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

A dog with a board of recordable buttons pressed "night," "talk," and "sleep" together, over and over, for weeks. It took a research intern's suggestion before anyone realized what she was actually trying to say.

Em talks with Alexis, whose dog Bunny helped pioneer button communication for dogs, about how a single outside button turned into a hundred-word vocabulary, the moment Bunny used her buttons to describe her own dreams, and what years of this work has taught Alexis about curiosity, skepticism, and what dogs are actually capable of communicating.

You'll hear:

• How Bunny figured out she could describe her dreams using buttons she already knew
• The moment Bunny used her buttons to alert Alexis to a foxtail stuck in her paw, and what that revealed about self-advocacy
• How to start with just three buttons if you want to try this with your own dog

Press play if you've ever wished you could know what your dog was actually thinking.

Free Enrichment Guide

Simple, low-pressure enrichment ideas to help your dog feel calmer and more fulfilled.

👉 https://tinyurl.com/livingwiththedoginfrontofyou

🐾 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 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://thedogwhoaskedformore.hbportal.co/schedule/668856198dc476001953809b

Questions

📧 [email protected]

This podcast explores life with dogs, including dog behavior, dog behavior problems, dog obedience, dog anxiety, reactive dogs, dog reactivity, dog training, and the relationship with your dog. It's for dog parents navigating overwhelm, dog parent guilt, 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 around the world.

Some links may be affiliate links. If you choose to purchase, it helps support the podcast and the RV tour.

You love your dog.

And some days…

you still wonder why this feels so hard.

Why everyone else seems to have the easy dog.Why walks feel heavier.Why you’re trying so hard and still feel behind.

This is a quiet pressure a lot of dog parents carry.

That if you just train better, try harder, follow the right advice…

your dog will finally become the “good one.”

And when that doesn’t happen, it’s easy to turn it back on yourself.

To wonder what you’re missing.

What you’re doing wrong.

In this episode of The Dog Who Asked for More, Em talks about what that pressure actually does — the comparison, the guilt, the burnout that builds when you’re chasing something that was never really yours to begin with.

Because sometimes the shift isn’t in doing more.

It’s in letting go of the version of your dog you thought they were supposed to be.

And starting to see the one in front of you instead.

If you’ve ever thought, “Why can’t my dog just be normal?”… press play.

Free Resources & Support

Dog Food Label Decoder Quiz

Understand what actually matters on pet food labels — and where to start.

Take the quiz

👉https://tinyurl.com/dogfoodlabel

Free 15-Minute Clarity Call

Feeling stuck or unsure what your dog needs? We’ll talk through what’s going on and find the next step together.

👉⁠ https://tinyurl.com/tdwafmbooknow⁠

PetMatRx Supplements We Trust

Supplements that support gut health and daily wellness.

Use code FITZ20 to save.

👉⁠ https://tinyurl.com/PETMATRXtdwafm⁠

Email ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠ to get in touch with Em

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, dog communication, and life with dogs — connecting behavior, health, and daily routines to help you better understand your dog and reduce stress.

Affiliate links support the podcast and help fuel the RV dream 💛

A calm, well-behaved pet and a real service dog can look identical from the outside, until they're actually asked to do the job.

Em talks with Ashley, a behavior scientist and service dog trainer with 24 years of experience, about what actually separates a task-trained service dog from a well-behaved pet, why not every dog is built for the work, and what ethical service dog training looks like when it's built on trust instead of compulsion or quick fixes.

You'll hear:

• What Ashley actually looks for in a dog's temperament before service dog training even begins
• Why rushing a young dog into "performing" before they're ready can undo years of foundation
• The difference between a technical training issue and a dog whose personality just isn't suited for the work

Press play if you've ever wondered what it actually takes for a dog to become a true service dog, not just a calm one.

Free Enrichment Guide

Simple, low-pressure enrichment ideas to help your dog feel calmer and more fulfilled.

👉 https://tinyurl.com/livingwiththedoginfrontofyou

🐾 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 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://thedogwhoaskedformore.hbportal.co/schedule/668856198dc476001953809b

Questions

📧 [email protected]

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.

Good catch — swapping the opener so it doesn't just restate the title:

The house is full of people. Someone brought dessert. Someone let the dog out without asking. For a lot of dogs, this isn't a holiday. It's a nightmare.

