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Artwork for The Dog Who Asked for More: Dog Training and Dog Behavior for Relief from Guilt, Burnout, and Self-Doubt
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The Dog Who Asked for More: Dog Training and Dog Behavior for Relief from Guilt, Burnout, and Self-Doubt

Emily "Em" Breslin | Dog Training and Relationship Specialist

This isn't your typical dog training podcast.

You've done what everyone told you to do. You hired the dog trainers. You watched the videos. You bought the treats, the harness, the long line, maybe even several online courses. Yet somehow, you're still wondering why this feels so much harder than everyone else makes it seem.

This isn't a podcast about obedience. It's for anyone whose "good dog" turned out to be more complicated than that.

Listen and you'll learn how to:

- Understand your dog's behavior without shame or guesswork
- Build a calmer, more connected relationship through training, nutrition, and enrichment
- Feel less alone in the burnout, grief, and quiet exhaustion of loving a dog who needs more

I'm Em. Former vet tech, dog trainer, and canine nutritionist. Fitz washed out of service dog training and never added up the way training said he should, so I became the person I was looking for. Toby, 15, is teaching me what it means to stay present through the slow goodbye that comes with a senior dog.

Solo episodes, guest conversations, and real stories, three times a week, covering the dog side (behavior, reactivity, nutrition, enrichment, body language) and the human side (grief, burnout, and what it costs and gives you to love a dog like this).

Named Sniffspot's #1 Dog Training Podcast and ranked in the top 3% of podcasts globally.

New here? Start with "What Your Reactive Dog Actually Needs Isn't What You've Been Told."

🎥 Full video episodes available on YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/@thedogwhoaskedformore

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  • 28 episodes
  • a few times a week
  • Avg 11 min
  • English

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  • #214
    July 6 · 6 min

    Your Dog Survived The Fireworks. Now They Need Time To Recover | Dog Training

    The noise has stopped. The holiday is over. But your dog is still jumpy, restless, reacting to things that normally wouldn't bother them, and you're starting to wonder if something is wrong. In this episode, Em explains what's actually happening inside your dog's body after a stressful event and why recovery often takes much longer than most dog parents expect. If you've been worried that your dog should be "over it" by now, this conversation will help you understand what normal recovery really looks like and how to support your dog through it. You'll Hear: Why your dog may still seem stressed days after the fireworks are over. What cortisol does in the body and how it affects recovery after a fear event. Why less activity, less pressure, and more rest may be exactly what your dog needs right now. If your dog isn't acting like themselves after fireworks season, this episode will help you stop second-guessing what happened and start supporting the recovery process with more confidence and less worry. Free Resources & Support 🐾 Help Us Hit the Road We're raising money to take this podcast on the road — an RV, a microphone, and 20 years of experience coming to you. 👉⁠https://tinyurl.com/fuelthepodcast⁠ Shop What Em Uses with Fitz & Toby Enrichment tools, nutrition support, and daily essentials — all in one place. 👉 ⁠thedogwhoaskedformore.myshopdot.com⁠ Free Enrichment Guide Simple, low-pressure enrichment ideas to help your dog feel calmer and more fulfilled. 👉⁠ https://tinyurl.com/livingwiththedoginfrontofyou⁠ Free 15-Minute Clarity Call Feeling stuck? We'll talk through what's going on and find the next step together. 👉⁠ https://tinyurl.com/tdwafmbooknow⁠ 📧 ⁠em@thedogwhoaskedformore.com⁠ This podcast explores life with dogs, dog behavior, dog behavior problems, dog obedience, dog anxiety, reactive dogs, dog reactivity, and dog training. It's for the dog community navigating overwhelm, guilt, burnout, and self-doubt while struggling to keep up with a dog who asks for more. Episodes cover canine nutrition, dog food, dog enrichment, dog body language, dog communication, emotional healing, self-trust, personal growth, and finding real relief in the connection you have with your dog. Whether you're raising a reactive dog, feeling discouraged, or simply trying to better understand your dog and yourself, this podcast helps you create a calmer life together and strengthen the bond that changes both of you. We're now building to take this conversation on the road, bringing honest support directly to dog parents around the world. Some links may be affiliate links. If you choose to purchase, it helps support the podcast and the RV tour.

