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

Ever come home from a walk feeling more frustrated than connected… even though you’re doing everything “right”? The leash is tangled. Your hands are sore. Your dog is pulling or reacting. And somehow, something as simple as going outside together feels harder than it should. Sometimes it isn’t about trying more training or doing more drills. Sometimes it’s the small, everyday pieces we overlook —...

Have you ever thought about sending your dog away for training… and felt a knot in your stomach about it? Handing your dog to someone else—even for help—can feel vulnerable. You want support, not shortcuts. You want growth, not fear. And with so many opinions online, it’s hard to know what actually happens inside a board-and-train program or whether it’s something your dog would truly benefit from...

Have you ever stood in the pet store aisle staring at rows of supplements… wondering if any of them actually do anything for your dog? When your dog is struggling with digestion, low energy, or ongoing health issues, it’s easy to feel like you’re constantly adding one more powder, one more chew, one more “maybe this will help.” And somehow it still feels confusing, expensive, and uncertain — like...

What would you do if you finally brought your rescue dog home… only to learn you might not have much time together? Those first weeks are supposed to be the beginning. The routines. The plans. The slow building of a life side by side. A terminal diagnosis can make everything feel fragile overnight — like the future you pictured just disappeared. And it’s easy to wonder how you’re supposed to show...

She didn't grow up loving dogs. She grew up afraid of them, bitten as a kid, then attacked twice while serving abroad. When her husband finally asked for a dog, she didn't pick one out of love. She researched breeds like a spreadsheet: low-shedding, high energy, good with future kids. In this episode, Em and Josh sit down with Kenzie to talk about her Vizsla, Dobby, the dog she picked for practica...

Have you ever lost a dog… and felt like everything quietly fell apart afterward — not just your heart, but your whole day-to-day life? The walks stop feeling the same. The house feels too quiet. The routines you built around them disappear overnight. Even training, enrichment, and the simple rhythm of caring for another living being can suddenly feel heavy or impossible. And while the world expect...

Have you ever felt torn between what you’ve been told is “right” for dogs… and what your own dog actually seems to need? The dog park gets a lot of strong opinions. Too chaotic. Too risky. Not “real training.” And for some dogs, that’s absolutely true. But for others, those messy, everyday spaces can become something surprisingly supportive. In this episode, Em and Josh sit down with Tanya to talk...

Have you ever loved a dog so deeply that losing them changed who you are? Not just sadness… but the quiet emptiness in the house, the missing routine, the way your body still listens for paws that aren’t there anymore. Losing a dog isn’t only grief — it’s a shift in identity, in daily life, in the way you move through the world. And yet, it’s something so many dog parents feel like they’re suppose...

Have you ever felt torn between adopting a rescue dog… or going through a breeder—and worried that choosing one meant you were doing something wrong? The dog world can feel loud and divided. Rescue versus breeder. Right versus wrong. And somewhere in the middle are everyday dog parents just trying to make a thoughtful, responsible choice for their future dog. In this episode, Em and Josh sit down...

Still feel like you're doing everything right and your dog is still restless, wired, or bouncing off the walls by dinner? The walks are happening. The training sessions are happening. And somehow everyone still ends up tired and frustrated. It's easy to assume your dog needs more exercise or more discipline. But often what they're really missing is something quieter: mental stimulation, choice, an...

Ever look back at how you used to train your dog… and wish you’d done things differently? Maybe you followed advice that didn’t feel right. Maybe you pushed too hard. Maybe you just didn’t know what you know now. And instead of feeling proud of how far you’ve come, you feel guilty. But growth doesn’t mean you failed. It means you were paying attention. In this episode, Em reconnects with Angie fro...

Have you ever seen a dog in a service vest and quietly wondered… is that dog actually trained? Most people don’t mean harm. They just don’t know the difference. But when untrained dogs are passed off as service dogs, the consequences aren’t small. It puts real service dogs at risk. It makes public spaces harder and more stressful for disabled handlers. And it can undo years of careful behavior tra...