Em shares the holiday gathering where her sister came in loud and fast, Toby bit her jeans, and it took years to rebuild that trust, and what she's learned since about advocating for a dog who isn't up for the chaos of a big family event. She walks through why "he's fine, he just needs to get used to it" is the wrong response, and what it actually looks like to protect a dog's peace during the most overstimulating time of year.

You'll hear:

• What actually happened with Toby and Em's sister, and how long it took to rebuild that trust
• Why a dog avoiding, hiding, or growling around family isn't bad behavior, it's communication
• Concrete ways to set boundaries with family without feeling like you're the one being difficult

Press play if you've ever felt guilty for protecting your dog's peace over someone else's expectations.

Free Enrichment Guide

Simple, low-pressure enrichment ideas to help your dog feel calmer and more fulfilled.

👉 https://tinyurl.com/livingwiththedoginfrontofyou

🐾 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 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://thedogwhoaskedformore.hbportal.co/schedule/668856198dc476001953809b

Questions

📧 [email protected]

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.

Here's the description, pulling from Jim's own founder story and the clean-vs-damage distinction:

A dirty car seat is a quick vacuum and some elbow grease. A torn one is a repair bill and a problem you can't undo.

Em talks with Jim Umloff, founder of Four Canines, about the difference between a seat cover that just keeps hair and dirt under control and one actually built to stop claws, slobber, and 80-pound dogs from destroying a car seat underneath it. He shares the story of his own Dobermans putting a hole in his leather seats, and what he learned building a product that could actually prevent that instead of just hiding it.

You'll hear:

• The real difference between a seat cover that keeps a car clean and one that prevents actual damage
• Why cheap, thin seat covers fail at exactly the moment it matters most
• What to look for so you're not replacing a torn-up cover, or a torn-up seat, every few months

Press play if you've ever wondered what's actually happening to your car every time your dog gets in.

Is your dog's food actually working for them?

A two-minute check-in for dog parents who are doing their best and still not sure if it's enough.

👉 https://tinyurl.com/dogfoodstress

🐾 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 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://thedogwhoaskedformore.hbportal.co/schedule/668856198dc476001953809

Questions

📧 [email protected]

This podcast explores life with dogs, including dog behavior, dog behavior problems, dog obedience, dog anxiety, reactive dogs, dog reactivity, dog training, and the relationship with your dog. It's for dog parents navigating overwhelm, dog parent guilt, 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 around the world.

Some links may be affiliate links. If you choose to purchase, it helps support the podcast and the RV tour.

What if the hardest part of dog ownership isn't training or behavior, but the costs no one prepares you for?

When we bring a dog home, most of us budget for food, toys, and routine veterinary visits. What we don't expect are the long term expenses that can come with behavior challenges, medical conditions, specialist care, supplements, or emergencies. In this episode, I share my own experience transitioning from veterinary medicine, where discounts and support were part of everyday life, to navigating those same costs on my own. Along the way, we explore why financial preparation is an act of compassion for both you and your dog.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• The real long term costs of responsible dog ownership that many people don't consider until they face them.
• How planning ahead for dog training, medical care, nutrition, and emergencies can reduce stress and difficult decisions later.
• A simple budgeting exercise that helps you prepare for the dog you have instead of the dog you expected.

If you've ever worried about whether you'll be able to give your dog everything they need, this episode will help you approach those concerns with confidence instead of guilt. Thoughtful planning won't eliminate every surprise, but it can help you build a more stable future for both you and your dog.

Do you actually know what's in your dog's food?

I found out the hard way, after months of thinking my dog was just a picky eater, that he was actually allergic to storage mites. The label didn't tell me that in plain language, and I had years of vet med behind me and still had to dig for it.

That's why I built The Dog Food Bag Decoder: the scientific names on the bag, translated into plain language, paired with Holistic Pet Hub, the tool that lets you build a profile for your dog or cat and scan real food labels to see if they're actually a match, free to try. So you're not googling ingredients at midnight; you're checking them against your own pet.

Get the free decoder 👉: https://thedogwhoaskedformore.hbportal.co/public/6a676b9948a7d648321b02d4

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 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://thedogwhoaskedformore.hbportal.co/schedule/668856198dc476001953809b

Questions

📧 [email protected]

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.