  • #213
    July 3 · 7 min

    The Real Cost of Making Every Dog Decision Alone | Dog Life

    Being the only one who decides for your dog costs more than you think. You've stayed up at midnight researching food, training, or health decisions, wishing someone would just tell you that you're not getting it wrong. If you're the only one making every call for your dog, this episode is for you. The emotional weight of constant second-guessing, the financial pressure of getting it wrong, the exhaustion dog parents carry silently every day, especially when there's no partner, no backup, and nobody else who fully understands what's at stake. In this episode, you'll learn: Why deciding everything alone slowly erodes your confidence, even when you're making good choices The real emotional and financial cost of carrying every call by yourself How finding even one person who gets it can change how the weight actually feels If you've been carrying the weight of being the only decision-maker for your dog in silence, this episode will help you feel a little less alone in it. 🐾 Help Us Hit the Road We're raising money to take this podcast on the road — an RV, a microphone, and 20 years of experience coming to you. 👉⁠https://tinyurl.com/fuelthepodcast⁠ Shop What Em Uses with Fitz & Toby Enrichment tools, nutrition support, and daily essentials — all in one place. 👉 ⁠thedogwhoaskedformore.myshopdot.com⁠ Dog Body Language Quiz Not sure what your dog's behavior is communicating? Take the free quiz and get a resource matched to your results. 👉⁠ https://tinyurl.com/dogbodylanguagequiz⁠ Free 15-Minute Clarity Call Feeling stuck or unsure what your dog needs? Book a short call, and we'll talk through what's going on. 👉⁠ https://tinyurl.com/tdwafmbooknow⁠ 📧 em@thedogwhoaskedformore.com This podcast explores life with dogs, dog behavior, dog behavior problems, dog obedience, dog anxiety, reactive dogs, dog reactivity, and dog training. It's for the dog community navigating overwhelm, guilt, burnout, and self-doubt while struggling to keep up with a dog who asks for more. Episodes cover canine nutrition, dog food, dog enrichment, dog body language, dog communication, emotional healing, self-trust, personal growth, and finding real relief in the connection you have with your dog. Whether you're raising a reactive dog, feeling discouraged, or simply trying to better understand your dog and yourself, this podcast helps you create a calmer life together and strengthen the bond that changes both of you. We're now building to take this conversation on the road, bringing honest support directly to dog parents around the world. Some links may be affiliate links. If you choose to purchase, it helps support the podcast and the RV tour.

  • #212
    July 1 · 19 min

    You Never Expected Dog Training to Save You From Everything Else Falling Apart

    What happens when the dog beside you stops being part of the job and becomes the one constant in your life? After years of dog training, deployments, Secret Service missions, and life-changing transitions, Paul Bourgeois discovered that his military working dog, Rroddie, was giving him something far beyond protection or performance. Through war, divorce, retirement, and the difficult transition back to civilian life, Rroddie became the one thing that stayed the same when everything else changed. In this episode, you'll learn: Why the deepest relationships with dogs often develop during the hardest seasons of life. How military working dogs support their handlers in ways that go far beyond their official training. What losing a heart dog can teach you about stability, grief, and the bonds that continue long after they're gone. If you've ever felt like your dog carried you through something you couldn't explain to anyone else, this conversation will stay with you long after the episode ends. Connect with Paul ⁠https://www.instagram.com/pbourgeois881/⁠ 🐾 Help Us Hit the Road We're raising money to take this podcast on the road — an RV, a microphone, and 20 years of experience coming to you. 👉⁠https://tinyurl.com/fuelthepodcast⁠ Shop What Em Uses with Fitz & Toby Enrichment tools, nutrition support, and daily essentials — all in one place. 👉 ⁠thedogwhoaskedformore.myshopdot.com⁠ Dog Body Language Quiz Not sure what your dog's behavior is communicating? Take the free quiz and get a resource matched to your results. 👉⁠ https://tinyurl.com/dogbodylanguagequiz⁠ Free 15-Minute Clarity Call Feeling stuck or unsure what your dog needs? Book a short call, and we'll talk through what's going on. 👉⁠ https://tinyurl.com/tdwafmbooknow⁠ 📧 em@thedogwhoaskedformore.com This podcast explores life with dogs, dog behavior, dog behavior problems, dog obedience, dog anxiety, reactive dogs, dog reactivity, and dog training. It's for the dog community navigating overwhelm, guilt, burnout, and self-doubt while struggling to keep up with a dog who asks for more. Episodes cover canine nutrition, dog food, dog enrichment, dog body language, dog communication, emotional healing, self-trust, personal growth, and finding real relief in the connection you have with your dog. Whether you're raising a reactive dog, feeling discouraged, or simply trying to better understand your dog and yourself, this podcast helps you create a calmer life together and strengthen the bond that changes both of you. We're now building to take this conversation on the road, bringing honest support directly to dog parents around the world. Some links may be affiliate links. If you choose to purchase, it helps support the podcast and the RV tour.

