Podcasts · Kids & Family · Education

The Dog Who Asked for More: Understanding Life With Your Dog Beyond Dog Training and Behavior

Emily “Em” Breslin | Dog Trainer & Canine Nutritionist

266 episodes · Explicit

Are you tired of dog training advice that gives you one more thing to try but still leaves you wondering what you're missing?

More about the show

If you've followed the advice, learned everything you can, and still can't figure out what actually makes sense for the dog in front of you, this podcast is for you.

Named Sniffspot's #1 Dog Training Podcast in 2026 and ranked in the top 3% of podcasts globally. This is the dog community for people who love their dogs deeply and want to understand them without feeling like there's always another problem they need to fix.

I'm Em. Former vet tech, dog trainer, and canine nutritionist. I went looking for a dog community that actually understood how complicated life with dogs can be and kept finding gatekeeping, judgment, and people who'd decided their way was the only way. So I built the space I couldn't find.

Listen, and you'll learn how to:

- Better understand the dog in front of you instead of chasing one-size-fits-all advice - Use what you already know and get curious about what you might be missing - Start trusting the decisions you make and adjust when your dog gives you new information - Look at the whole dog through training, behavior, nutrition, enrichment, health, and environment - Feel less alone in the grief, burnout, uncertainty, and messy parts of life with dogs

Solo episodes, guest conversations, and real stories covering dog training, dog behavior, dog reactivity, dog nutrition, dog enrichment, dog health, dog body language, pet loss, senior dogs, and the parts of life with dogs no one really prepares you for.

New here? Start with "What Your Reactive Dog Actually Needs Isn't What You've Been Told" (released Jan 12, 2026).

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

Episodes page 2 of 6

  1. Why Nothing You’ve Tried for Your Dog’s Itching and Bad Breath Is Working | Dog Health

    · 19 min · Episode 215 · Explicit

    Have you ever felt like you're constantly chasing a new symptom with your dog? Maybe it's bad breath. Maybe it's itching. Maybe it's digestive issues that improve for a while, then come right back. You've changed…

  2. Why Your Dog Isn’t Back to Normal Even Though the Fireworks Have Been Over For Hours | Dog Training

    · 6:09 · Episode 214 · Explicit

    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…

  3. How Making Every Decision About Your Dog Alone Can Make You Trust Yourself Less | Life With Dogs

    · 7:22 · Episode 213 · Explicit

    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…

  4. What Happens When the Dog You Were Assigned Becomes Irreplaceable | Dog Training

    · 20 min · Episode 212 · Explicit

    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…

  5. When Training Your Dog Through Fireworks Can’t Help Them Anymore | Dog Training

    · 6:55 · Episode 211 · Explicit

    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…

  6. What You Don’t Notice When You Start Avoiding Places With Your Reactive Dog | Dog Training

    · 6:55 · Episode 210 · Explicit

    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.…

  7. How Safer Car Travel Can Change What’s Possible With Your Dog | Dog Safety

    · 35 min · Episode 209 · Explicit

    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…

  8. When a Hard Day With Your Dog Makes You Question the Whole Relationship | Life With Dogs

    · 7:34 · Episode 208 · Explicit

    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,…

  9. What Happens After “Trying Everything” for Your Dog Stops Being the Answer | Dog Training

    · 8:07 · Episode 207 · Explicit

    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…

  10. Why More Options for Your Dog Can Make the Right Choice Harder | Pet Care

    · 22 min · Episode 206 · Explicit

    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…

  11. Why Doing More Enrichment Can Make It Harder to Tell What Your Dog Actually Needs | Dog Behavior

    · 7:27 · Episode 205 · Explicit

    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.…

  12. What Happens When the Dog Who Got You Through Everything Starts Struggling Too | Dog Behavior

    · 8:15 · Episode 204 · Explicit

    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,…

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

    · 39 min · Episode 203 · Explicit

    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…

  14. Why Your Dog’s Reactions Keep Feeling Like They Came From Nowhere | Dog Body Language

    · 9:34 · Episode 202 · Explicit

    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…

  15. When the Training That’s Supposed to Help Your Dog Starts Making Things Worse | Dog Training

    · 6:56 · Episode 201 · Explicit

    Have you ever felt like your dog understands something one day… and completely falls apart the next? You practice.You repeat things.You try to stay patient and consistent. And still your dog seems overwhelmed,…

