Toy Rat Terrier vs. Larger Breeds and dominance

Question
Hi, I have a wonderful, almost perfectly behaved 8 year old Toy/Teacup Rat Terrier (4lbs).  His only issues involve barking excessively when someone knocks and a love of licking people's arms.  I am currently trying to address these issues at the same time as my roommates and their dogs.  This is where problems arise.  We live in a household with 6 humans and 4 dogs.  The dog range from my 4lb dog all the way up to my boyfriend's 90lb rottweiler.  We believe we should be consistent with the behavior training and to that end, I wonder if the exceptions I make with regards to getting on furniture (my dog is allowed/ some dogs aren't) and sleeping in bed w/ us are going to cause dominance issues in my dog.  I feel that since we live in a colder climate, it is not right to make my 4lb dog spend his time on the cold floors rather than in my lap.  I also feel this about his bed, which is (on our human bed) at our feet.  Should I not be making these exceptions?  Will my love of having a lapdog ruin his  behavior?  Anything you can add would be helpful.  Thank you!

Answer
That's a pretty complex situation.  I have to think about how I handle my own mob since I own a gordon setter (75 lbs) and a jack russell, but also foster english setters and cairn terriers. The cairns can be as small as 10-12 lbs.

I do permit my small dogs up.  It seems to make them more confident about their place in the pack since they can then look the big dogs in the face. Otherwise, they end up paranoid about being trampled.  That would be ***much*** more pronounced at your house, and in fact your little guy is actually in danger of accidental injury from the big dogs.

Having special privileges will permit him some safety, and should not cause behavioral issues unless you and your roommates let him become that way.  Letting him be on your lap is not the problem - The problem is when you let him start getting nasty with the other dogs while up there.  It is really important that you not let him "resource guard."  That should be corrected by an immediate removal from the lap - even if it means you just set him over on another chair, or put him away in a crate for 10 minutes or so.  Do not get all worked up, just repeatedly move him away from you.

My point being that consistency for each dog is what is important. You can let him on the furniture - but if you let him act like a brat, then you will have a problem.

Another point to remember is that your dog's temperament is much more like the other toy breeds than the terriers despite his breed name.  You may want to check further with someone with toy breeds.

Good luck !

-Beth