The Dog Who Asked for More: Turning Dog Training Frustration Into a Deeper Relationship With Your Dog

What if the rescue dog you thought you were saving was actually the one helping you heal? Many of us adopt dogs believing we're giving them a second chance. But sometimes the relationship becomes something much deeper. In this emotional anniversary episode, Em shares Toby's rescue story—from a terrified bait dog facing euthanasia to a loyal companion who became a source of healing through trauma,...

What if your dog could learn where they’re welcome—and where they’re not—without gates, drilling holes, or constant supervision? Many dog parents feel overwhelmed trying to manage household boundaries. Whether it's keeping your dog off the couch, away from the trash, out of certain rooms, or preventing door rushing, traditional solutions often rely on physical barriers, constant monitoring, or rep...

Have you ever felt like you've tried everything with your dog, but something still doesn't feel right? If you're living with a reactive dog, anxious dog, rescue dog, or simply feeling overwhelmed by dog parenting, this episode is for you. Many dog parents get stuck chasing more training, more exercise, or more quick fixes, only to find themselves frustrated, discouraged, and emotionally exhausted....

Have you ever wondered if you're getting dog training advice from someone who truly understands behavior—or someone who's just good at social media? In this powerful conversation, I sit down with dog trainer Josh Taylor to talk about the unexpected journey that took him from a 17-year career investigating organized crime to helping thousands of dogs and their families. Along the way, we dive into...

For many dogs, Halloween isn't fun—it's overwhelming. Between constant doorbells, strangers in costumes, loud noises, disrupted routines, and unexpected visitors, the holiday can create a perfect storm of dog anxiety , stress, and sensory overload. In this episode, we talk about why Halloween can be especially challenging for anxious dogs , reactive dogs , and dogs who thrive on routine. More impo...

Have you ever wondered if bathing your dog too often could actually be making their skin issues worse? Most dog parents want to do what's best for their dogs, but when it comes to dog skin care , there is a lot of conflicting advice. If your dog struggles with itching, odor, irritation, or recurring skin problems, the solution may not be another bath or a different shampoo. In this episode, I sit...

Have you ever felt like your dog has endless energy no matter how many walks, games, or activities you give them? As the weather gets colder and the days get shorter, many dog parents find themselves stuck inside with a dog who seems restless, overwhelmed, or unable to settle. The good news? More exercise isn't always the answer. Sometimes what your dog really needs is enrichment that engages thei...

Have you ever felt guilty for grieving a pet long after everyone else expected you to move on? Pet loss can feel incredibly isolating. While many people understand the grief that comes with losing a family member, the loss of a beloved dog or cat is often minimized, dismissed, or misunderstood. But the bond we share with our pets is real—and so is the grief that follows when they're gone. In this...

You've been doing the "right" things, structure, consistency, following the advice everyone gives, and your dog still seems stuck. Maybe it's not you. Maybe it's the advice. A lot of popular dog training advice sounds solid on the surface: be the alpha, ignore bad behavior, never let them win, don't comfort a scared dog. But some of the most common tips out there are quietly making things harder,...

Have you ever felt like your dog has endless energy no matter how much exercise you give them? Many dog parents assume that longer walks, more fetch, and extra physical activity are the answer to a restless, anxious dog. But what if the missing piece isn't more exercise at all? What if your dog is craving mental stimulation, enrichment, and opportunities to problem solve? In this episode, I sit do...

Have you ever felt like your life is on hold because your dog isn't where you want them to be yet? Many reactive dog parents spend years waiting. Waiting for training to work. Waiting for behavior to improve. Waiting for life to feel easier before they allow themselves to dream bigger. But what if waiting for perfect is the very thing keeping you stuck? In this personal solo episode, I share the m...

Have you ever wondered what would happen to your dog if the law treated them like property instead of family? Most of us see our dogs as companions, partners, and members of the family. But in many courtrooms, pets are still legally classified as property. That distinction affects everything from pet custody disputes to shelter policies, animal welfare laws, and the future of animal rights. In thi...

