Think rescue is just about saving a dog? What if that dog ends up saving you?

In this emotional and eye-opening episode, Em celebrates Toby’s 12th Gotcha Day and sits down with Tracy Fosterling, a foster and rescue advocate who’s fostered over 60 dogs—many of them “unadoptable.” Together, they unpack the gritty, beautiful reality of what rescue really looks like: patience, partnership, training, enrichment, and second chances for dogs—and people.

In this episode:

• Hear the real stories behind feral dogs, misunderstood behavior, and the power of trust

• Learn why training and enrichment—not punishment—are essential to a rescue dog’s recovery

• Discover how you can support rescue work, even if you can’t adopt or foster

Press play for an honest look at rescue, recovery, and what it truly means to show up for dogs when no one else will.

The Dog Who Asked for More Extras:

Get a free copy of the Mini Bowl Blueprint

https://tinyurl.com/minibowltdwafm

Book a FREE 15-minute call with Em

https://tinyurl.com/tdwafmbooknow

Email thedogwhoaskedformore@gmail.com to get in touch with Em

This episode is POWERED by PetMatRx

Looking to BOOST your pet’s daily meal? Try PetMatRx supplements, use code FITZ20, and save! https://petmatrx.com/?ref=tdwafm

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.

What if the dog who needed the most healing was also the one who came to heal you?

In this emotionally raw episode of The Dog Who Asked for More, we revisit the moment I met Toby—an emaciated, reactive bait dog on the brink of being forgotten. What followed was not just a rescue story, but a story of mutual transformation. This is about choosing each other, over and over, and learning what it really means to be safe, seen, and loved.

In this episode:

• ​Discover why emotional safety is more important than obedience when working with rescue dogs
• ​Learn how reactivity, grief, and healing are all part of the deeper dog-human dialogue
• ​Reflect on the one question every dog is quietly asking—and how to answer it, day by day

Press play to hear Toby’s story, and reconnect with what your own dog might be asking for—beyond behavior, beyond training, and straight from the heart.

The Dog Who Asked for More Extras:

Get a free copy of The Messy Middle: Getting Unstuck with your Big Feeling Doghttps://tinyurl.com/messymiddletdwafm

Book a FREE 15-minute call with Em

https://tinyurl.com/tdwafmbooknow

Email thedogwhoaskedformore@gmail.com to get in touch with Em

Join the Community

https://join.slack.com/t/thedogwhoaskedformore/shared_invite/zt-305kdyab7-y6eTWjbAeSwHItNmloLQUA

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.

Tired of living in a maze of baby gates, blocked rooms, and constant “no”? You’re not alone.
Many dog parents rely on physical barriers or harsh corrections to manage indoor behavior—but these quick fixes can backfire, creating more confusion and stress. In this episode, Em teams up with Jesús from Pawport to explore a smarter way to teach boundaries inside your home—one that builds calm, clarity, and communication.

In this episode:

• Understand why traditional indoor management often causes more stress than it solves

• Learn how to teach boundaries using reinforcement—not restriction

• • Get real-world tips for building peaceful, predictable routines your dog can follow with confidence
    

  
  

  Press play to create a home environment where your dog knows what to do—without gates, yelling, or constant micromanagement.

• 
  

  Straight Up Dog Talk Extras:

  
  

  Get a free copy of the Mini Bowl Blueprinthttps://tinyurl.com/minibowltdwafm

  
  

  Book FREE 15-minute call with Em

  https://tinyurl.com/tdwafmbooknow

  
  

  Email straightupdogtalk@gmail.com to get in touch with Em

  
  

  Looking to BOOST your pet’s daily meal? Try PetMatRx supplements, use code FITZ20 and save!

  https://petmatrx.com/?ref=tdwafm

  
  

  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.

What if your dog’s reactivity, barking, or resistance isn’t a problem to fix—but a plea to be heard?
In this raw and vulnerable solo episode, Em shares why the podcast is changing names—and why that shift reflects a much deeper evolution in how we understand and support our dogs. Through her own journey with Fitz, Em invites you to reconsider what your dog’s behavior is truly trying to communicate.

You'll Learn:

• Hear how training burnout became an invitation to build trust and rest

• Learn how enrichment—not obedience—transformed Em’s relationship with her reactive dog

• Discover the deeper meaning behind the new podcast name, and how it reflects your story too

Press play to step into a more compassionate, curiosity-driven way of living and learning with your dog—starting with this moment of reflection and realignment.

The Dog Who Asked for More Extras:

Get a free copy of The Messy Middle: Getting Unstuck with your Big Feeling Doghttps://tinyurl.com/messymiddletdwafm

Book FREE 15-minute call with Em

https://tinyurl.com/tdwafmbooknow

Email straightupdogtalk@gmail.com to get in touch with Em

Join the Community

https://join.slack.com/t/thedogwhoaskedformore/shared_invite/zt-305kdyab7-y6eTWjbAeSwHItNmloLQUA

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.