  • #211
    June 29 · 6 min

    All That Training and Your Dog Still Panics When the Fireworks Start

    You've played the soundtracks. Practiced the exercises. Done everything the training advice told you to do. And the fireworks start anyway, and your dog falls apart anyway, and you're standing there wondering what you missed. In this episode, Em shares why so many well-meaning dog parents end up here every year, and why fireworks may not be the training problem everyone assumes it is. Drawing from her experience as a dog trainer, pet sitter, and dog mom, she gets into what actually happens when fear takes over, why training isn't always available in that moment, and what your dog might need instead. You'll hear: Why your dog can still panic during fireworks even after weeks of training The difference between a training problem and a nervous system event What actually helps a dog feel safer once the fear response has already started If you've ever watched your dog struggle during fireworks and wondered if you're doing enough, this one's for you. 🐾 Help Us Hit the Road We're raising money to take this podcast on the road — an RV, a microphone, and 20 years of experience coming to you. 👉⁠https://tinyurl.com/fuelthepodcast⁠ Shop What Em Uses with Fitz & Toby Enrichment tools, nutrition support, and daily essentials — all in one place. 👉 ⁠thedogwhoaskedformore.myshopdot.com⁠ Free Enrichment Guide Simple, low-pressure enrichment ideas to help your dog feel calmer and more fulfilled. 👉⁠ https://tinyurl.com/livingwiththedoginfrontofyou⁠ Free 15-Minute Clarity Call Feeling stuck? We'll talk through what's going on and find the next step together. 👉⁠ https://tinyurl.com/tdwafmbooknow⁠ 📧 ⁠em@thedogwhoaskedformore.com⁠ This podcast explores life with dogs, dog behavior, dog behavior problems, dog obedience, dog anxiety, reactive dogs, dog reactivity, and dog training. It's for the dog community navigating overwhelm, guilt, burnout, and self-doubt while struggling to keep up with a dog who asks for more. Episodes cover canine nutrition, dog food, dog enrichment, dog body language, dog communication, emotional healing, self-trust, personal growth, and finding real relief in the connection you have with your dog. Whether you're raising a reactive dog, feeling discouraged, or simply trying to better understand your dog and yourself, this podcast helps you create a calmer life together and strengthen the bond that changes both of you. We're now building to take this conversation on the road, bringing honest support directly to dog parents around the world. Some links may be affiliate links. If you choose to purchase, it helps support the podcast and the RV tour.

  • #210
    June 26 · 6 min

    Your World Got Smaller With a Reactive Dog and It's Not What You Think | Dog Life

    Your reactive dog, and it's not what you think. There are places you and your dog just stopped going. Not because you decided to. Little by little, your world got smaller, and you almost didn't notice until you did. In this episode, Em talks about the quiet kind of avoidance that happens when you're living with a reactive dog: the skipped walks, the places that stopped feeling easy, the moment you realize your whole life has adapted around keeping everyone regulated. Some of that adapting was necessary. Some of it came from fear. Telling the two apart is harder than most people admit. You'll hear: How to tell the difference between protecting your reactive dog and shrinking your own life out of anxiety Why avoidance can feel like relief in the moment while quietly becoming your normal What it actually looks like to start finding your way back to the places you miss If your life with your reactive dog feels smaller than it used to, this episode will help you understand why. 🐾 Help Us Hit the Road We're raising money to take this podcast on the road — an RV, a microphone, and 20 years of experience coming to you. 👉⁠https://tinyurl.com/fuelthepodcast⁠ Shop What Em Uses with Fitz & Toby Enrichment tools, nutrition support, and daily essentials — all in one place. 👉 ⁠thedogwhoaskedformore.myshopdot.com⁠ Dog Body Language Quiz Not sure what your dog's behavior is communicating? Take the free quiz and get a resource matched to your results. 👉⁠ https://tinyurl.com/dogbodylanguagequiz⁠ Free 15-Minute Clarity Call Feeling stuck or unsure what your dog needs? Book a short call, and we'll talk through what's going on. 👉⁠ https://tinyurl.com/tdwafmbooknow⁠ 📧 em@thedogwhoaskedformore.com This podcast explores life with dogs, dog behavior, dog behavior problems, dog obedience, dog anxiety, reactive dogs, dog reactivity, and dog training. It's for the dog community navigating overwhelm, guilt, burnout, and self-doubt while struggling to keep up with a dog who asks for more. Episodes cover canine nutrition, dog food, dog enrichment, dog body language, dog communication, emotional healing, self-trust, personal growth, and finding real relief in the connection you have with your dog. Whether you're raising a reactive dog, feeling discouraged, or simply trying to better understand your dog and yourself, this podcast helps you create a calmer life together and strengthen the bond that changes both of you. We're now building to take this conversation on the road, bringing honest support directly to dog parents around the world. Some links may be affiliate links. If you choose to purchase, it helps support the podcast and the RV tour.

