We talk a lot about how dogs love us. But what if one of their greatest gifts isn’t just how they love—but how they receive love?

In this episode of Life Lessons from Dog, Kari shares a personal conversation that sparked a deeper reflection on what it means to let love in—especially when it feels unfamiliar. From a quiet moment on the couch with her Malamute, Eden, to the stories we carry about worthiness, productivity, and self-protection, this episode explores the vulnerability of being loved exactly as you are.

If you’ve ever struggled to soften into love, to trust it without questioning, or to receive care without feeling like you have to earn it—this one’s for you.

Topics include:

• Why receiving love can feel more vulnerable than giving it

• The connection between worthiness and overthinking

• What dogs model for us about presence and trust

• A story about Eden’s quiet companionship that changed everything

Tune in for a heartfelt reminder that you don’t have to be perfect to be loved—and that maybe, just maybe, it’s time to let the love in.

Why do we assume a fearful dog must have been abused? Or that a reactive dog is simply “too much to handle”? In this episode of Life Lessons from Dog, Kari Solberg unpacks the quiet power of the stories we tell—about our dogs, and about ourselves.

Through personal reflection and real-world training experience, Kari explores how narratives shape behavior, influence expectations, and often hold both people and dogs back from real growth. You’ll hear about Bianca and her puppies, and how even the most ideal upbringing doesn’t always override genetic wiring. You’ll also hear how the assumptions we carry—about trauma, identity, or ability—can quietly shape our choices, our relationships, and our progress.

Whether you’re navigating reactivity in your dog or bumping up against an old belief in yourself, this episode invites you to pause and ask: is this story helping… or holding me back?

Because sometimes, the biggest breakthroughs start with changing the story.

Play isn’t just for puppies—and it’s not something we’re meant to grow out of. In this episode of Life Lessons from Dog, Kari explores the essential role of play in both dog training and daily life. Drawing from years of experience with dogs who had forgotten how to engage socially, Kari shares how structured play brought balance, confidence, and joy back into their lives—and how a recent life transition revealed just how much she needed that same medicine, too.

You’ll hear stories of transformation from dogs like Archie and Ollie, reflections on what burnout can teach us about the absence of play, and a gentle invitation to reclaim the moments of silliness, curiosity, and connection that help us feel alive.

If you’ve been stuck in the grind or feeling disconnected from joy, this episode is your reminder: play isn’t frivolous. It’s healing. And it might be the very thing you didn’t know you were missing.Play isn’t just for puppies—and it’s not something we’re meant to grow out of. In this episode of Life Lessons from Dog, Kari explores the essential role of play in both dog training and daily life. Drawing from years of experience with dogs who had forgotten how to engage socially, Kari shares how structured play brought balance, confidence, and joy back into their lives—and how a recent life transition revealed just how much she needed that same medicine, too.

You’ll hear stories of transformation from dogs like Archie and Ollie, reflections on what burnout can teach us about the absence of play, and a gentle invitation to reclaim the moments of silliness, curiosity, and connection that help us feel alive.

If you’ve been stuck in the grind or feeling disconnected from joy, this episode is your reminder: play isn’t frivolous. It’s healing. And it might be the very thing you didn’t know you were missing.