[JadeD]

My dogs only eat Cat Truffles (poop) so I can leave their poop out and they don't touch it (I have 4 dogs).

My older Yorkie is 9 and he sometimes chokes like he has a hairball in his throat and occasionally it causes him to throw up. I will run over to him and rub his back while he is hacking and even throw up. He will look at me like I am going to hit him when he throws up and I just talk softly to him and tell him it is okay and no big deal and I clean it up all the while talking to him and rubbing his back. I wish he wouldn't feel this way. I have only had him for 8 months and I would never hit him for anything. I don't hit him when he knocks over the garbage can and spreads it all over the house. I might sternly tell him that I am not impressed, but never hit him. I feel so terrible when he acts like I am going to hit him for something he has done. I don't know if it is something from his past or if he just feels terrible for throwing up on my floor that he acts that way though.

Some things dogs do, I think it is instinct to not be happy about having done it, like throwing up. My previous dog had cancer and she would throw up a lot the last few months she was alive. She would act like it was the end of the world and I would be rubbing her back the entire time trying to comfort her. I really learned a lot from her in the few short years I had her.

I rarely even raise my voice at my Yorkies. I believe in praising them when they do well. Ignoring/distracting unwanted behaviors. I will tell them to HUSH loudly when they are barking but only loudly because they have to hear me over the barking.