Have you ever felt like you had to hold it all together while navigating dog reactivity, rescue chaos—or the grief of letting go?
In this tender and deeply human episode of Straight Up Dog Talk, Em is joined by close friends Josh and Jenn for a raw conversation about what it’s really like to raise, love, and eventually lose rescue dogs. From managing reactivity to building daily enrichment routines—and finding moments of laughter in the darkest seasons—this episode is about love, loss, and never doing it alone.

In this episode:

• Hear how enrichment and individualized training helped these dogs live well—despite big behavior and big feelings

• Learn how grief and humor coexist in a multi-dog household shaped by loss and love

• Discover how shared values and emotional support make the hardest parts of dog parenting a little softer

Press play to feel seen, supported, and reminded that showing up—messy, grieving, laughing—is more than enough.

Guest Info:

Listen to Josh & Jenn’s Podcast: Graphically Novel

Straight Up Dog Talk Extras:

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This podcast explores real-life dog behavior and training, diving into reactivity, barking, dog anxiety, aggression, picky eating, gut health, and dog food—while unpacking enrichment, mental stimulation, supplements, calming aids, and holistic pet wellness. Whether you’re raising a rescue dog, supporting a senior dog, managing a velcro dog, or just navigating life with a dog who’s asking for more, you’ll find practical tools to build trust, strengthen communication, and create a safe, thriving life together.