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

Locked: Ep 93 — "Your Dog Might Actually Hate Walks and You've Been Pushing Through It Anyway" | Dog Training Confirmed the duplicated text was just an export artifact, not a real platform issue — no further action needed there. Now the description — checking against Part 10: Do dogs really need a walk every single day? You've probably pushed through one anyway, telling yourself that's what a good...

Have you ever felt like your dog changed your life in ways you never expected? In this powerful conversation, I'm joined by dog behavior specialist Matt Beisner for a discussion that goes far beyond dog training. We explore mental health, emotional healing, addiction recovery, isolation, compassion, and the profound ways our dogs shape who we become. What starts as a conversation about dogs quickl...

Is your dog's food actually supporting their health—or are you trusting a label that was never designed to tell the whole story? In this solo episode, I'm sharing the journey that completely changed the way I think about canine nutrition. What started with Toby's pancreatitis diagnosis turned into years of research, difficult questions, and a deep dive into the world of dog food, ingredients, gut...

Why does the pet industry make everyday dog care harder than it needs to be? In this episode, I'm joined by Lindsay and Julia from Pet Life Unlimited for a conversation about innovation, pet products, dog health, and why so many of the products dog parents rely on every day haven't evolved to meet the needs of modern pet ownership. From pee pads and grooming products to ingredient transparency and...

What do you do when your dog is still here, but you can feel time changing? If you share your life with an aging dog, you may know the feeling. The extra nap. The slower walk. The moment they pause before climbing the stairs. Nothing is wrong, and yet something feels different. In this deeply personal solo episode, I'm talking about anticipatory grief—the quiet heartbreak that begins long before l...

Why do dogs keep going back to the same spot to pee? If you've ever dealt with marking, potty training setbacks, or mysterious accidents that seem to happen in the exact same place over and over again, you're not alone. In this episode, I sit down with Glenn, founder of NoPee, to talk about canine scent communication, why dogs are naturally driven to return to certain areas, and how one simple pro...

Have you ever felt like you've tried everything with your dog and nothing is working? Maybe you've followed the advice. Tried the training plan. Bought the tools. Put in the effort. And somehow, you're still feeling stuck. In this solo episode, I'm sharing a part of my story I don't talk about very often: why I almost didn't become a dog trainer and how my own struggles with Fitz made me question...

Do dogs actually enjoy dog sports, tricks, and performance training—or are they just doing it because we ask? In this episode, I'm joined by Sarah Carson, professional dog trainer, performer, and the human behind The Super Collies. From America's Got Talent to canine freestyle, agility, disc, dock diving, and trick training, Sarah shares what she's learned from working with dogs at the highest lev...

What if peace isn't something you earn after you've fixed everything? What if it's something you choose right now? In this deeply personal solo episode, I share how breaking my foot forced me to slow down and confront a question I had been avoiding for years: What am I actually chasing? What started as a physical injury became a much bigger lesson about perfectionism, external validation, healing,...

What if your dog is smarter than you realize? In this episode, I'm joined by Jennifer Holland, author of Dog Smart: Life-Changing Lessons in Canine Intelligence , for a fascinating conversation about canine intelligence, dog behavior, body language, working dogs, and what we can learn when we stop viewing dogs through a human lens and start seeing the world from theirs. We explore the many ways do...

Have you ever felt completely alone in your struggles with your dog? Like everyone else seemed to have it figured out while you were lying awake at night wondering what you were doing wrong? In this very first solo episode of Straight Up Dog Talk, I'm sharing the story behind why this podcast exists and the experiences that shaped the way I approach dogs, behavior, and the people who love them. Wh...

What if your dog's behavior challenges aren't actually an obedience problem? In this episode, I'm joined by Megan, founder of SwiftPaws, for a conversation about enrichment, play, dog behavior, and why understanding the dog in front of you can change everything. We explore the role of instinct, the predatory sequence, and how activities that tap into your dog's natural behaviors can help create a...

What if your reactive dog isn't giving you a hard time? What if they're having a hard time? In this solo episode, I'm sharing the story of how I spent years misunderstanding my own dog. I thought I was helping. I thought I was doing what every dog owner was supposed to do. More walks. More exposure. More opportunities to "get used to it." Instead, I was missing what my dog had been trying to tell...

