Podcast Summary – The Dating Detectives

Episode: The Dog Show Dogfish: Part 1

Date: November 10, 2025
Hosts: Mackenzie Fultz (Private Investigator), Hannah Anderson (Comedian)
Guest: Jessica
Main Theme: Unraveling a high-stakes romance scam within the dog show world, coined as a “Show Dogfish”

Overview

In this riveting first part of a two-part episode, Mackenzie and Hannah dive deep with guest Jessica into a harrowing story of manipulation, grief, and financial exploitation within the close-knit dog show community. The episode invents the term “Show Dogfish” to describe romance scammers who prey on their victims within specific hobbyist circles. Jessica bravely shares how she became entangled with “Dylan,” a well-known dog trainer who took advantage of her vulnerability following her father’s death, leading to emotional devastation and serious legal entanglements.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Setting the Stage: “Dogfish” Defined

• [01:15] Mackenzie introduces the vocabulary:
  • “Dogfish” is a step beyond “catfish”; it’s an expert scammer.
  • Because Jessica and her scammer were involved in dog shows, this is now a “Show Dogfish.”

“Dogfish is what we made up for calling a true scam artist in the dating world. More than a catfish. Like real deep, not there for what they say they are.” – Mackenzie (01:15)

2. Jessica’s Background & Connection to Dylan

• [05:30] Jessica shares her life as a rural dog groomer and competitor, recently featured in a magazine for her accomplishments.
• [06:52] Dylan, a skilled dog trainer, messages Jessica with congratulations; prior knowledge of each other via the dog world but not direct friendship.
• Initial exchanges are friendly and not overtly flirtatious.

3. Emotional Vulnerability and Escalation

• [07:21] Jessica’s father falls severely ill; she’s isolated, dealing with a breakup, and seeking connection.
• Dylan leverages late-night calls and emotional support, becoming Jessica’s confidante in a time of grief.
• [09:36] The hosts discuss the natural human need for someone to listen as a scammer’s key point of entry.

“Everybody just wants somebody to listen. Yeah, it’s so normal, but it can set you up in a scary way.” – Mackenzie (09:36)

4. The In-Person Meeting and Relationship Acceleration

• [13:58] Jessica’s father must travel for medical treatment—coincidentally to Dylan’s state. Dylan offers support and a place to stay.
• [16:18] Their first meeting is intimate, comforting to Jessica, who is overwhelmed by her father’s illness and tumultuous home situation (ex-partner still living with her).
• The relationship quickly progresses emotionally and physically during this stressful period.

5. Grief, Dependence, and Proposal

• [19:48] Jessica’s father dies suddenly in hospital after a whirlwind of illness, further isolating her.
• [22:53] Dylan is near-instantly at her side, filling every support gap, and soon ramps up the romance: “I’m in love with you,” “we’ll be a power couple.”
• [31:21] He sends elaborate photos of diamond rings but proposes with a simple pearl ring, overwhelming Jessica with rapid talk of weddings and a shared future.
• Jessica acknowledges her mental state: “I’m so overwhelmed with all of this...I didn’t think he would actually go through with that.”

6. Financial Exploitation Under Duress

• [39:44] Dylan manipulates Jessica into wiring $40,000 for a vehicle, which he claims he can “haggle for” with cash.
• Jessica reflects that she wasn’t in her right mind and did it just to “get it off her plate.”
• [40:50] She receives the car, but the vehicle title and paperwork remain in Dylan’s control. When asking questions, she’s shut down or met with anger.

7. Control, Isolation, and Forced Commitment

• [46:00] Dylan pushes for a prompt marriage, preferring a courthouse wedding with the promise of a more elaborate celebration later.
• Jessica feels swept up and unable to push back: “People have said...that was so out of character for you...but I’d never lost my dad before.” (47:24)
• [47:51] At a critical moment, Jessica asks for a timeline (“because I have dogs!”), and Dylan explodes, rips up the marriage license, and abruptly leaves—a major red flag of emotional volatility and control.

“He just took the beautiful marriage license and ripped it up, rolled down his window and chucked it out the window...I just...I don’t even know what to think or feel...” – Jessica (49:33)

8. Push & Pull: Manipulation Peaks

• [57:51] After the blowup, Dylan returns with apologies and love-bombs Jessica: flowers, cards, and renewed professions of love.
• He then shows up unannounced, insisting they leave immediately for New Mexico to get married—which she does, almost in a trance state.

