“Your dog’s just feeding off your energy.”

It’s a phrase we hear all the time. But what if blaming the handler is more deflection than diagnosis?

In this episode, we’re digging into the moments when well-meaning advice turns into unhelpful blame—and how that narrative can actually get in the way of real progress. You’ll hear the story of Ollie, a reactive dog whose human was told she wasn’t doing enough—until a new approach shifted everything. We’ll explore what can happen when we stop pointing fingers and start creating clarity, and why real success is about more than just corrections and control.

Because sometimes, it’s not about trying harder.

It’s about finding a system that actually works—for both ends of the leash.

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Want more? Join Kari on Substack at lifelessonsfromdog.substack.com or follow along on TikTok and Blue Sky @lifelessonsfromdog.

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