Shy Dog Diaries – Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

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Shy Dog Diaries

Samara Iodice

Kids & Family

Frequency: 1 episode/28d. Total Eps: 8

Shy Dog Diaries is a podcast about living with, training, and loving dogs who experience the world with a little extra sensitivity. Created for guardians of shy, anxious, fearful, or reactive dogs, the show blends personal stories, expert insights, and practical guidance rooted in compassion and positive reinforcement.

Inspired by my dog Nessie, each episode explores what it’s really like to support a dog with anxiety — from separation challenges and difficult walks to building confidence, emotional safety, and trust over time. Along the way, I share conversations with trainers, behaviorists, and other dog guardians, plus honest reflections on the slower, gentler path this journey often requires.

Whether your dog hides behind the couch, struggles with big feelings, or surprises you with brave leaps forward, Shy Dog Diaries is here to remind you that you’re not alone — and that every dog’s journey is worth honoring.

Shy Dog Diaries is hosted by Samara Iodice, a guardian learning — imperfectly and patiently — alongside her anxious dog.

Follow the journey on Instagram: @shydogdiaries
For inquiries or guest suggestions: pod@shydogdiaries.com

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Recent rankings

Latest chart positions across Apple Podcasts and Spotify rankings.

Apple Podcasts

🇨🇦 Canada - petsAndAnimals
04/08/2026
#92
🇨🇦 Canada - petsAndAnimals
18/07/2026
#84
🇨🇦 Canada - petsAndAnimals
17/07/2026
#68
🇨🇦 Canada - petsAndAnimals
16/07/2026
#54
🇨🇦 Canada - petsAndAnimals
15/07/2026
#33
🇨🇦 Canada - petsAndAnimals
14/07/2026
#26
🇨🇦 Canada - petsAndAnimals
13/07/2026
#21
🇺🇸 USA - petsAndAnimals
11/07/2026
#97
🇨🇦 Canada - petsAndAnimals
07/05/2026
#94
🇺🇸 USA - petsAndAnimals
19/03/2026
#97

Spotify

No recent rankings available

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https://www.dogkindtraining.com/
2 shares
https://www.katyalidsky.com/
2 shares

RSS feed quality and score

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RSS feed quality

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Score global : 68%

Publication history

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Understanding Anxiety in Dogs with Veterinary Behaviorist Dr. Karen Sueda

Season 1 · Episode 3

Tuesday, January 6, 2026 • Duration 51:43

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What if your dog isn’t “difficult” or “stubborn” — but anxious, overwhelmed, and trying their best?

In this episode of Shy Dog Diaries, I sit down with board-certified veterinary behaviorist Dr. Karen Sueda to talk about what’s really going on behind fear-based behaviors in dogs — and how we can truly help them thrive.

Dr. Sueda explains what a veterinary behaviorist does, how anxiety can show up as fear, reactivity, or shutdown, and techniques for helping fearful dogs improve. Together, we explore desensitization and counter-conditioning, trigger stacking, rest days, latent learning, and the often-misunderstood role of behavior medications.

Using my dog Nessie as a real-life example, this conversation offers hope for guardians of fearful and anxious dogs — especially rescue dogs who missed early socialization windows. We talk about why guilt is common but misplaced, why medication is not a failure, and how helping an anxious dog can change both ends of the leash.

If you’ve ever felt alone, judged, or overwhelmed while loving an anxious dog, this episode is for you.

Connect with our guest, Dr Karen Sueda

Website: https://ksvetbehavior.com

Connect with Shy Dog Diaries

Instagram: @shydogdiaries
Email: pod@shydogdiaries.com

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Training with Dog Genie: From Fearful to Flourishing

Season 1 · Episode 2

Tuesday, January 6, 2026 • Duration 34:43

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In this episode, I’m joined by certified dog trainer and behavior consultant Genie Tuttle of Dog Genie to talk about helping shy and anxious dogs build confidence.

Together, we revisit Nessie’s early training days and explore how choice and agency play a powerful role in behavior work. We also talk about how nose work and scent-based enrichment can transform fear into curiosity, giving sensitive dogs a way to engage with the world on their own terms.

This is a warm, hopeful conversation for anyone navigating life with a “big-feelings” dog — and for those looking for compassionate, practical ways to help their dogs feel safer and more confident.

Connect with our guest, Genie Tuttle

Website: https://doggenie.com

Instagram: @doggenie

Connect with Shy Dog Diaries

Instagram: @shydogdiaries
Email: pod@shydogdiaries.com

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Intro to Shy Dog Diaries

Season 1 · Episode 1

Monday, January 5, 2026 • Duration 10:27

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In this very first episode, I introduce you to Shy Dog Diaries — a podcast about living with, training, and celebrating dogs who see the world a little differently.