Shinier coat. Supports healthy functioning. Better energy. These phrases show up on nearly every bag of dog food, and none of them mean anything you can actually measure.

Em talks with Daniel Shuloff about the new Pet Nutrition Facts labeling changes coming to the pet food industry, why so much of what brands market has nothing to do with measurable health outcomes, and what actually moves the needle for a dog's long-term health versus what just sounds good on a bag.

You'll hear:

• Why vague marketing phrases like "shinier coat" are chosen specifically because they can't be measured or disproven
• What a recent study found when comparing a low-carb diet against the leading prescription diet for diabetic dogs
• What the new nutrition labeling rules will actually require brands to disclose, and why it's taken decades to happen

Press play if you've ever picked a dog food because of how it was marketed rather than what was actually in it.

Is your dog's food actually working for them?

A two-minute check-in for dog parents who are doing their best and still not sure if it's enough.

👉 https://tinyurl.com/dogfoodstress

🐾 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 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://thedogwhoaskedformore.hbportal.co/schedule/668856198dc476001953809b

Questions

📧 [email protected]

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.

Nothing's happened yet. No guests, no doorbell, no chaos. And your dog is already struggling.

Em breaks down precursor cues, the small changes dogs pick up on days before anything actually stressful occurs. Vacuuming, guest towels, a different jacket, faster movement around the house. To you, it's just holiday prep. To your dog, it's a string of signals that something big is coming, and that stress builds long before the event itself ever starts.

You'll hear:

• What precursor cues actually are, and why sensitive dogs pick up on them so early
• Why a dog who "was fine all day" might have actually been coping the entire time
• Five ways to support a dog before the big moment, not just during it

Press play if your dog has ever seemed off before anything obvious was actually wrong.

Is your dog's food actually working for them?

A two-minute check-in for dog parents who are doing their best and still not sure if it's enough.

👉 https://tinyurl.com/dogfoodstress

🐾 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 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://thedogwhoaskedformore.hbportal.co/schedule/668856198dc476001953809b

Questions

📧 [email protected]

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.

Here's the description, built from the actual content (the I Puppy device, Champ's story as the origin, the service dog/medical alert pivot):

What if your dog could call for help? Not metaphorically. An actual notification to your phone, triggered by your dog pressing a button.

Em talks with Mark Condon, the accidental inventor of I Puppy, about how his aging dog Champ inspired the idea, how it evolved from a simple bathroom-break notification system into something service dog handlers and medical alert teams now rely on, and where he sees this kind of technology heading next.

You'll hear:

• How Champ's declining mobility led to the original idea behind I Puppy
• How the device evolved from a potty-training tool into something used in real medical emergencies
• What role Mark thinks technology should play in supporting, not replacing, training and connection with a dog

Press play if you've ever wished there was a way to know what your dog needed, even when you weren't in the room.

Free Enrichment Guide

Simple, low-pressure enrichment ideas to help your dog feel calmer and more fulfilled.

👉 https://tinyurl.com/livingwiththedoginfrontofyou

🐾 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 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://thedogwhoaskedformore.hbportal.co/schedule/668856198dc476001953809b

Questions

📧 [email protected]

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.

Have you ever looked at your dog's food bag and wondered if the ingredients are really as healthy as the marketing claims?

When our dogs struggle with digestive issues or recurring health concerns, many of us assume buying a more expensive dog food is the answer. In this episode, I share Toby's journey with recurring pancreatitis and the lessons I learned after taking a closer look at dog nutrition, ingredient labels, and the choices available to pet parents.

By listening, you'll discover:

• How to read past dog food marketing and better understand what's on the ingredient label.
• Simple ways to begin improving your dog's gut health without feeling like you have to completely overhaul their diet.
• Why paying attention to your dog's individual response to food can help you make more confident dog nutrition decisions.

If you've been overwhelmed by conflicting advice about dog food or wondering whether your dog's current diet is really supporting their health, this episode will help you ask better questions and make small, practical changes that move you in the right direction.

🐾 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

Is your dog's food actually working for them?

A two-minute check-in for dog parents who are doing their best and still not sure if it's enough. 👉 https://tinyurl.com/dogfoodstress

Free 15-Minute Clarity Call

Feeling stuck or unsure what your dog needs? We'll talk through what's going on and find the next step together.

👉 https://tinyurl.com/tdwafmbooknow

📧 [email protected]

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.