  • #209
    June 24 · 34 min

    The Car Was Unrecognizable. The Dog Inside Was Fine | Dog Gear

    Getting there and getting there safely aren't the same thing. Most dog parents never think about car safety until they're faced with a close call, an accident, or the realization that their dog could be seriously hurt in a crash. We think about training, nutrition, enrichment, behavior. How our dogs actually travel rarely makes the list. In this episode, Em sits down with Reed from Ruffland Kennels to talk about what real dog car safety looks like, why a crate is about protection, not punishment, and how the right setup can completely change how a dog experiences travel. Real crash stories, practical setup tips, and what it actually takes to be prepared before something goes wrong. In this episode, you'll learn: Why car safety protects both dogs and the humans traveling with them How the right crate becomes a space dogs trust instead of one they dread What most dog parents get wrong about kennels and safe travel Press play to find out what one change to how your dog travels could mean for every trip after this one. Because the Dogs We Love Deserve to Ride Safely Whether you're heading across town or across the country, a safe travel setup can make all the difference. Learn more about RuffLand Kennels and find the right fit for your dog. 👉 https://www.rufflandkennels.com/ 🐾 Help Us Hit the Road We're raising money to take this podcast on the road — an RV, a microphone, and 20 years of experience coming to you. 👉https://tinyurl.com/fuelthepodcast This podcast explores life with dogs, dog behavior, dog behavior problems, dog obedience, dog anxiety, reactive dogs, dog reactivity, and dog training. It's for the dog community navigating overwhelm, guilt, burnout, and self-doubt while struggling to keep up with a dog who asks for more. Episodes cover canine nutrition, dog food, dog enrichment, dog body language, dog communication, emotional healing, self-trust, personal growth, and finding real relief in the connection you have with your dog. Whether you're raising a reactive dog, feeling discouraged, or simply trying to better understand your dog and yourself, this podcast helps you create a calmer life together and strengthen the bond that changes both of you. We're now building to take this conversation on the road, bringing honest support directly to dog parents around the world. Some links may be affiliate links. If you choose to purchase, it helps support the podcast and the RV tour.

  • #208
    June 22 · 7 min

    Why Your Dog Acts Needier and More Demanding When You’re Already Exhausted | Dog Behavior

    Do you ever feel completely exhausted by your dog… and then immediately guilty for feeling that way at all? Some days it feels like your dog needs something from you every second:attention, movement, regulation, reassurance, management, patience, decision-making, and emotional energy. And when you’re already overwhelmed yourself, even small things can start to feel impossibly heavy. In this episode of The Dog Who Asked for More, we’re talking about the side of dog ownership almost nobody admits out loud, the days when your dog needs more than you feel capable of giving. This conversation explores emotional burnout, nervous system overwhelm, guilt, behavior struggles, and why dogs often seem more demanding during the exact moments their humans feel most depleted. In This Episode, You’ll Learn: Why hard days with your dog can feel emotionally heavier than people realize — especially when your own nervous system is already overwhelmed. The difference between temporary overwhelm and situations that may actually need support or change without spiraling into guilt or shame. Simple ways to make difficult days feel more manageable for both you and your dog without believing you have to “do more” all the time. Because loving your dog and feeling exhausted by them can both be true at the same time. And that doesn’t make you a bad dog parent. Hit play for an honest conversation about dog ownership, emotional burnout, overwhelm, and the guilt so many dog parents carry silently and alone. 🐾 Help Us Hit the Road We're raising money to take this podcast on the road — an RV, a microphone, and 20 years of experience coming to you. 👉⁠https://tinyurl.com/fuelthepodcast⁠ Shop What Em Uses with Fitz & Toby Enrichment tools, nutrition support, and daily essentials — all in one place. 👉 ⁠thedogwhoaskedformore.myshopdot.com⁠ Free Enrichment Guide Simple, low-pressure enrichment ideas to help your dog feel calmer and more fulfilled. 👉⁠ https://tinyurl.com/livingwiththedoginfrontofyou⁠ Free 15-Minute Clarity Call Feeling stuck? We'll talk through what's going on and find the next step together. 👉⁠ https://tinyurl.com/tdwafmbooknow⁠ 📧 ⁠em@thedogwhoaskedformore.com⁠ This podcast explores life with dogs, dog behavior, dog behavior problems, dog obedience, dog anxiety, reactive dogs, dog reactivity, and dog training. It's for the dog community navigating overwhelm, guilt, burnout, and self-doubt while struggling to keep up with a dog who asks for more. Episodes cover canine nutrition, dog food, dog enrichment, dog body language, dog communication, emotional healing, self-trust, personal growth, and finding real relief in the connection you have with your dog. Whether you're raising a reactive dog, feeling discouraged, or simply trying to better understand your dog and yourself, this podcast helps you create a calmer life together and strengthen the bond that changes both of you. We're now building to take this conversation on the road, bringing honest support directly to dog parents around the world. Some links may be affiliate links. If you choose to purchase, it helps support the podcast and the RV tour.

