About this episode

Emily Breslin discusses the challenges of modern dog ownership and the responsibilities of breeders in ensuring proper environments for their puppies.

We've all seen it: that picture-perfect puppy on Instagram that looks like it was born to lounge on a designer couch. But what happens when that cute aesthetic turns into a living, breathing behavioral nightmare? In this episode, Julie is sitting down with Emily Breslin—a certified professional canine nutritionist, trainer, and former vet tech—to tear down the modern myth of the "lifestyle accessory" pet. Emily gets incredibly raw about her own journey, sharing how a "free" accidental puppy completely flipped her life upside down, forcing her to become the trainer she desperately needed but couldn't find. They dive deep into the messy reality of post-COVID dog ownership, where our culture of instant gratification is violently clashing with actual canine psychology. Emily explains exactly why stripping a working breed of its biological purpose is a fast track to severe anxiety, and she pulls back the curtain on a devastating, unspoken shelter truth regarding what really happens to highly adoptable, owner-surrendered dogs when a facility hits crisis mode. For the breeders listening, this conversation is a masterclass in how to disarm your buyers. Emily breaks down the precise…

People in this episode

Host: Julie Swan

Guest: Emily Breslin

Topics covered

• dog training
• canine nutrition
• post-COVID dog ownership
• behavioral issues
• breeder responsibilities
• shelter crisis

Keywords

• dog behavior
• working breeds
• anxiety in dogs
• owner surrender
• adoptable dogs
• canine psychology
• breeder questions

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: The Dog Who Asked for More

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• #135 - The Facility Factor #1 - Bill on Contractors & Building Facilities · July 10, 2026 · 1h 35m
• #134 - The Facility Factor: Design Your Breeding Setup Piece-by-Piece · July 10, 2026 · 6 min
• #133 - Dogs Who Are Taken Care Of, But Not Loved · May 15, 2026 · 9 min

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