The Dog Who Asked for More: Life With Dogs and Behavior Support

Bringing a puppy home is supposed to feel exciting.

But a lot of the time… it just feels exhausting.

Messy.
Overwhelming.
Like you’re already falling behind.

If you’ve ever looked at your new puppy and thought, “Why is this so much harder than I expected?” — you’re not alone.

In this episode, Em talks about what’s really happening underneath those first few weeks: the pressure to do everything “right,” the constant noise of advic...

You followed the advice.

Chicken.
Rice.
Keep it bland.
Keep it simple.

It’s what everyone says to do when your dog’s stomach is upset.

So why does something still feel… off?

For many dog parents, that “safe” diet doesn’t bring the relief they expected. Digestion stays sensitive. Energy feels low. Recovery takes longer than it should. And it’s easy to start second-guessing yourself.

In this episode of The Dog Who Asked for More,...

You’re walking them.
Training.
Doing enrichment.
Trying everything you’ve been told to try.

And somehow… things still feel hard.

Focus feels fragile.
Recovery takes forever.
Small stressors turn into big reactions.

It can start to feel like you’re missing something — or doing something wrong.

In this episode of The Dog Who Asked for More, Em explores a quiet shift that changed everything for her: realizing some behavior ...

Have you ever hesitated before pulling out the crate or the muzzle — even when you knew it was the safest choice?

That little voice that says:
“I should be able to fix this.”
“People are going to judge me.”
“Maybe I’m failing my dog.”

Safety tools can carry a surprising amount of shame.

Even when they’re exactly what our dogs need.

In this episode of The Dog Who Asked for More, Em talks about the emotional weight so many dog p...

Living with two dogs who don’t get along can quietly make you dread your own home.

The tension.The corrections.The constant feeling like you’re doing something wrong.

If your dogs avoid each other, clash, or just never became “best friends,” you’re not failing — and neither are they.

In this episode, I share what it really looked like with Fitz and Toby, the guilt I carried for years, and the reframe that changed everythin...

Rushing meals.
Gulping.
Guarding the bowl.
Walking away halfway through.

Sometimes mealtime feels tense or chaotic — even when you’re doing everything you’ve been told is “right.”

And it’s easy to assume it’s a training issue.

Or a behavior problem.

Or something you need to fix.

But for some dogs, the meal itself just doesn’t feel good.

In this conversation, Em sits down with Carol Smeja to talk about what dogs actually experien...

Winter can feel heavy.

Walks get shorter.
Sidewalks get icy.
Cabin fever creeps in.

And suddenly your dog is pacing, barking, whining, or bouncing off the walls — and you’re left wondering if you’re doing something wrong.

A lot of dog parents quietly feel this time of year.

Like progress disappears.
Like they’re failing.
Like everything feels harder inside their own home.

But winter isn’t a setback.

It’s just a season that as...

Does your dog freeze, cling to your leg, or turn their head away — and you’re not sure what to make of it?

Those moments are easy to miss. They’re quiet. Subtle. Often brushed off. But for many dogs, they’re the first signs that something feels like too much.

In this episode of The Dog Who Asked for More, we talk about the small behaviors that often show up before a bigger reaction — and what starts to change when you notice ...

Vaccines are supposed to feel simple.

Follow the schedule.
Do what you’re told.
Don’t overthink it.

So why does it feel so confusing sometimes?

A lot of dog parents quietly wonder whether their dog really needs every routine booster — but feel nervous even asking the question.

Because no one wants to do too little.

Or too much.

Or get it wrong.

In this episode, Em sits down with Noga Schiller from BioGal Labs to talk about how prote...

What if your dog isn’t wired because they have too much energy…

but because they never get a real chance to settle?

A lot of us are told the same thing.

Walk them more.
Play harder.
Tire them out.

So we keep adding.

More walks.
More stimulation.
More activity.

And somehow everything just feels louder.

More barking.
More pacing.
More chaos.

For a long time, Em thought this meant she wasn’t doing enough.

Until she realized t...

What if your dog’s anxiety, hyperactivity, or big reactions aren’t about training — but about how their body feels?

Many dog parents spend months (or years) working on behavior, only to feel stuck and confused when nothing really changes. The barking continues. The restlessness doesn’t settle. And the pressure to “do more training” just adds to the burnout.

In this episode of The Dog Who Asked for More, Em shares how paying attention...

Are you constantly managing your dog’s big moments?

The barking.
The spinning.
The pulling.
The sudden shutdowns.

And no matter how much effort you put in, it feels like you’re always bracing for the next one.

It can feel chaotic.
Embarrassing.
Exhausting.

And it’s easy to start wondering what you’re doing wrong.

But what if those “outbursts” aren’t disobedience at all?

What if they’re your dog’s nervous system saying: thi...

How do you help a dog who still struggles… even after you’ve done everything you were told to do?

More training.
More structure.
More effort.

And somehow it still feels hard.

This episode is a personal look at what it really took for Em to support Fitz — not by pushing harder, but by slowing down and listening to what his behavior was trying to say.

Because it wasn’t about obedience.

Or control.

Or getting it “right.”

It was about n...

Does your dog start to unravel on walks… sometimes before you even reach the door?

The pacing.
The scanning.
The pulling.
Like everything already feels like too much.

Winter can quietly make this worse.

Cold air.
Bundled strangers.
Early darkness.
Broken routines.

And suddenly, something that used to feel normal feels heavy or impossible.

A lot of dog parents blame themselves here.

Like skipping a walk means they’re fai...

Does your day quietly revolve around your dog — planning routes, scanning the environment, bracing for triggers, and second-guessing every decision?

Living with a sensitive or reactive dog isn’t just about barking or pulling on the leash. It’s the mental load. The constant awareness. The way your world slowly shrinks while you try to keep everyone safe. And the quiet feeling that no one else really understands how heavy that can be.

...

Your dog is eating. The label says “complete and balanced.” The vet didn’t raise concerns.

So why does something still feel… off?

Maybe their digestion isn’t quite right.
Their skin keeps flaring.
Their energy feels inconsistent.
Or you just have that quiet gut feeling that something isn’t working the way it should.

In this episode of The Dog Who Asked for More, Em shares an honest, grounded conversation about the confusion s...

Does it ever feel like your dog is fine one second — and completely melting down the next?

If your dog’s reactivity, shutdown, or overstimulation seems unpredictable or sudden, this episode will change how you see everything. The truth is: your dog isn’t random. They’re patterned. And when you learn how to read those subtle cues, you can step in before the behavior escalates — and help your dog feel safe, seen, and supported.

Dog hair in the laundry.
On the couch.
In your car.
On clothes you just washed.

Sometimes it feels like no matter how much you brush, sweep, or vacuum… it’s still everywhere.

Life with dogs is beautiful — and also a little messy.

In this episode of The Dog Who Asked for More, Em sits down with Scott Grillo to talk about one of those everyday struggles most pet parents quietly live with: the constant battle with shedding. Not ...

You’re walking more.
Training more.
Trying harder.

And somehow… your dog still feels wired, restless, and harder to live with.

It can feel confusing — and a little defeating — when you’re doing everything you’ve been told to do, but nothing actually feels calmer.

In this episode of The Dog Who Asked for More, Em shares what shifted when she stopped treating Fitz like a “high-energy dog” who needed more activity — and started not...