  • #207
    June 19 · 8 min

    The Dog Behavior Decision That Haunted Me For 15 Years | Dog Training

    What do you do when you’ve tried everything for your dog… and nothing is working? In this deeply personal episode of The Dog Who Asked for More, Em shares the full story of Izzie — the dog she loved deeply, the years of management and escalating behavior, and the impossible decision she eventually had to make after everything finally fell apart. This conversation explores the emotional reality of living with severe dog behavior struggles, the guilt and confusion that come with feeling trapped inside a situation that isn’t getting better, and the quiet questions so many dog owners are terrified to say out loud. In this Episode, You’ll Learn: Because sometimes the hardest part isn’t loving your dog. It’s realizing love may not be enough to make the situation safe, sustainable, or humane for either of you anymore. Why some dog behavior struggles improve with support while others may never become safely manageable — and how to think more clearly about the difference. The hidden emotional weight behind rehoming, behavioral euthanasia, and impossible dog behavior decisions — especially when guilt starts drowning out reality. How to recognize when you’re surviving instead of living — and why chronic fear, exhaustion, and hypervigilance matter too. This episode is for the dog owner lying awake, wondering: “Am I failing my dog?” “What if I can’t keep doing this?” “How do I know when enough is enough?” Because some dog behavior decisions don’t leave clean answers behind. Only grief, love, and the hope that you did the best you could with what you knew at the time. Hit play for an honest conversation about severe dog behavior struggles, guilt, grief, behavioral euthanasia, and the impossible decisions many dog owners carry silently and alone. 🐾 Help Us Hit the Road We're raising money to take this podcast on the road — an RV, a microphone, and 20 years of experience coming to you. 👉⁠https://tinyurl.com/fuelthepodcast⁠ Shop What Em Uses with Fitz & Toby Enrichment tools, nutrition support, and daily essentials — all in one place. 👉 ⁠thedogwhoaskedformore.myshopdot.com⁠ Dog Body Language Quiz Not sure what your dog's behavior is communicating? Take the free quiz and get a resource matched to your results. 👉⁠ https://tinyurl.com/dogbodylanguagequiz⁠ Free 15-Minute Clarity Call Feeling stuck or unsure what your dog needs? Book a short call, and we'll talk through what's going on. 👉⁠ https://tinyurl.com/tdwafmbooknow⁠ 📧 em@thedogwhoaskedformore.com This podcast explores life with dogs, dog behavior, dog behavior problems, dog obedience, dog anxiety, reactive dogs, dog reactivity, and dog training. It's for the dog community navigating overwhelm, guilt, burnout, and self-doubt while struggling to keep up with a dog who asks for more. Episodes cover canine nutrition, dog food, dog enrichment, dog body language, dog communication, emotional healing, self-trust, personal growth, and finding real relief in the connection you have with your dog. Whether you're raising a reactive dog, feeling discouraged, or simply trying to better understand your dog and yourself, this podcast helps you create a calmer life together and strengthen the bond that changes both of you. We're now building to take this conversation on the road, bringing honest support directly to dog parents around the world. Some links may be affiliate links. If you choose to purchase, it helps support the podcast and the RV tour.

Showing 21–28 of 28 episodes