  16. What No One Prepares You to Lose When Your Dog Dies | Pet Loss

    · 34 min · Episode 200 · Explicit

    Losing your dog is hard. But losing the dog who changed you feels like losing part of yourself. In this episode of The Dog Who Asked for More, we’re talking about the kind of grief people don’t always understand —…

  17. What Nobody Told You to Check When Training Your Anxious Dog | Dog Nutrition

    · 6:59 · Episode 199 · Explicit

    You’ve done the training. The walks.The management.The routines.The enrichment. And while some of it helps… your dog still seems anxious, reactive, unsettled, or unable to fully relax. In this episode of The Dog Who…

  18. Why the Advice That Works for Other Dogs Keeps Failing Yours | Dog Training

    · 7:43 · Episode 198 · Explicit

    Do you ever feel like your brain is constantly running calculations about your dog? Is this walk too much? Did they get enough rest? Should we leave now? Will this trigger a reaction? Did I make the wrong call…

  19. What Modern Life May Be Taking Away From Your Dog | Dog Health

    · 31 min · Episode 197 · Explicit

    You’ve changed the food. Added the supplements. Tried to do everything right for your dog. And somehow… they still don’t seem fully well. In this episode of The Dog Who Asked for More, we’re talking about a piece of…

  20. Who Pays the Price When an Untrained Dog Wears a Service Vest | Dog Training

    · 7:16 · Episode 196 · Explicit

    You've seen it. A dog in a vest that didn't seem okay. Barking, lunging, clearly overwhelmed. And you didn't say anything, because it's not your place, because maybe you're wrong, because what would you even say. This…

  21. What’s Behind Your Dog’s Off Days When Nothing Has Changed | Dog Behavior

    · 6:09 · Episode 195 · Explicit

    Your dog had an off day, and nothing about it makes sense. Nothing changed. The routine was the same. And still, the reactions came faster, the settling took longer, and you were left running through everything you…

  22. What You Can Do Before Your Dog Starts Showing Their Age | Dog Health

    · 26 min · Episode 194 · Explicit

    Have you ever looked at your dog and realized something felt different… and suddenly started wondering how much time you really have left together? In this episode of The Dog Who Asked for More, we’re talking about…

  23. Why Your Dog’s Walk Is Making Things Harder Instead of Better | Dog Training

    · 6:16 · Episode 193 · Explicit

    At some point, walks stopped feeling enjoyable and started feeling like something you mentally prepare yourself to survive. In this episode of The Dog Who Asked For More, Em talks about the quiet reality many dog…

  24. When Trying Harder for Your Dog Makes You Trust Yourself Less | Dog Training

    · 5:49 · Episode 192 · Explicit

    You love your dog deeply… so why does it feel like you’re carrying the weight of everything all the time? In this episode of The Dog Who Asked For More, Em talks about the quiet burnout so many dog parents live in…

  25. Why Your Dog Keeps Struggling When You’ve Already Addressed the Problem | Dog Health

    · 30 min · Episode 191 · Explicit

    You’ve changed the food. Worked on the behavior. Tried the supplements, the training, the routines… and somehow the same problems still keep coming back. In this episode of The Dog Who Asked For More, Em sits down for…

  26. Why Nothing Works Once Your Dog Starts Reacting | Dog Training

    · 6:34 · Episode 190 · Explicit

    You keep trying to do the right thing in the moment your dog reacts… and somehow nothing ever seems to work. The barking. The lunging. The feeling that your dog suddenly can’t hear you anymore, even though you know…

