Why Dog Training Burnout Hits So Hard—And What It Really Looks Like Behind the Scenes

Feel like you're doing everything right but still burning out behind the scenes?

In this raw, solo episode, Em shares the emotional truth most dog trainers and pet parents never talk about: the exhaustion, the overwhelm, and the pressure to keep showing up when everything feels too heavy. From the dream of RV life to the real struggles behind the mic, this isn’t a highlight reel—it’s a lifeline for anyone feeling emotionally stretched.

You'll Learn:

• Hear what burnout really looked like behind the growth of Straight Up Dog Talk

• Learn why the RV story became a metaphor for belief, loss, and starting over

• • Get validation if you're in the “messy middle” of dog training, parenting, or building something that matters
    

  Press play for a grounded, honest conversation that reminds you—you’re not behind, you’re just human. And your dog (and your vision) are still worth it.

  
  

Straight Up Dog Talk Extras:

Get a free copy of The Messy Middle: Getting Unstuck with your Big Feeling Dog

https://tinyurl.com/messymiddletdwafm

Book a FREE 15-minute call with Em

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Email [e-mail] to get in touch with Em

Join the Community

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This podcast explores real-life dog behavior and training through the lens of a canine nutritionist, dog coach, and retired vet tech—diving into reactivity, dog obedience, dog health, dog food, dog habits, dog lifestyle, canine enrichment, pet enrichment, dog myths, and what it actually takes to support reactive dogs safely and calmly. Whether you’re a dog mom navigating reactivity, building the human–dog bond, choosing dog products, or just trying to create a calmer dog life with your canine, you’ll find grounded strategies to build trust, improve dog behavior, and help your dog feel safe, understood, and supported.

Episode Transcript

(00:00):
What if the wildest thing you'veever dreamed of doing with your
reactive dog wasn't a fantasy, but the start of your healing?
Welcome to Straight Up Dog Talk,the podcast helping burned out
pet parents who feel stuck with their pup.
Finally, let go of the guilt, learn to communicate, and build
the bond you've always dreamed of through a partnership based

(00:21):
approach that combines training,nutrition, and enrichment
instead of chasing the quick fixes that don't actually work.
I'm Em. And in this episode you'll learn
how to stop waiting until thingsare perfect to start living the
life you and your dog deserve, why trying to earn your joy is
keeping you stuck, and what to do instead.

(00:43):
And how I finally gave myself permission to start living an RV
dream even though my dog is reactive, I'm disabled and
nothing is ready. Because sometimes the only way
forward is to start while everything's still feels messy.
I want to talk about something that's been on my heart lately.

(01:03):
Because I think so many of us, especially those of us with big
feeling dogs, spend our lives waiting for the right time to
wear the dress or break out those new shoes, or maybe even
eat that amazing snack in the cupboard.
Waiting until the training is farther along or until the

(01:25):
reactivity is more manageable. Until we we have more money,
more time, more confidence, moreenergy.
We tell ourselves we'll start dreaming again once things calm
down. But for so many of us, that time
never comes. I used to believe I had to earn

(01:46):
everything. My joy, my peace, my rest, my
dreams. I thought if I just worked hard
enough, if I just did everythingright, I could finally live the
life that I want. The one where I wasn't
constantly managing behavior, emotions, illness, finances, you
name it. The one where I could actually

(02:08):
breathe. But here's what I've learned the
hard way. Life doesn't show up when things
are finally perfect. It starts when you decide to
make space for joy anyway. Even in the mess.
Even when it feels selfish. Even when nothing is ready.
I've lived my whole life lettingfear set the schedule, and I

(02:30):
know that I'm not alone in that.I talk to dog parents every
single day who say things like once I fix this behavior, I can
finally go on vacation. Once my dog stops reacting, I'll
try that group class. Once I'm not so tired, I'll
launch that business. Try that thing, open that door.
But what if the version of you who's still in the mess is the

(02:53):
version that needs the dream themost?
For me, the dream has been the podcast.
Straight up dog talk is the one thing I never thought that I
could do, and it's also the thing I am most proud of.
And my dream has always been to take it on the road, to travel
with Toby and Fitz, to sit in the RV with a mic in my lap and

(03:15):
record the stories that make people feel seem.
For a long time, I thought I hadto wait.
Wait until Fitz was better, until my body was stronger,
until I had a bigger following, a better car, a budget that made
sense. But I started thinking, what if
I just started? Now listen, this doesn't mean I

(03:37):
suddenly packed the car and hit the road.
You know that we haven't made that leap quite yet.
It still barks at skateboards and struggles in new
environments. I still preload my car with
Choose cooling mats, fans, and aplan, but I stopped waiting for
him to be normal, to start designing a life where he could

(03:59):
thrive to. Even now, when we're practicing
for long drives or stops along the RV route, I don't ask where
will we be able to stay? Will the campground be too
crowded? Will we be able to find
something on hip camp? Will our friends allow us to
stay on their property and will they respect my boundaries and
keep their dogs away from Instead?

(04:21):
I asked where will Fitz feel safe?
That's the lens I use for everything now.
Feeding, enrichment training. It's not about having a perfect
dog. It's about having a relationship
that lets you dream together. Because the truth is, he's not
holding me back. He's teaching me how to move

(04:42):
forward differently. Here's your Real Talk challenge
for this week. What are you waiting until it's
perfect to say yes to? Where are you saying once I fix
this then all deserve joy? What's one small step you can
take today to stop postponing your life?
It doesn't have to be big, it just has to be real.

(05:05):
So remember, be kind, spread joy, and don't wait until it's
perfect to start. If you've been feeling like no
one really understands what you're going through with your
dog, it can feel really isolating and heavy, carrying
all that weight by yourself day after day.
That's why I created a free community, a safe space where

(05:27):
you can share the hard stuff, get support, and be surrounded
by people who truly get it. You'll find the link in the show
notes below. Thank you for listening to
Straight Up Dog Talk. Remember, new episodes drop
every Monday and Wednesday. I'll see you next time.