Have you ever wondered how anyone keeps the peace with more than one dog—let alone four? Because multi-dog life isn’t just “more dogs.” It’s more energy. More moving parts. More emotions to hold at once. And some days it can feel like you’re one missed nap away from total chaos. In this episode, Em sits down with Laurel and Rob to talk about life raising four rescue dogs off the grid in the desert...

Do you ever feel like people decide who your dog is before they’ve even met them? You can do everything “right.” Training. Enrichment. Structure. Advocacy. And still watch strangers cross the street… or look at your dog like a problem waiting to happen. Loving a bully breed can feel like constantly proving something—like you’re carrying the weight of other people’s fear on top of everyday dog pare...

What happens when a dog changes your life—and then you have to say goodbye? In this deeply personal episode, Josh turns the mic around and interviews Em about the story that started everything. From a life-altering disability to the rescue dog who became her soul dog, this is the journey through grief, healing, and slowly rebuilding a life that looked nothing like the one she planned. You’ll hear...

Does your dog destroy every toy the second you leave the house, and you can't tell if it's boredom, stress, or something else entirely? You're not alone. And it's probably not "bad behavior." In this honest and comforting episode, Em and Josh sit down with Erika to share the real story of Jax and Wyatt, two rescue dogs learning how to cope with being left alone. What started as shredded toys and c...

Have you ever thought about hiring a dog trainer… and felt nervous you’d be judged the second you walked in? Asking for help with your dog’s behavior can feel vulnerable. You’re already tired, already second-guessing yourself, and the last thing you need is someone talking over you or making you feel like you’ve failed. But the right support shouldn’t feel intimidating. It should feel steady, safe...

Does your dog feel on edge all the time—pacing, barking, unable to settle—while you’re left wondering what else you can try? Living with an anxious dog can quietly take over your days. You plan around fireworks, car rides, and even simple errands. You try training, enrichment, routines… and still feel like something’s missing. Not because you’re doing it wrong, but because some dogs need a little...

Have you ever opened your home to a rescue dog while your heart was still healing from the last goodbye? Grief doesn’t pause just because another dog needs you. Sometimes it shows up right alongside the late nights, the behavior struggles, the quiet moments on the couch, and the slow work of building trust again. Fostering can feel hopeful and heartbreaking at the same time, especially when you’re...

Have you ever looked around your house and thought, I love my dogs… but I’m so tired? When you live with multiple dogs, the days can start to feel like a constant loop of walks, enrichment, behavior needs, and making sure everyone gets enough of you. It’s beautiful and chaotic and deeply fulfilling—and sometimes completely overwhelming. The emotional load of trying to meet every need can quietly w...

Have you ever planned your entire day around whether your dog can handle being alone? Maybe you rush errands. Cancel plans. Sit in the car longer than you meant to because the guilt hits the second you close the door. Living with a dog with separation anxiety can quietly shrink your world until everything revolves around managing their stress—and your own. It’s exhausting, lonely, and rarely talke...

⚠️ Trigger Warning: This episode contains graphic details and emotional discussion surrounding severe aggression, idiopathic rage syndrome, and humane euthanasia. It is not intended for children and may not be suitable for all environments. Please use headphones and care while listening. Have you ever looked at your dog and wondered how you could love them this much… while also being afraid of wha...

Ever look around your home and realize life with your dog has slowly started revolving around management instead of actually feeling good to live in? A lot of dog parents quietly reshape their entire lives around their dogs without even realizing it. Hobbies disappear, routines become rigid, homes feel harder to relax in, and everyday life starts revolving around preventing problems instead of cre...

Have you ever felt like everyone else has dog life figured out… while you’re still learning as you go? Social media often makes life with dogs look polished, perfectly trained, and effortless. But real life with dogs is usually much messier — filled with chewed furniture, awkward learning curves, imperfect routines, funny quirks, and slowly growing connection over time. In this episode, Em and Jos...

Ever feel like dog training has slowly turned into a checklist… and somewhere along the way, the connection and joy started disappearing? A lot of dog parents assume that if their dog is still restless, distracted, reactive, or difficult to settle, the answer must be more walks, more structure, or more training. But for many dogs, constant activity without fulfillment can actually leave them feeli...