  27. Why Your Dog’s “Picky” Eating Might Be Telling You Something Else | Dog Nutrition

    · 5:18 · Episode 189 · Explicit

    At first it looks small. A skipped meal here. Weird digestion there. A day where your dog just feels a little “off.” Not because one skipped meal feels like an emergency. But because deep down, you know something…

  28. What Nobody Tells You About the Dog Food You’ve Been Told Is Fine for Your Dog | Dog Nutrition

    · 26 min · Episode 188 · Explicit

    Why do so many dog parents only start questioning food when their dog gets sick? In this episode of The Dog Who Asked For More, Em sits down with Jessica, for a deep conversation about dog nutrition, dog food labels,…

  29. When More Enrichment Makes It Harder for Your Dog to Settle | Dog Behavior

    · 6:02 · Episode 187 · Explicit

    You’ve Changed Everything For Your Dog… So Why Do They Still Seem Restless, Reactive, Or Unable To Settle? In This Episode Of The Dog Who Asked For More, Em Shares The Story Of Fitz — And The Realization That More…

  30. What No One Tells You About Loving a Dog Who Is Hard to Live With | Dog Training

    · 6:07 · Episode 186 · Explicit

    You can love your dog deeply… and still feel like living with them is breaking you. There are moments most people don’t talk about.Not the training. Not the good days. The ones where you feel exhausted.Where…

  31. Why Trying to Choose the Right Dog Products Leaves You With More Questions Than Answers | Canine Nutrition

    · 25 min · Episode 185 · Explicit

    You read the labels. You compare the ingredients. You try to make the right choice. And the more you look, the less clear it feels. One product says it's healthy. Another says it's better. Everyone has an opinion, and…

  32. Why Your Dog Is Still Reacting Even Though the Training Is Working | Dog Training

    · 6:02 · Episode 184 · Explicit

    Why does it still feel like nothing’s working—even after all the training you’ve put in? You bring treats.You practice focus.You try to stay consistent. And sometimes it works… until it doesn’t. One walk goes…

  33. How Learning More About Dog Food Can Make You Feel Like You’re Feeding Your Dog Wrong | Dog Nutrition

    · 6:28 · Episode 183 · Explicit

    You tried to figure out dog food… so why does it feel more confusing than ever? You read the labels.You look at the ingredients.You try to do what’s best. And somehow… you end up feeling worse about what you’re…

  34. Why Life With the Dog You Wanted Can Feel Different Than You Expected | Dog Training

    · 35 min · Episode 182 · Explicit

    Have you ever felt like you're doing everything for your dog, more training, more enrichment, more effort, and it still feels off? Like something isn't quite clicking, even though you're trying? Sometimes behavior…

  35. What Comparing Your Dog to Everyone Else’s Makes You Stop Seeing | Dog Training

    · 5:14 · Episode 181 · Explicit

    You watch other dogs walk calmly, ignore distractions, settle without being asked twice, and you wonder why none of that comes easy for yours. It's not a thought you'd say out loud, but it's there. In this episode, Em…

  36. What “I Can’t Keep Doing This” Really Means When You Love Your Dog | Life With Dogs

    · 5:54 · Episode 180 · Explicit

    Have you ever loved your dog deeply… and still quietly wondered, I don’t know if I can keep doing this? A lot of overwhelmed dog parents carry a kind of exhaustion they don’t feel safe talking about. The constant…

  37. How Your Dog’s Health Problems Can Start Looking Like Their Personality | Dog Health

    · 27 min · Episode 179 · Explicit

    Living with a chronically sick dog creates a kind of exhaustion most people don’t see. The middle-of-the-night potty trips. The constant second-guessing. The vet visits. The spiraling thoughts about food, behavior,…

  38. Why Your Dog Still Needs More After Getting Plenty of Exercise | Dog Enrichment

    · 5:39 · Episode 178 · Explicit

    Have you ever spent hours walking, playing with, and exercising your dog… only to watch them come home even more restless, reactive, or unable to settle? A lot of dog parents are taught that if dogs have energy, the…

