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

Emily "Em" Breslin
  • 4.9 (42)
  • Pets & Animals
  • Updated Semiweekly

Some dogs change your life while they're here. Others keep changing it long after they're gone. If your dog changed more than your daily routine, this is for you. The Dog Who Asked for More® is for anyone whose dog changed their life in ways they're still figuring out. The one doing midnight research on dog food and behavior and dog anxiety and still not sure they're getting it right. The one living with a reactive dog or anxious dog and quietly carrying the mental math that comes with it. The parking lot calculations, the exits, the anticipation before the walk even starts. The one whose dog became part of every decision, every routine, every version of what comes next. The one whose dog is the most consistent relationship in a life that kept changing. The one in the slow goodbye with a senior dog, watching every good day and doing the math. The one who can't fully explain to people outside this world what their dog actually means to them. I'm Em, a dog mom, former vet tech, dog trainer, and canine nutritionist. I share my story with Fitz, a reactive rescue dog and former service dog training washout who became the reason I built all of this, and Toby, a 15-year-old senior dog who shows up in almost every conversation about love and loyalty and what it means to love something you know you're going to lose. This isn't a podcast about fixing you or fixing your dog. It covers the full reality of life with dogs. Dog behavior, dog body language, dog reactivity, dog anxiety, enrichment, dog nutrition, grief, healing with dogs, and the mental health reality of loving an animal who asks more of you than you expected. Not because you need to be fixed. Because you deserve to feel less alone in it. If you're carrying compassion fatigue, burnout, guilt, or just the specific exhaustion of loving a dog who needs more than most, you found the right place. Solo episodes, guest conversations, and real stories. Three new episodes every week. Named Sniffspot's #1 Dog Training Podcast 2026. Ranked in the top 3% globally. Start anywhere. Keep listening. Your dog people are in here 🎥 Full video episodes available on YouTube at: youtube.com/@thedogwhoaskedformore

  1. 1d ago

    The Dog Car Safety Conversation Nobody Has Until Something Goes Wrong Dog Training

    If you wouldn't drive without wearing your seatbelt, why does your dog ride in the car without the same level of protection? Most dog parents never think about car safety until they're faced with a close call, an accident, or the terrifying realization that their dog could be seriously injured in a crash. We spend so much time focusing on dog training, nutrition, enrichment, and behavior that we often overlook one of the most important parts of keeping our dogs safe: how they travel. In this episode of The Dog Who Asked For More, Em sits down with Reed from RuffLand Kennels to discuss what true dog car safety looks like, why crates are about protection—not punishment—and how creating a safe space for your dog can completely change the way they experience travel. From real-life crash stories to practical tips for traveling with dogs, this conversation explores safety, trust, comfort, and the peace of mind that comes from being prepared before something goes wrong. After listening, you'll learn: Why dog car safety is about protecting both dogs and humans during unexpected accidents and emergencies.How a crate can become a safe space that supports trust, emotional security, and calmer travel experiences.What many dog parents misunderstand about kennels, crate training, and traveling safely with their dogs. Press play to learn how one simple change can help keep your dog safer, more comfortable, and better protected on every adventure you take together. 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 — including dog behavior, dog anxiety, reactive dogs, dog reactivity, dog training, and the relationship with your dog. It's for dog parents navigating overwhelm, chronic stress, burnout recovery, and the challenges of life with a dog who asks for more. Episodes cover dog nutrition, canine nutrition, pet nutrition, dog food, dog enrichment, dog body language, dog communication, emotional healing, healing with dogs, self trust, personal growth, and building a deeper connection 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 taking this conversation on the road, bringing honest support directly to dog parents across the country.

    35 min

  2. 3d ago

    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 real life with dogs — including dog behavior, dog anxiety, reactive dogs, dog reactivity, and dog training problems. It's for dog parents who feel overwhelmed navigating life with dogs and want a clearer understanding of their dog and a calmer daily life together. Episodes also cover dog nutrition, canine nutrition, pet nutrition, dog food, dog enrichment, dog body language, and dog communication — connecting behavior, health, and daily routines to help you better understand your dog and reduce stress. We're now taking this conversation on the road, bringing honest support directly to dog parents across the country. Some links may be affiliate links. If you choose to purchase, it helps support the podcast and the RV tour.

