Holiday Guests Stress Your Dog Out Before They Even Arrive (And It Affects Behavior)

The house gets louder.People come and go.Furniture moves.Your routine disappears.

And suddenly your dog — who’s been doing so well — feels on edge again.

More barking.More pacing.More “too much.”

While everyone else says,“They’re fine. They just need to get used to it.”

If you’ve ever felt torn between being a good host and being a good advocate for your dog… you’re not alone.

In this episode of The Dog Who Asked for More, Em shares what holidays really looked like with Toby and Fitz — and the guilt that came with skipping events, leaving early, or saying no when something didn’t feel right.

We talk about why busy homes overwhelm sensitive nervous systems, how pressure to “socialize” often backfires, and what started to change when safety mattered more than appearances.

Because sometimes the most supportive thing you can do isn’t more training.
It’s less pressure.

If holidays tend to leave you and your dog exhausted… press play.

Free Resources & Support

Free Enrichment Guide: Paws, Brains, and Fun

Start here. This free guide introduces simple, low-pressure enrichment ideas to help your dog feel calmer, more fulfilled, and more connected in everyday life.👉⁠ https://tinyurl.com/enrichment-guide⁠

Free 15-Minute Clarity CallFeeling 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 TrustSupplements that support gut health and daily wellness.Use code FITZ20 to save.👉⁠ https://tinyurl.com/PETMATRXtdwafm⁠

Email ⁠⁠[e-mail]⁠⁠ to get in touch with Em

New episodes of The Dog Who Asked for More release every Monday and Wednesday.

This podcast explores life with dogs and life with pets through dog behavior, reactive dogs, dog anxiety, and real-life dog training challenges. It supports overwhelmed pet parents who want to better understand dog body language, communication, daily routines, and canine enrichment so dog life feels clearer and more manageable. Episodes focus on dog behavior while offering practical help and support, exploring common behavior patterns, and addressing real-life challenges many pet parents face — including experiences like dog barking, habits, obedience, and socialization — while also speaking to the emotional side of living with sensitive dogs and navigating lifestyle with dogs.

Hosted by a canine nutritionist, dog nutrition coach, dog trainer, and retired vet tech, the show covers canine nutrition, dog nutrition, dog food and behavior, dog gut health, training challenges, training burnout, rescue dogs, dog grief, dog enrichment ideas, dog health, and dog myths — while exploring what it looks like to build a calmer, healthier life with your dog and strengthen the dog–human bond.