  39. When a Busy Day With Your Dog Doesn’t Catch Up With Them Until Later | Dog Training

    · 5:44 · Episode 177 · Explicit

    A dog can act fine all day with guests over, and then fall apart the next day once everyone's gone. That's not a coincidence, and it's not too much energy. It's often a dog who's still carrying yesterday and hasn't…

  40. What You Miss About Your Dog When You’re Looking Everywhere Else for Answers | Dog Health

    · 22 min · Episode 176 · Explicit

    Have you ever looked at your dog’s food, supplements, allergies, or behavior struggles and quietly wondered… am I missing something important? A lot of dog parents feel overwhelmed trying to make the “right” choices…

  41. How Your Dog’s Behavior on Walks Changes the Way You See Them | Dog Training

    · 5:58 · Episode 175 · Explicit

    You finish the walk feeling embarrassed, defeated, like everyone else got the version of dog life you were supposed to have. Pulling, barking, reacting, freezing, scanning, avoiding certain streets, walking at odd…

  42. When Your Dog Can’t Settle and More Exercise Isn’t Helping | Dog Training

    · 5:44 · Episode 174 · Explicit

    A dog who lies down, then pops back up, checks the window, sighs, and starts moving again, over and over, looks like too much energy. It might actually be a dog who's already full. This episode breaks down the…

  43. What You Might Be Missing When Your Dog Refuses Treats | Dog Nutrition

    · 18 min · Episode 173 · Explicit

    Have you ever bought treat after treat for your dog… only to end up feeling confused when they still seem uncomfortable, picky, itchy, unmotivated, or sick afterward? A lot of dog parents assume treat time should be…

  44. Why It Feels Like Your Dog Lost All Their Progress Overnight | Dog Training

    · 6:14 · Episode 172 · Explicit

    A bad day usually has an obvious cause. A bad week can build quietly, with nothing that looks big enough to explain it, until it spills over. This episode breaks down why spring specifically tends to overwhelm…

  45. When More Training Starts Adding Pressure Instead of Progress | Dog Training

    · 6:49 · Episode 171 · Explicit

    It's easy to assume a dog who won't listen is being stubborn. Often, that's not what's actually happening. This episode breaks down why "just train more" often makes things worse instead of better, and why what looks…

  46. What You Might Miss When Your Dog Can Still Do What You’re Asking | Dog Training

    · 34 min · Episode 170 · Explicit

    What if the dog that looks the most “confident” in training… isn’t actually feeling that way at all? Some dogs look engaged. Focused. High energy. Like they’re doing everything right. But underneath that, there…

  47. Why Your Dog Can Be Tired and Still Unable to Settle | Dog Health

    · 7:17 · Episode 169 · Explicit

    A dog who's suddenly more restless. Can't quite settle. It's easy to assume it's a training or enrichment problem. Often, it isn't. This episode breaks down how seasonal allergies and gut irritation can quietly show…

  48. Why Your Dog’s Worst Days Often Start Before You Notice | Dog Training

    · 6:39 · Episode 168 · Explicit

    You finally get a calm day. And then the next one feels even harder. The barking is louder. The pacing comes back. And suddenly it feels like all your progress disappeared overnight. A lot of dog parents live in this…

  49. How to Tell When Your Senior Dog Isn’t Just “Getting Older” | Dog Health

    · 31 min · Episode 167 · Explicit

    The choices made while a dog is young, diet, joint care, how they're exercised, don't just affect them now. They shape how that dog ages years down the line. Em talks with Anna Webb about what actually helps a dog age…

  50. Why Your Dog’s “Good Behavior” at the Dog Park Deserves a Second Look | Dog Training

    · 6:17 · Episode 166 · Explicit

    Dog parks are supposed to look a certain way: a happy dog running free, easy socialization, and a tired pup afterward. When a dog doesn't fit that picture, staying close, avoiding other dogs, trying to leave, it's easy…

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