    8 min

  3. 6d ago

    The Dog Behavior Decision That Haunted Me For 15 Years

    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 real life with dogs — including dog behavior, dog anxiety, reactive dogs, dog reactivity, and dog training problems. It's for dog parents who feel overwhelmed navigating life with dogs and want a clearer understanding of their dog and a calmer daily life together. Episodes also cover dog nutrition, canine nutrition, pet nutrition, dog food, dog enrichment, dog body language, and dog communication — connecting behavior, health, and daily routines to help you better understand your dog and reduce stress. We're now taking this conversation on the road, bringing honest support directly to dog parents across the country. Some links may be affiliate links. If you choose to purchase, it helps support the podcast and the RV tour.

    8 min

  4. Jun 17

    How to Shop in 10 Minutes or Less When Instagram Makes Shopping for Your Dog Feel Exhausting

    Have You Ever Felt Like Helping Your Dog Has Turned Into A Research Project? You've saved the post. Bought the supplement. Tried the chew. Added another recommendation to the list. And somehow, instead of feeling more confident, you feel even less sure about what your dog actually needs. In this episode, Em sits down with Michelle Huey, founder of Shop.pet, to talk about why so many pet parents get stuck in a cycle of researching, comparing, second-guessing, and trying to make the "perfect" decision for their dog. Together, they explore what happens when caring deeply starts to feel exhausting and why more information isn't always the thing that's missing. You'll Hear: Why supporting your dog can start to feel like a second job, even when you're doing everything "right."How decision fatigue quietly affects your confidence as a pet parent.What changes when you stop trying to find the perfect answer and start building trusted sources of guidance. If you've ever spent hours researching products for your dog and still felt unsure about your next step, this conversation will help you find a little more clarity and a lot less pressure. Shop What Em Uses with Fitz & Toby Enrichment tools, nutrition support, and daily essentials — all in one place. 👉 ⁠thedogwhoaskedformore.myshopdot.com⁠ Join ShopDot Pet Are you a pet pro who recommends products often? Curate your client experience with ShopDot Pet!👉⁠Get Your Storefront⁠ Connect with Michelle: LinkedIn ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-huie/⁠ Email info@shop.app.com Instagram⁠https://www.instagram.com/shopdotapp/⁠ This podcast explores life with dogs — including dog behavior, dog anxiety, reactive dogs, dog reactivity, dog training, and the relationship with your dog. It's for dog parents navigating overwhelm, chronic stress, burnout recovery, and the challenges of life with a dog who asks for more. Episodes cover dog nutrition, canine nutrition, pet nutrition, dog food, dog enrichment, dog body language, dog communication, emotional healing, healing with dogs, self trust, personal growth, and building a deeper connection 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 taking this conversation on the road, bringing honest support directly to dog parents across the country. Some links may be affiliate links. If you choose to purchase, it helps support the podcast and the RV tour.

    22 min

  5. Jun 15

    The Enrichment Mistake That Made My Dog More Wired

    Have you ever spent hours planning enrichment for your dog… only to end the day wondering why they still seem restless, overstimulated, or unable to settle? Lick mats. Snuffle mats. Puzzle feeders. Frozen toppers. Scatter feeding. Training sessions. Walks. Rotations. DIY enrichment setups. A lot of dog parents are doing everything they’ve been told to do — and still ending up with dogs who feel more activated instead of calmer. In this episode of The Dog Who Asked for More, Em shares the honest reality of burning herself out trying to “do enrichment right” for Fitz, only to realize that more enrichment wasn’t actually helping him regulate. Because sometimes the issue isn’t a lack of stimulation. Sometimes the nervous system is already overwhelmed. This conversation explores how enrichment culture quietly became pressure, why some dogs become more dysregulated with constant stimulation, and how learning to observe what actually helps your dog settle changes everything. In This Episode, You’ll Learn: Why some enrichment activities can accidentally overstimulate certain dogs — especially sensitive, anxious, or high-arousal dogs.How to recognize the difference between a tired dog and a regulated dog — and why exhaustion isn’t always the same thing as calm.Why enrichment works best when it supports your individual dog’s nervous system instead of following pressure to constantly “do more.” Because enrichment isn’t about doing the most, it’s about helping your dog feel safe enough to finally settle. Hit play for an honest conversation about dog enrichment, overstimulation, nervous system regulation, and why doing less might actually help both you and your dog feel calmer. 🐾 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 Learn More about SwiftPaws 👉⁠https://tinyurl.com/swiftpaws⁠ Join the SwiftPaws Facebook Community👉⁠https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CiRZmTaeS/⁠ 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 real life with dogs — including dog behavior, dog anxiety, reactive dogs, dog reactivity, and dog training problems. It's for dog parents who feel overwhelmed navigating life with dogs and want a clearer understanding of their dog and a calmer daily life together. Episodes also cover dog nutrition, canine nutrition, pet nutrition, dog food, dog enrichment, dog body language, and dog communication — connecting behavior, health, and daily routines to help you better understand your dog and reduce stress. We're now taking this conversation on the road, bringing honest support directly to dog parents across the country. Some links may be affiliate links. If you choose to purchase, it helps support the podcast and the RV tour.