9. Control & Entrapment

• [62:35] Post-courthouse wedding, Jessica feels Dylan’s disengagement and apathy; she’s isolated, without transportation, and now feels truly trapped.
• At his mother’s house (who is also portrayed as eccentric and enabling of Dylan), he takes Jessica’s truck keys and controls all movement, reinforcing her powerlessness.

“He goes, yeah, why? You don’t need them. You’re not going anywhere.” – Dylan, recounted by Jessica (66:05)

• [66:05] Jessica’s self-reflection highlights profound personal change: “I had been single from the time I was about 22...I had my own home, my own business...to be feeling so vulnerable and controlled, that really didn’t sit well with me.”

10. The Breaking Point

• [74:00] At a dog event, Jessica gets word that her dog is gravely ill at home. She uses this real crisis as a means to escape, driving ten hours back. There’s an immediate feeling of relief at being home.
• [78:00] Jessica learns from her dog-sitter that a process server tried to find Dylan at her home to serve him lawsuit papers.
• With help from her lawyer, Jessica discovers online court records: Dylan is being sued for $2 million for fraud.

“It’s $2 million for fraud.” – Jessica (81:53)

• Jessica is struck with terror about her own liability and the gravity of the situation: “Now I’m married to the guy. Does that mean my assets are in jeopardy...I have, I’m in trouble. I’m in big trouble.” (81:57)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Community & Shame

  "[Jessica] talked a lot about how other guest stories have inspired her and made her feel a little less dumb, a little less alone.” – Mackenzie (03:50)

• The ‘Dogfish’ Lexicon

  “Show dog fish...because she does show dogs.” – Mackenzie (01:56)

• Red Flags in Action

  “Delete me makes it easy, quick, and safe to remove your personal data online at a time when surveillance and data breaches are common enough to make everyone vulnerable.” – Mackenzie (10:44)

• Manipulation Revealed

  “He starts sending me the t-shirts and the sweatshirts with his team logo...we’ll show up at dog events, and we’re the power couples with the matching cars...” – Jessica (40:50)

• Raw Vulnerability

  “I, in all honesty, I probably knew before I married him that this could be a mistake. But he was real good at explaining himself and spinning it into, I’m just so afraid to lose you.” – Jessica (66:22)

Important Timestamps

• 01:15: The origin of the “Show Dogfish” term
• 05:29: Jessica begins sharing her personal story
• 16:17–19:45: Jessica meets Dylan in-person; Father’s illness and passing
• 31:21–35:00: Dylan escalates talk of marriage and finances
• 39:44–42:50: The $40,000 car purchase and lack of vehicle title
• 46:00–49:33: Dylan insists on getting a marriage license, then destroys it in a fit of anger
• 57:51: Dylan’s “love bombing” (apologies and excessive affection) post-conflict
• 62:35: Jessica describes feelings of entrapment after marriage
• 66:05: Realization of being stripped of independence (keys taken)
• 74:00: Jessica uses her dog’s health crisis as escape from Dylan during a trip
• 78:00–81:57: Discovery of lawsuit, learning about Dylan’s multimillion dollar fraud

Cliffhanger & What’s Next

• The episode ends with Jessica in a panic after discovering Dylan’s $2 million fraud lawsuit, worried about her own exposure and desperate for a path out.
• The hosts tease that even they don’t yet know the conclusion (“We’re suffering together!” – Mackenzie, 83:15), promising to revisit and debrief the case thoroughly in Part 2.

Listener Takeaways

• The story is a stark warning about how grief and emotional upheaval can make people vulnerable to scammers—even those in shared communities and niche hobbies.
• Psychological grooming is often gradual but relentless; red flags include sudden love-bombing, requests for large sums of money, and attempts to isolate a partner from friends, transportation, or independent decision-making.
• Listeners are encouraged to send questions for Jessica ahead of Part 2 and reminded of the importance of trusting their “fun-tuition” (gut instinct).

Tone

• Deeply empathetic, candid, with moments of dry humor (especially from Hannah).
• The hosts intentionally maintain a supportive and non-judgmental atmosphere, validating Jessica's experience and encouraging survivor solidarity.

Next Episode: Tune in for Part 2 for the aftermath, repercussions, and a “Dogfish debrief” analyzing red flags and learning opportunities for the Dating Detectives community.