Is your dog’s reactivity really about disobedience—or are they trying to tell you something deeper?

In this powerful and paradigm-shifting episode of Straight Up Dog Talk, Em sits down with Matt Beisner (Dog: Impossible, The Zen Dog) to explore the emotional, neurological, and spiritual dimensions of dog reactivity. Together, they unpack why dominance-based training fails, and how relationship-first, trauma-informed approaches can build lasting safety and trust—for dogs and their humans.

In this episode:

• Understand how fear, trauma, and dysregulation show up in dog training

• Learn why connection—not control—is the foundation for true progress

• Discover how to lead with empathy, presence, and enrichment that supports healing, not just behavior change

Press play to explore what it really means to train, trust, and grow with your reactive dog—and why the journey might be as much about your healing as it is theirs.

Straight Up Dog Talk Extras:

Get a free copy of Feeding without Fear for mealtime manners

⁠https://tinyurl.com/fearfreetdwafm⁠

Book a FREE 15-minute call with Em

⁠https://tinyurl.com/tdwafmbooknow⁠

Email ⁠[email protected]⁠ to get in touch with Em

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.