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

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

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