Have you ever felt guilty for skipping a walk with your dog? Dog parents hear it all the time: a tired dog is a good dog. More walks. More exercise. More exposure. But what happens when you're doing all of those things and your dog is still overwhelmed, reactive, anxious, or unable to settle? In this solo episode, I share one of the biggest lessons Fitz taught me. For years, I believed that more w...

Have you ever felt like you've made too many mistakes to start over—whether with your dog, your career, or your life? Shame has a way of convincing us that our past defines us. But what if the things you've survived are actually the foundation for the life you're building now? In this powerful conversation, dog trainer and educator Mattison Skoog Simpson shares her journey from incarceration to bu...

Have you ever looked at someone else's success and wondered why your own dream feels so much harder than it looks? From the outside, people often see the highlights—the wins, the progress, the exciting plans, and the moments that look like success. What they don't see are the late nights, the burnout, the side jobs, the self-doubt, and the emotional weight of trying to build something meaningful w...

Have you ever wondered if dogs can really communicate using buttons—or if there's something deeper happening behind those viral videos? Many dog parents are fascinated by talking dogs, but most people don't realize how much learning, trust, repetition, and communication go into teaching dogs to use buttons. It's not about teaching dogs to perform. It's about creating new opportunities for connecti...

Have you ever looked at your dog and wondered why nothing seems to help? Maybe you've tried more exercise, more training, more structure, and more consistency, but your dog still seems overwhelmed, reactive, or constantly on edge. What if the behavior you're seeing isn't a training problem at all? In this deeply personal solo episode, I share the moment I realized Fitz wasn't "too much"—he was str...

Good instinct — makes sense to avoid naming Chewy or specific brands directly. Here's the description, staying general and pulling from the transcript's real themes (Barbara Woodhouse, the "energy" myth, the shock collar phone calls) without naming brands or people who could take issue with how it's framed: Why does the same bad dog training advice keep coming back with a new face every generation...

Have you ever felt like you're doing everything right with your dog and somehow things still aren't getting better? Many dog parents throw themselves into training, follow every recommendation, watch every video, and try every tool they can find. But when your dog is still struggling—and you're still feeling overwhelmed—it can start to feel like you're the problem. In this honest solo episode, I s...

Have you ever wondered what actually happens after a dog leaves an overcrowded shelter? Every year, shelters across the United States struggle with overcrowding, limited resources, and difficult decisions. But behind many successful adoptions is an entire network of people working tirelessly to give animals a second chance. In this episode, I sit down with Michael Schneider, founder of Pilots To T...

Have you ever felt like you're doing everything right with your reactive dog, but nothing seems to be working? You follow the advice. You buy the equipment. You practice the training exercises. And somehow, your dog still struggles. It's frustrating, discouraging, and can leave you wondering if you're failing your dog. In this solo episode, I'm sharing the three biggest lessons I wish I had learne...

Have you ever worried about what would happen if your dog got loose? Whether you have a reactive dog, an adventurous dog, a service dog, or simply a dog who loves to explore, the thought of losing them can be one of the biggest fears dog parents carry. As technology continues to evolve, new tools are changing the way we think about dog safety, dog training, and staying connected to our dogs. In th...

Have you ever felt like no matter how hard you try with your dog, it still doesn't feel like enough? Many dog parents live with the pressure of getting everything right—the perfect training plan, the perfect walk, the perfect response to every challenge. But what happens when chasing perfection starts creating more stress for both you and your dog? In this deeply personal solo episode, I share the...

You usually only see the finished part: the episode, the recommendation, the product I say I trust. There's a lot that happens before any of that reaches you. This week I'm recording from SuperZoo, the largest pet industry trade show in North America, walking rows of new gear, meeting founders, testing products, and having real conversations with the people building things for dogs. Not because it...

What if your reactive dog isn't a problem to solve—but a relationship that's asking you to slow down and listen? In this episode, I sit down with Cobia to talk about life with Magic, her reactive Golden Retriever. Like many dog parents, Cobia expected life with her dog to look a certain way. Instead, she found herself navigating fear, anxiety, sound sensitivity, frustration, and the emotional roll...