What If Walks Aren’t the Best Fit for Your Dog This Season?

Does your dog start to unravel on winter walks — sometimes before you even reach the door?

Cold air, bundled strangers, early darkness, static shocks, broken routines. Winter adds layers of pressure that many sensitive or reactive dogs feel immediately — and it can make walks feel heavy, stressful, or impossible.

In this episode of The Dog Who Asked for More, we talk about why stepping back from walks during certain seasons isn’t a failure — and why it might actually be a relief your dog needs. This conversation is about understanding thresholds, letting go of walk guilt, and finding other ways to support your dog when the outside world asks for more than they can give.

In this episode, we explore:

• How winter stressors impact your dog’s nervous system and behavior

• What it can look like to meet your dog’s needs without forcing daily walks

• Simple, low-pressure enrichment ideas you can do at home when walks aren’t supportive

This episode touches on dog behavior, reactivity, winter routines, enrichment, and the emotional weight dog parents carry when traditional advice doesn’t fit real life.

Press play if you’ve been questioning whether the walk is actually helping — and need permission to choose understanding over overwhelm.

The Dog Who Asked for More — Extras & Support

Looking for more support beyond today’s episode?

Free Mini Bowl Blueprint

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Free 15-Minute Call with Em

Not sure what your dog actually needs right now? Book a free, no-pressure call to talk it through.

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Free Community Support

Email thedogwhoaskedformore@gmail.com to get in touch with Em or request access to the FREE Slack community for ongoing encouragement and support.

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Nutrition Support We TrustLooking to support your dog’s daily meals? Try PetMatRx supplements and save with code FITZ20.

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This podcast explores life with dogs and life with pets, focusing on the dog–human bond and what it truly takes to understand and bond with your dog through dog body language, dog enrichment, behavior guidance, dog reactivity support, reactivity awareness, reactive dogs, reactive dog training, calming reactive dogs, dog training, dog training tips, training rescue dogs, pet training, dog obedience, dog behavior, dog behaviour, dog socialization, dog barking, dog habits, dog health, dog life, dog myths, and positive reinforcement for all dogs:  rescue dogs, velcro dogs, anxious dogs, reactive dogs, high-energy dogs, big-feeling dogs, and family pets, hosted by a canine nutritionist, nutrition coach, dog coach, dog coaching specialist, and retired vet tech, with episodes covering dog food, canine enrichment, dog training, dog nutrition, canine nutrition, dog gut health, dog grief, dog products, and science-backed routines that help dogs feel safer, healthier, calmer, and more understood while offering practical steps, enrichment ideas, behavior strategies, body language insights, and daily habits to support any dog and create a more confident, connected life with dogs.