Why Reactivity Isn’t a Training Failure—It’s a Call for Enrichment, Rest, and Trust

What if your dog’s reactivity, barking, or resistance isn’t a problem to fix—but a plea to be heard?
In this raw and vulnerable solo episode, Em shares why the podcast is changing names—and why that shift reflects a much deeper evolution in how we understand and support our dogs. Through her own journey with Fitz, Em invites you to reconsider what your dog’s behavior is truly trying to communicate.

You'll Learn:

• Hear how training burnout became an invitation to build trust and rest

• Learn how enrichment—not obedience—transformed Em’s relationship with her reactive dog

• Discover the deeper meaning behind the new podcast name, and how it reflects your story too

Press play to step into a more compassionate, curiosity-driven way of living and learning with your dog—starting with this moment of reflection and realignment.

The Dog Who Asked for More Extras:

Get a free copy of The Messy Middle: Getting Unstuck with your Big Feeling Doghttps://tinyurl.com/messymiddletdwafm

Book FREE 15-minute call with Em

https://tinyurl.com/tdwafmbooknow

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

Join the Community

https://join.slack.com/t/thedogwhoaskedformore/shared_invite/zt-305kdyab7-y6eTWjbAeSwHItNmloLQUA

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):
Do you ever have that gut feeling that something still
isn't quite right, even when everything looks like it should?
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
approach that combines training,nutrition, and enrichment

(00:22):
instead of chasing the quick fixes that don't actually work.
Hi I'm Em and in this episode you'll learn why I decided to
change the name of the podcast even though I love straight up
dog talk. What the dog who asked for more
really means and how it ties into your story too.
And what's coming next and why this next chapter matters even

(00:43):
more than ever. Starting today, every episode,
whether it's just me or I'm joined by a guest, will include
a new segment called Answering the Ass.
It will be a story, a reflection, or a real life
experience where a dog's behavior wasn't just behavior.
It was an ask, a message, a needwe hadn't fully heard yet.

(01:03):
Because dogs are always communicating.
The question is, are we actuallylistening?
This segment is a reminder to slow down, to notice what our
dogs might be asking for throughtheir behavior, their body
language, and their general needs.
Sometimes quietly, sometimes loudly, but always, always

(01:24):
asking. Because when we learn to listen
differently, we show up differently.
And that changes everything. So today, I want to share a
moment that inspired the new name and the new direction.
This week's story is about Fitz,and honestly, it's about me too.
Learning how to care for Fitz wasn't a single moment.

(01:45):
It wasn't one breakthrough. It was a long, messy, humbling
journey. Years of trial and error, of
training and unlearning, of chasing the life I thought we
were supposed to have and slowlyrealizing that it wasn't built
for him. At first I thought we just
needed to try harder. Longer walks, more fetch, more

(02:06):
exposure, more discipline. But he was still barking.
He was still reactive. He was still spinning out and
shutting down. And eventually I realized he
wasn't failing me. He was asking for more.
More clarity, more trust, more options, more rest.
That realization changed everything.

(02:28):
We started saying no to things that didn't serve him.
Dog parks, unpredictable walks, forced socialization with
strangers in chaotic spaces, andI stopped pushing him into
environments that overwhelmed him and started building
routines that made him feel safe.
The game changer? Learning that training alone
wasn't enough. We needed enrichment, nutrition,

(02:52):
and play combined with training not just as extra credit, but as
essentials. We replaced hours of fetch with
mental outlets, scent work, problem solving, and rest.
I taught him how to regulate instead of overstimulate.
We built a life that supported his version of thriving, not the

(03:13):
one I had imagined or seen posted all over social media.
And you know what? It worked.
He changed and I changed becausefinally I understood what the
ask was. That's what this show has always
been about and why the name feels like home.
So let's talk about it. Why the name change?

(03:33):
If you've been here since the beginning, you know that this
show started from my own desperation to find answers no
one else seemed to have. Straight up dog talk was my way
of cutting through the noise andcreating a safe space where
nothing was off limits. But after 100 plus episodes,
something kept pulling at me. I want this show to reflect the

(03:56):
real heart of our dog journey. The dog or dogs who ask for
more, and the humans who finallylearn how to listen to them.
The phrase became a compass. It started showing up in
captions in the way I coach and talk and reflect.
And I realized it's not just Fitz's story.

(04:18):
It's your story too. It's for every person who's ever
said things like, I feel like I've tried everything and
nothing's working. I'm scared I'm failing my dog.
I love my dog, but I am so tired.
I don't want a quick fix. I want real connection.
This show has always been for those people.

(04:40):
It's for the special few of us who have dogs that need more.
And now the show name reflects that, too.
All right, we're going to wrap up with a little homework for
humans, a simple, doable action that you can take this week to
support the dog in front of you.This week's homework, write down

(05:01):
a moment where your dog asked you for more.
Not more training, not more fixing, but more understanding,
more choice, more of you showingup differently.
Write it down, revisit it, let it guide you.
And if you want to chat about it, you can always, always,
always message me on Instagram at M under score loves dogs.

(05:25):
These are the moments where connection starts.
And I'd love to hear how you find a new moment of connection
with your dog. So here's what I hope you walk
away with today. This isn't just a name change.
It is a mission shift, a deeper reflection of what we're
building here. Judgment free, hold off support

(05:45):
that's built on listening, partnership, and being open to
what our dogs are really tellingus.
We are all learning how to hear them.
This podcast is where you and I can do that work together.
The official rebrand rolls out with episode 117 on November
3rd. We'll be celebrating 12 years

(06:06):
with Toby, my original big Feeling Rescue, and talk about
how rescue doesn't just save dogs, it transforms us too if we
let it. It's going to be a special 1, so
make sure you mark your calendar.
I'd want you to know that there will be a few episodes that were
recorded prior to the roll outs and change, so if some of the
new segments are missing, don't worry, it's just because they

(06:30):
were recorded. Before I finalize details, don't
hesitate to reach out and ask questions.
As a final note, I want you to remember this.
You are not behind. You are not failing, you are not
alone, you are just being asked for more and that is where the
magic happens. So remember, be kind, spread

(06:51):
joy, and don't forget that you don't have to have it all
figured out, you just have to bewilling to listen.
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 allthat weight by yourself day
after day. That's why I created a free

(07:12):
community, a safe space where you can share the hard stuff,
get support, and be surrounded by people who truly get it.
You'll find the link in the shownotes below.
Thank you for listening to Straight Up Dog Talk.
Remember, new episodes drop every Monday and Wednesday.
I'll see you next time.