    7 min

  6. Jun 12

    The Dog Who Was There When No One Else Could Be | My Dog Saved Me

    Have you ever looked at your dog and realized they became so much more than a companion—they became the thing that helped you survive? For some people, dogs become far more than pets. They become routine, safety, stability, and emotional support when life feels overwhelming. In this deeply personal episode of The Dog Who Asked for More, Em shares the reality of surviving an abusive living situation during COVID while trapped in a housing crisis with nowhere safe to go—and the quiet role Fitz and Toby played in helping her make it through. This conversation explores the powerful connection between dogs and mental health, how trauma and chronic stress shape emotional attachment, and why dogs often become emotional anchors during the most difficult chapters of our lives. After listening, you'll discover: Why some relationships with dogs feel deeper than companionship, especially during periods of trauma, grief, isolation, and uncertainty.How chronic stress, hypervigilance, and nervous system survival affect both dogs and humans living in the same environment.Why emotional attachment, trust, and companionship can become powerful sources of healing—and what it means when your dog becomes part of your survival story. Press play for an honest conversation about trauma, emotional healing, dogs and mental health, and the extraordinary bond that can form between a dog and the person who needs them most. 🐾 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 real life with dogs — including dog behavior, dog anxiety, reactive dogs, dog reactivity, and dog training problems. It's for dog parents who feel overwhelmed navigating life with dogs and want a clearer understanding of their dog and a calmer daily life together. Episodes also cover dog nutrition, canine nutrition, pet nutrition, dog food, dog enrichment, dog body language, and dog communication — connecting behavior, health, and daily routines to help you better understand your dog and reduce stress. We're now taking this conversation on the road, bringing honest support directly to dog parents across the country. Some links may be affiliate links. If you choose to purchase, it helps support the podcast and the RV tour.

    8 min

  7. Jun 10

    Why More Exercise Is Making Your Dog Harder to Live With | Dog Enrichment

    What if your dog doesn't need more exercise—just a better way to use the energy they already have? Many dog parents are stuck in the same exhausting cycle: more walks, more fetch, more play, more activity... yet their dog still won't settle. If you have a high-energy dog, reactive dog, anxious dog, or a dog that constantly seems to want more, this episode may completely change how you think about enrichment. Em sits down with Meghan from SwiftPaws to explore why fulfillment—not exhaustion—is often the missing piece. Together, they unpack the predatory sequence, enrichment stacking, overstimulation, and how understanding your dog's natural instincts can dramatically improve dog behavior and your relationship with your dog. After listening, you'll learn: Why more exercise can sometimes increase overstimulation instead of creating calm.How the predatory sequence helps explain what many dogs are actually seeking when they seem restless.A simple enrichment stacking framework that helps dogs move from excitement to relaxation more naturally. Press play to discover why your dog may not need more activity—and how the right kind of fulfillment can transform your daily life together. 🐾 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 Learn More about SwiftPaws 👉⁠https://swiftpaws.com?sca_ref=8531011.0u8fNXiYVL⁠ Join the SwiftPaws Facebook Community👉⁠https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CiRZmTaeS/⁠ 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 real life with dogs — including dog behavior, dog anxiety, reactive dogs, dog reactivity, and dog training problems. It's for dog parents who feel overwhelmed navigating life with dogs and want a clearer understanding of their dog and a calmer daily life together. Episodes also cover dog nutrition, canine nutrition, pet nutrition, dog food, dog enrichment, dog body language, and dog communication — connecting behavior, health, and daily routines to help you better understand your dog and reduce stress. We're now taking this conversation on the road, bringing honest support directly to dog parents across the country. Some links may be affiliate links. If you choose to purchase, it helps support the podcast and the RV tour.