You’ll hear the story of my rescue dog Nessie, how she inspired this project, and what you can expect from future episodes:

Real stories about anxious and sensitive dogs
Expert interviews and lived experiences
Training insights and positive reinforcement tips
Funny hacks and heartwarming moments

This podcast is for anyone who has ever loved a dog with big feelings — and wondered how to support them while also celebrating the joy they bring.

Thank you for joining me on this journey. I can’t wait to share more with you!

Connect with Shy Dog Diaries

Instagram: @shydogdiaries
Email: pod@shydogdiaries.com

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Helping Fearful Dogs Build Confidence with Dr. Kelly Lee

Season 1 · Episode 4

Wednesday, February 18, 2026 • Duration 01:09:00

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In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Kelly Lee, founder of Dogkind Training, to talk about what it truly means to support fearful, anxious, and traumatized dogs.

Dr. Lee holds degrees in Zoology, Applied Behavior Analysis, and Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, and she’s an honors graduate of the Academy for Dog Trainers (CTC). But what makes this conversation so powerful isn’t just her credentials — it’s her lived experience with her own deeply fearful dog, Pancake.

We talk about:

What to do when your dog simply refuses to go on walks
Why “just push them through it” can backfire
The power of agency and safe spaces
How to know if you’re stretching your dog… or overwhelming them
Why participation isn’t enough (and what to watch for instead)
How enrichment games build real confidence
The role of medication — and why it shouldn’t be a last resort
How to recognize and celebrate tiny victories that are actually huge

If you’re raising a sensitive dog who isn’t a “café dog” — if you’ve questioned yourself, felt overwhelmed, or wondered whether you’re doing it right — this episode will meet you exactly where you are.

Because progress with fearful dogs isn’t flashy. It’s slow. It’s subtle. And it’s worth celebrating.

Connect with our guest, Dr Kelly Lee

Website: https://www.dogkindtraining.com/
Instagram: @dogkind_training
Facebook: Dogkind LLC
YouTube: @Dogkind

Connect with Shy Dog Diaries

Instagram: @shydogdiaries
Email: pod@shydogdiaries.com

Love the Dog in Front of You (A Shy Dog Diary Entry)

Season 1 · Episode 5

Sunday, April 5, 2026 • Duration 18:04

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🎥 This episode is also available in video format on Spotify if you want to see some of Nessie’s recent progress.

What if the biggest breakthrough with your sensitive dog isn’t fixing them—but finally understanding them?

In this episode of Shy Dog Diaries, I’m sharing a deeply personal reflection on what changed when I stopped trying to turn Nessie into the dog I imagined… and started loving the dog right in front of me.

I walk through some recent wins—from a surprisingly smooth vet visit to a bath-time recovery using “touch,” to our very first treat-free walk during the day—and how these moments helped me see progress differently.

Then we dive into something many of us quietly carry: the gap between the dog we expected and the dog we actually have.

I talk about:

Why that expectation gap creates stress (and even grief)
What it really means to “lower expectations” in a healthy way
How to work with your dog’s nervous system instead of against it
Why progress with sensitive dogs often looks microscopic—but matters deeply

This episode is about shifting perspective, finding peace in the process, and recognizing the quiet, meaningful ways our dogs grow—and trust us.

Connect with Shy Dog Diaries

Instagram: @shydogdiaries
Email: pod@shydogdiaries.com

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Improving the Lives of Shelter Dogs with Laurie Lawless

Season 1 · Episode 7

Monday, July 6, 2026 • Duration 01:18:54

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🎥 This episode is also available in video format on Spotify.

When people meet a fearful dog, it's easy to focus on what they can't do.

But what if we're asking the wrong questions?

In this episode of Shy Dog Diaries, I sit down with certified dog behavior consultant Laurie Lawless, founder of Shelter Behavior Integrations, to talk about what really happens inside shelters and why understanding behavior is the key to helping more dogs find lasting homes.

Laurie shares the story of Charlie, the rescue dog who completely changed the course of her life and inspired her work helping shelters build behavior-forward systems that reduce stress and improve welfare for dogs.

