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Shy Dog Diaries

Shy Dog Diaries

Von: Samara Iodice
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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

© 2026 Shy Dog Diaries
  • Helping Fearful Dogs Build Confidence with Dr. Kelly Lee
    Feb 18 2026

    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

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    1 Std. und 9 Min.
  • Seeing Canine Anxiety Through a Veterinary Lens with Dr. Karen Sueda
    Jan 6 2026

    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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    52 Min.
  • Training with Dog Genie: From Fearful to Flourishing
    Jan 6 2026

    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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    35 Min.
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