The Dr. Laura Podcast – Episode Summary

Episode Title: “Bear With Me” for This Update
Date: February 13, 2026
Host: Dr. Laura Schlessinger
Main Theme: Dr. Laura gives a personal update on her new puppy, Bear, providing insights into puppy training, adoption, fostering, and the dynamics between her two dogs. The episode is light-hearted and relatable for pet owners, revolving around the challenges and joys of raising a rescue puppy.

Overview

This episode centers on Dr. Laura’s heartfelt and humorous update about her journey as a “foster fail”—she adopted Bear, a rescue puppy she was fostering from a kill shelter. Dr. Laura candidly shares the ups and downs, from sleepless nights to the rapid progress Bear is making, and muses about his mysterious breed. Along the way, she reflects on effective puppy training and the shifting dynamics between Bear and her older dog, Lily.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Adopting Bear: From Foster to Family

• Dr. Laura confesses:
  “I’m a foster fail. I adopted the dog. Crazy me. I haven’t had a night's sleep since.” (02:04)
• She reveals the challenges of crate training and the impact on her sleep schedule.

2. Rapid Puppy Progress and Training Techniques

• Bear’s impressive achievements:
  • Knows his name, can “sit,” “come here,” “down.”
  • Waits for permission before eating or taking treats: “He waits and looks at me until I release him to eat.” (02:40)
• Dr. Laura’s training secret:
  • Short, consistent training: “I only do like five minutes twice a day training, that’s it. … he soaks it up like a sponge.” (03:08-03:16)
• She compares Bear’s learning speed to her previous dogs: “I don’t think I’ve ever had a dog—even the poodle—who got things that fast.” (03:01)

3. Bear’s Breed Mystery

• Dr. Laura notes Bear’s ambiguous look: “He looks like about three other dogs. … Somebody said in the parking lot, ‘What is it?’ I have no idea.” (03:36-03:38)
• She’s awaiting results from a mailed DNA test to solve the mystery.
• Bear has doubled his weight in three weeks, raising concerns about his eventual size.

4. Technology & Fun Attempts to Solve the Breed Puzzle

• Tried using her iPhone’s photo-ID feature:
  “One time it came back as Saint Bernard.” (07:09)
  • Dr. Laura’s comedic response: “That’s a no. Okay. No, no and no. But he’s certainly a mix.” (07:10-07:12)

5. Coping with Puppy Challenges

• Nighttime routines:
  • “I wake him up to go pee to make sure he doesn’t pee in his crate. So I’m the problem.” (07:17)
  • Despite Bear being able to sleep through, Dr. Laura maintains scheduled bathroom breaks, causing her own sleep deprivation.
• Lighthearted regret:
  • “The only time I regret is 2 in the morning. I go, why did I do this? And then in the morning I go, that’s why—he’s too cute.” (08:26-08:29)

6. Bear & Lily: Dog Dynamics

• Older dog Lily is adapting:
  • “Lily is playing with him a little more. She’s tolerating him. … She feels bugged by him sometimes. … They do play, they run around each other, but when Lily’s napping or something, she just gets up and walks away if he bugs her.” (07:55-08:15)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On fostering and adopting:
  “I’m a foster fail. I adopted the dog. Crazy me. I haven’t had a night’s sleep since.” — Dr. Laura (02:04)
• On Bear's training:
  “He soaks it up like a sponge … and he’s awfully cute.” — Dr. Laura (03:09)
• On the confusion over breed:
  “One time it came back as Saint Bernard.”
  “That’s a no. Okay. No, no and no.” — Dr. Laura (07:09–07:12)
• Honest sentiment:
  “The only time I regret is 2 in the morning. I go, why did I do this? And then in the morning I go, that’s why—he’s too cute.” — Dr. Laura (08:26–08:29)

Timeline and Timestamps

• [02:04] Adoption reveal & sleepless nights
• [02:41] Bear’s obedience training routines
• [03:16] Dr. Laura’s summary of Bear’s intelligence
• [03:36] Uncertainty about Bear’s breed
• [04:09] Bear’s rapid growth update
• [07:09] Attempting to use technology for identification
• [07:17] Nighttime potty routines
• [07:55] Lily & Bear’s relationship
• [08:26] Dr. Laura’s late-night regrets and morning joys

Tone and Style

Dr. Laura’s tone is candid, humorous, and warm, infusing personal anecdotes with relatable frustrations and parental pride. She’s direct but affectionate, with a self-deprecating sense of humor about her sleeplessness and her status as a “foster fail.”

For Listeners

Anyone considering fostering, adopting a pet, or just looking for a warm, human (and canine!) touch will find Dr. Laura’s update both reassuring and amusing. She leaves listeners with a sense of camaraderie about pet ownership — both its challenges and its heartfelt rewards.