Together, we explore:

• Why shelter behavior doesn't always predict home behavior
• How shelters can better match dogs with adopters through meaningful conversations, not labels
• The importance of tiny victories with fearful dogs
• Playgroups and what they reveal about a dog's true personality
• Why post-adoption support can make the difference between success and surrender
• Dog parks, overstimulation, and creating healthy social experiences
• Compassion fatigue in animal welfare and why caregivers need support too

Throughout the conversation, I also share parts of my own journey with Nessie and how learning to meet her where she is has transformed both of our lives.

If you've ever wondered whether a shy or behaviorally sensitive dog can truly thrive, this episode offers hope, practical insight, and a reminder that progress rarely happens all at once. It happens one tiny victory at a time.

About Laurie Lawless

Laurie Lawless, CDBC is a nationally recognized expert in shelter dog behavior, with over 16 years of in behavior, sheltering, leadership, consulting, and animal cruelty response. Her career was sparked in 2008 when she rescued an 85‑lb Boxer named Charlie - his behavioral challenges launched her into the world of professional dog behavior work, and she’s been “blaming Charlie” ever since.

Using Nose Work to Build Confidence with Nancy Reyes

Season 1 · Episode 6

Sunday, June 7, 2026 • Duration 01:01:51

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🎥 This episode is also available in video format on Spotify.

When I first introduced nose work to my anxious dog, Nessie, I thought it would simply be a fun enrichment activity. What I didn't realize was that it would become one of the most powerful confidence-building tools in our journey together.

In this episode of Shy Dog Diaries, I sit down with Nancy Reyes, founder of For Your K9 and certified nose work instructor, to explore how scent work can help fearful, anxious, reactive, and behaviorally sensitive dogs feel safer, calmer, and more confident in the world.

Nancy shares why nose work is uniquely different from other dog sports, how it taps into a dog's natural instincts, and why allowing dogs to solve problems independently can create profound emotional growth. We discuss the fascinating brain-nose connection, practical ways to start scent work at home, and why "going slow to go fast" is often the key to helping anxious dogs succeed.

We also talk about real-life success stories, common mistakes handlers make with sensitive dogs, and the role medication can play in helping dogs learn and feel safe enough to engage with the world around them.

About Nancy Reyes

With more than 30 years of professional experience, Nancy Reyes, CNWI, is a dedicated dog trainer whose work spans both dog behavior and dog sports. Her path began with a lifelong interest in animals and has evolved into helping dogs and their people navigate a wide range of challenges.

In 2004, Nancy founded For Your K9, Inc. in Elmhurst, IL, creating a training center that offers behavior-focused programs alongside dog sports such as Agility, Barn Hunt, Rally, and Nose Work. She has extensive experience working with complex behavior issues, including aggression and separation anxiety. At the core of her training philosophy is a commitment to strengthening the human–dog relationship through clear communication, thoughtful training, and mutual respect.

Helping Red Feel Safe: A Story of Sacrifice and Joy with Melissa Bell

Season 1 · Episode 8

Sunday, July 19, 2026 • Duration 01:11:44

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🎥 This episode is also available in video format on Spotify.

What happens when the puppy you carefully prepared for enters the world already afraid?

In this episode, I’m joined by Melissa, guardian of Red, a Goldendoodle who showed intense sensitivity and fear almost immediately after coming home. Melissa had done everything she thought she was supposed to do: researched breeders, arranged professional training and prepared for thoughtful socialization. Still, Red struggled with ordinary sounds, changes in his environment, unfamiliar people and the constant feeling that something might go wrong.

Melissa shares the turning point that came when Red was diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder and she was told that she had become his “emotional support human.” That validation gave her permission to stop racing against an imaginary deadline and begin treating their life together as a marathon.

We talk openly about behavioral medication, separation anxiety, careful socialization, caregiver stress and the difficult decisions that come with protecting a dog whose needs may not be obvious to others. Melissa also explains how journaling helped her recognize two distinct sides of Red: “Security Guard Red,” who monitors the world for danger, and “Explorer Red,” who is curious, loose and ready to engage.

Through nose work, pattern games, predictable language, carefully chosen environments and a deep understanding of Red’s body language, Melissa has learned how to help the explorer appear more often.

This conversation is about much more than dog training. It is about grief, adaptation, advocacy and learning to build a meaningful life with the dog in front of you. Even while talking about the very real challenges of caring for deeply sensitive dogs, Melissa and I found plenty of moments to laugh at the strange, unexpected, and sometimes absurd parts of daily life with them.

In this episode, we discuss:

Shy Dog Diaries – Details, episodes & analysis

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Shy Dog Diaries – Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

Recent rankings

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Shared links between episodes and podcasts

Other12

RSS feed quality and score

Publication history

Latest published episodes

Similar podcasts and content

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

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