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.

In this episode:

• 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://tinyurl.com/fearfreetdwafm

Book a FREE 15-minute call with Em

https://tinyurl.com/tdwafmbooknow

Email [email protected] to get in touch with Em

This podcast explores real-life dog behavior and training through the lens of a canine nutritionist, dog coach, and retired vet tech—diving into reactivity, dog obedience, dog health, dog food, dog habits, dog lifestyle, canine enrichment, pet enrichment, dog myths, and what it actually takes to support reactive dogs safely and calmly. Whether you’re a dog mom navigating reactivity, building the human–dog bond, choosing dog products, or just trying to create a calmer dog life with your canine, you’ll find grounded strategies to build trust, improve dog behavior, and help your dog feel safe, understood, and supported.