Tried all the protocols, bought every tool, and your dog’s still not improving?

If you're stuck in a cycle of reactivity, barking, or anxiety despite following expert advice, it might be time to rethink the way you're approaching your dog’s behavior. This episode flips the script on traditional training with a skill few talk about: curiosity.

In this episode:

• ​Discover how curiosity (not control) unlocks lasting change in dogs
• ​Learn the top 3 red flags when choosing a trainer—and how to spot them early
• ​Hear how Josh’s background in corporate investigations reshaped his entire approach to working with reactive dogs

Press play to explore a new, empowering perspective on training that builds trust, not tension—and finally helps you move forward with your big-feeling dog.

Straight Up Dog Talk Extras:

Get a free copy of Paws, Brains, and Fun Enrichment ebookhttps://tinyurl.com/enrichmenttdwafm

Book FREE 15-minute call with Emhttps://tinyurl.com/tdwafmbooknow

Email straightupdogtalk@gmail.com to get in touch with Em

Looking to BOOST your pet’s daily meal? Try PetMatRx supplements, use code FITZ20 and save!

https://petmatrx.com/?ref=tdwafm

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.

Think Halloween is just “one fun night” for your dog? Think again.

For anxious, reactive, or aging dogs, Halloween can feel like a full-blown sensory attack—from loud doorbells and chaotic costumes to unfamiliar visitors and unpredictable energy. This episode explores how those “fun traditions” can trigger overwhelm and dysregulation in even well-loved dogs.

In this episode:

• Understand why Halloween is not a healthy training opportunity for sensitive dogs

• • Learn how to use enrichment, safe spaces, and environmental setup to reduce your dog’s stress
  • Get practical, shame-free alternatives to help your dog feel calm and safe—without missing out on the spirit of the season
    
  • 
    

  Press play for a grounded plan to protect your dog’s emotional well-being this Halloween—without guilt, stress, or pressure to conform.

• 
  

  Straight Up Dog Talk Extras:

  
  

  Get a free copy of The Messy Middle: Getting Unstuck with your Big Feeling Doghttps://tinyurl.com/messymiddletdwafm

  
  

  Book FREE 15-minute call with Em

  https://tinyurl.com/tdwafmbooknow

  
  

  Email straightupdogtalk@gmail.com to get in touch with Em

  
  

  Join the Communityhttps://tinyurl.com/tdwafmslack

  
  

  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.

Is your dog still itching, stinking, or acting off—even after regular baths?

Most dog parents don’t realize that frequent bathing can actually make things worse. Overbathing disrupts your dog’s skin barrier, triggering inflammation, behavioral issues, and even gut health problems.

In this episode:

• Learn the hidden signs of skin imbalance often mistaken for "bad behavior"

• Discover a low-stress, holistic skin care routine that supports full-body wellness

• Get expert-backed product recommendations for sensitive, anxious, or reactive dogs

Hit play to learn how less bathing—and smarter care—can help your dog feel and behave better from the inside out.

Special Offer:
Use code EMILY15 to save 15% on your order at DOG by Dr. Lisa — Em’s go-to for gentle, effective skin care products.

https://us.dogbydrlisa.com/pages/dog-suppplies

Straight Up Dog Talk Extras:

Get a free copy of The Messy Middle: Getting Unstuck with your Big Feeling Doghttps://tinyurl.com/messymiddletdwafm

Book a FREE 15-minute call with Em

https://tinyurl.com/tdwafmbooknow

Email straightupdogtalk@gmail.com to get in touch with Em

Join the Communityhttps://tinyurl.com/tdwafmslack

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.

Affiliate Disclosure:
This episode includes affiliate links. If you purchase through them, Em may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Supporting partner brands helps keep this podcast free and accessible.

Can’t get your dog out for a walk—but they’re still bouncing off the walls?
You’re not alone. For many reactive, anxious, or high-energy dogs, traditional exercise isn’t always possible—or even helpful. In this solo episode, Em shares 7 indoor enrichment games built for real-life, emotional regulation, and nervous system support.

In this episode:

• Get 7 practical games that help your dog burn energy without overstimulation

• Learn why stillness and sniffing might help more than fetch or running

• Discover how to meet your dog’s behavioral needs—without draining yourself in the process

Press play to discover calming enrichment tools for the hard days, rainy days, and everything in between.

Straight Up Dog Talk Extras:

Get a free copy of Paws, Brains, and Fun Enrichment ebookhttps://tinyurl.com/enrichmenttdwafm

Book FREE 15-minute call with Emhttps://tinyurl.com/tdwafmbooknow

Email straightupdogtalk@gmail.com to get in touch with Em

Looking to BOOST your pet’s daily meal? Try PetMatRx supplements, use code FITZ20 and save!

https://petmatrx.com/?ref=straightupdogtalk

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.