    39 min

  8. Jun 8

    Your Dog Has Been Telling You Something Was Wrong. Here's Why You Couldn't See It | Dog Body Language

    Have you ever looked at your dog after a reaction, shutdown, growl, or stressful moment and thought: “Where did that even come from?” A lot of dog parents believe reactions happen suddenly.One second their dog seems fine… and the next there’s barking, lunging, freezing, growling, or biting that feels impossible to predict. But most dogs are communicating long before those moments happen. Most of us just were never taught how to recognize the signs. In this episode of The Dog Who Asked for More, Em shares the moment she got bitten by a dog she genuinely believed was comfortable — despite years working in veterinary medicine and handling dogs professionally. Through stories about Fitz, client dogs, and her own missed signals, this conversation explores the subtle body language cues dogs use to communicate discomfort before reactions escalate:lip licking, whale eye, looking away, freezing, yawning,tension shifts, and the quiet moments most people unintentionally overlook. In This Episode, You’ll Learn: The subtle dog body language signs that often happen before reactions or bites — and why they’re so easy to miss if nobody ever taught you what to look for.Why many reactive dogs seem “unpredictable” — even though they’re often communicating stress long before escalation happens.How understanding dog body language changes the way we approach dog training, regulation, and emotional safety — for both dogs and humans. Because dogs are almost always communicating. The problem is that most of us were taught to wait until the behavior gets loud enough to notice. Hit play for a grounded conversation about dog body language, dog behavior, reactivity, and the quiet warning signs your dog may have been trying to show you all along. 🐾 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 real life with dogs — including dog behavior, dog anxiety, reactive dogs, dog reactivity, and dog training problems. It's for dog parents who feel overwhelmed navigating life with dogs and want a clearer understanding of their dog and a calmer daily life together. Episodes also cover dog nutrition, canine nutrition, pet nutrition, dog food, dog enrichment, dog body language, and dog communication — connecting behavior, health, and daily routines to help you better understand your dog and reduce stress. We're now taking this conversation on the road, bringing honest support directly to dog parents across the country. Some links may be affiliate links. If you choose to purchase, it helps support the podcast and the RV tour.

    10 min
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4.9
out of 5
42 Ratings

About

Some dogs change your life while they're here. Others keep changing it long after they're gone. If your dog changed more than your daily routine, this is for you. The Dog Who Asked for More® is for anyone whose dog changed their life in ways they're still figuring out. The one doing midnight research on dog food and behavior and dog anxiety and still not sure they're getting it right. The one living with a reactive dog or anxious dog and quietly carrying the mental math that comes with it. The parking lot calculations, the exits, the anticipation before the walk even starts. The one whose dog became part of every decision, every routine, every version of what comes next. The one whose dog is the most consistent relationship in a life that kept changing. The one in the slow goodbye with a senior dog, watching every good day and doing the math. The one who can't fully explain to people outside this world what their dog actually means to them. I'm Em, a dog mom, former vet tech, dog trainer, and canine nutritionist. I share my story with Fitz, a reactive rescue dog and former service dog training washout who became the reason I built all of this, and Toby, a 15-year-old senior dog who shows up in almost every conversation about love and loyalty and what it means to love something you know you're going to lose. This isn't a podcast about fixing you or fixing your dog. It covers the full reality of life with dogs. Dog behavior, dog body language, dog reactivity, dog anxiety, enrichment, dog nutrition, grief, healing with dogs, and the mental health reality of loving an animal who asks more of you than you expected. Not because you need to be fixed. Because you deserve to feel less alone in it. If you're carrying compassion fatigue, burnout, guilt, or just the specific exhaustion of loving a dog who needs more than most, you found the right place. Solo episodes, guest conversations, and real stories. Three new episodes every week. Named Sniffspot's #1 Dog Training Podcast 2026. Ranked in the top 3% globally. Start anywhere. Keep listening. Your dog people are in here 🎥 Full video episodes available on YouTube at: youtube.com/@thedogwhoaskedformore

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