I think it would be bad if I gave them a bowl of ice cream. But the most any of them get is a couple of spoons (not a full teaspoon at all -- just the scrapings from the side of the bowl when I am done--but they stretch it into 4 or 5 licks a piece!). They know not to beg or they get none. But when they hear that spoon scraping on the side of the glass bowl they come look at me and I give the okay. Little Annie hasn't really learned to wait for the oky yet, but she is getting trained. The other two will not jump into the chair until I say okay. Same with chips. They dearly love potato chips -- something I do not buy unless my son is home and having friends over cause he does not usually eat them either. But if they are in the house, I will have some and they know to sit and wait for their turn. They may each get one whole chip by the time we are done. I just break off little pieces for them and I love to see them take turns like they do. Again, I amstill working on Annie and the concept of waiting.
But Ben and Candy are really good about it. My mom & dad have six dogs (yes 6!) and they will sit nicely and each wait their turn for a treat too.
My minature dachshund just passed away the beginning of this year. She was 17 1/2. She started out on grocery store dog food. I thought I wsa doing good buying her the best Piggly Wiggly had.
I learned better and switched her to premium dog food but I still gave her little treats of people food most days. Everyone complimented on her shiny hair and vibrant look. The vet even asked what supplements I gave her as her teeth were always bright white and she never needed a dental or lost a tooth. So I don't think the tiny amount of people food I let her have hurt her in the least.
Granted the yorkies do have a little more sensitive GI systems and I make sure they never get too much in the way of people food. I would never let them have enough to interfere with the amount of premium dog food they are getting. But the people food treats (as small as they are) are better than most doggy treats on the market! I try to limit those too. They might get one yogurt drop a day. But I have to break other treats up to tiny pieces and give several a day to Annie as she is still being house-trained.
I might have not made it clear how little they actually get in the thread where we were all telling on ourselves about bad habits. But it really is a very tiny taste and none of them are ever fed at the table or allowed to beg at the table. That would get them moved to another room.