Why Redemption Stories Offer the Most Powerful Dog Training Lessons

Straight Up Dog Talk: Support for Reactivity, Dog Food & Burnout — Training, Nutrition & Enrichment

What if the most powerful dog training lessons came from the last place you’d expect—inside a prison?
In this deeply moving episode, Em sits down with Mattison Skoog-Simpson, founder of Freed By Training, to share what she learned from working inside a prison dog program. This is about more than obedience—it’s about building trust, emotional healing, and training that meets both dogs and humans with compassion and grace.

You'll Learn:

• Learn how prison dog programs foster trust-based training for lasting results

• Discover why connection > control in both reactive dog parenting and self-leadership

• Get inspired to shift from shame or guilt into partnership, empathy, and emotional healing

Press play to explore a powerful reframe on dog training—one rooted in second chances, slower timelines, and deeper trust.

👉 Connect with Mattison + get free resources:

Instagram: @freedbytraining

Website: freedbytraining.co

Straight Up Dog Talk Extras:

Get a free copy of Feeding without Fear for mealtime manners

https://straightupdogtalk.com/programs-%26-freebies/ols/products/feeding-without-fear

Book FREE 15-minute call with Em

https://tinyurl.com/booknowsudt

Email [email protected] to get in touch with Em

This podcast explores real-life dog behavior and training, diving into reactivity, barking, dog anxiety, aggression, picky eating, gut health, and dog food—while unpacking enrichment, mental stimulation, supplements, calming aids, and holistic pet wellness. Whether you’re raising a rescue dog, supporting a senior dog, managing a velcro dog, or just navigating life with a dog who’s asking for more, you’ll find practical tools to build trust, strengthen communication, and create a safe, thriving life together.