What if your dog's aggression isn't coming out of nowhere? Many dog parents are told their dog is being stubborn, dominant, or difficult when the reality is often much more complicated. In this episode, I'm joined by aggression specialist Michael Shikashio for an honest conversation about dog aggression, body language, fear, stress, pain, and the warning signs many people miss before a reaction ha...

What does it really take to build a business that helps dogs? In this episode, I'm joined by Will, co-founder and CEO of Pet Matrix, for a behind-the-scenes conversation about entrepreneurship, canine health, nutrition, supplements, and the realities of running a mission-driven business in the pet industry. We talk about how Pet Matrix got started, the challenges of growing a small business, and w...

What makes a good walk for your dog? For many dog parents, the answer is distance, steps, or getting enough exercise. But what if your dog needs something completely different? In this episode, I'm joined by Laura Garcia of Curious Snoots for a conversation about dog walking, leash reactivity, enrichment, advocacy, and what it means to truly see the dog in front of you. We explore why dog parks an...

Do you need a Border Collie, Malinois, or high-drive working dog to get involved in dog sports? Not even close. In this episode, I'm joined by certified dog trainer and behavior consultant Catherine McGuire for a conversation about dog sports, enrichment, training, and the incredible things that can happen when you find an activity you and your dog enjoy doing together. From agility and rally to n...

How do you know when it's time to say goodbye? It's one of the hardest questions any dog parent will ever face. In this episode, I'm joined by Dr. Benson and Courtney from Paws Into Grace to talk about pet loss, in-home euthanasia, and what it means to create a peaceful, compassionate end-of-life experience for the animals we love. We discuss the conversations many families struggle to have, how t...

Not every dog is the right fit for every person—and that's okay. In this episode, I sit down with dog trainer Zoë Holloway of The Dreaded Trainer for a candid conversation about dog breeds, training philosophies, behavior, and what it really means to meet the dog in front of you. From Rottweilers and Dachshunds to shelter dogs and designer mixes, we explore how breed traits, genetics, environment,...

Ever thought about volunteering with dogs… but wondered what it’s actually like behind the scenes? It’s not just cuddling puppies. It’s meds. Laundry. Snowstorms. Poop. Hard days. Big feelings. And a whole lot of love. In this episode, Em sits down with Crystal from Dogs Forever Rescue to talk honestly about what rescue work really looks like — the responsibilities, the heartbreak, the small wins,...

What if making a difference didn't require changing everything? In this episode, I'm joined by Kate, the human behind Boss Dog Rick, to talk about rescue, volunteering, community, and the unexpected ways dogs can change our lives. What started as walking shelter dogs during a lunch break turned into a deeper connection with her community, a passion for advocacy, and eventually adopting Rick, a res...

Have you ever looked at your dog and realized… they’re not young anymore? The jumps are slower. The stairs feel risky. Their eyes don’t see the world the same way they used to. In this episode, Em sits down with Elizabeth to talk about life with her senior dog Charlie—from cataracts and custom dog glasses to TPLO surgery and learning how to adapt their home and routines with care. It’s a gentle re...

What if teaching tricks wasn’t just fun… but actually the key to a calmer dog? In this episode, Em talks with Krista from Heeler Point about life with high-energy, high-drive dogs and how trick training became more than cute party tricks — it became mental enrichment, confidence building, and a safe outlet for big feelings. From reactivity and vet visits to skateboards, basketball hoops, and 30-tr...

Have you ever stopped to think about what you’re legally responsible for as a dog parent? Most of us focus on training, food, and behavior — but every state has laws that can impact your dog’s safety and your finances. From leash rules and licensing to bite liability, tethering laws, and even what happens in an emergency, there are regulations many pet parents don’t realize exist until it’s too la...

Do you ever feel like you’re trying so hard to do the right thing for your dog… but the food choices still feel impossible? We’re told to trust the labels. Trust the brands. Trust the system. But when more than half of dogs are overweight or struggling with preventable health issues, it’s worth asking — what if the problem starts in the bowl? In this conversation, Em and canine nutrition researche...