health

Question
I have a 6-month old female yorkie she is only about 4-5lbs. She is like my baby, i spoil her rotten. When i go anywhere in my house she is right there with me when i sleep she sleeps right next to in my bed. About three months ago she would snap and try to bite my boyfriend; at first i thought it was jealousy. But i noticed that she gets that way most of the time when my boyfriend are arguing. And recently she does it more aggressively towards him. We do argue quite often and i was just wondering if it was anything that might effect her health because when she barks she starts panting hard and when i try to calm her down she just keeps growling. Also if it could be bad for her heart in anyway. Like i said she is like my baby and i dont want anything to harm her health in anyway i try to calm her down as soon as she starts growling. If you could please give me you opinion on this.

Answer
Trish,

Yorkies are very sensitive dogs.  I have no doubt that she is picking up on your stress and it is effecting her.  They are a lot like small children.  If you had a child and you were fighting all the time with your boyfriend then that would be damaging to your child.  The same is true of your dog. While my advise is usually restricted to dogs I would like to suggest that perhaps you and your boyfriend should seek counseling to try and resolve the reasons that you fight so much.  Perhaps you might even want to consider finding someone who you are more compatible with.  Dogs are smart so take your cues from them.  If a dog doesn't like someone there is usually a good reason.