bond very closely with their owners--particularly when you get them as babies and become the substitute mom. Like others who left you notes, I see that Lucy gets a little more independent as she grows up (she's a year now), so if you wait a while, you will probably notice a difference.

  My Lucy LOVES company to come, and she too wants to kiss and be picked up and loved by whomever comes to the house. She even loves the pizza delivery guy. When I am expecting my son, my boyfriend, or my best friend, I tell Lucy that "her brother" or Mike or Robin is coming and she goes and sits at the window to watch for them. When their cars pull into the parking slot she starts to wiggle and "cry" until they get to the door, where she greets them and pours love all over them. My friends love this. Maybe yours just need to understand that your baby isn't being "bad," but honestly wants to shower the people YOU love with love. I am sure that you and the little one will work this out. It's just a matter of each of you learning what works for the other. Good luck and enjoy the baby.
  Cathy Brown

• Dear Peanut's mom,
  It must be something about the way these sweet little babies love us so much us that makes us so crazy. I take my jezabel' and juliette to the groomer's for there weekly bath and I refer to myself as their mommy. They are like perPETtual toddlers who are at my heels every minute and for the most part I just love it. my husband accused me of paying too much attention to the 'girls' and I told him that if he jumped 4 ft. off the ground every time I walked into the room I'd pay more attention to him too! Enjoy the most unconditional and innocent love you'll ever find.
  Janet