She Found Dog Training in Prison and Built Her Whole Life Around What It Gave Her | Healing With Dogs

Have you ever felt like you've made too many mistakes to start over—whether with your dog, your career, or your life? Shame has a way of convincing us that our past defines us. But what if the things you've survived are actually the foundation for the life you're building now? In this powerful conversation, dog trainer and educator Mattison Skoog Simpson shares her journey from incarceration to building a successful dog training business rooted in compassion, communication, and second chances. We talk about trauma, healing, mental health, emotional resilience, dog training, and how dogs can help us reconnect with ourselves when we feel completely lost. Madison opens up about finding purpose through pain, learning to let go of shame, and why both people and dogs deserve the opportunity to start again. In This Episode, You'll Hear: How working with dogs during incarceration helped rebuild trust, identity, purpose, and emotional wellbeing. Why shame, trauma, and self criticism can keep us stuck—and what it takes to begin healing and moving forward. How relationship based training, emotional regulation, and compassionate communication create lasting change for both dogs and humans. If you've ever felt discouraged, judged, unsupported, or like you've made too many mistakes to recover from, this episode is a reminder that growth is always possible and that second chances can change everything. Listen now for an honest conversation about dog training, trust, trauma, mental health, emotional healing, self compassion, purpose, emotional resilience, relationship with your dog, reactive dog behavior, and the power of starting over. 🐾💜 Dog Nutrition Quiz Not sure if what you’re feeding is actually supporting your dog?Take the free quiz and get access to the Mini Bowl Blueprint 👉⁠ https://tinyurl.com/feedingquiz Free 15-Minute Clarity Call Feeling stuck or unsure what your dog needs? We’ll talk through what’s going on and find the next step together. 👉⁠ https://tinyurl.com/tdwafmbooknow⁠ PetMatRx Supplements We Trust Supplements that support gut health and daily wellness. Use code FITZ20 to save. 👉⁠ https://tinyurl.com/PETMATRXtdwafm⁠ Email ⁠⁠em@thedogwhoaskedformore.com⁠⁠ to get in touch with Em This podcast explores real life with dogs — including dog behavior, reactivity, dog anxiety, stress in dogs, fearful dogs, and everyday training challenges. It’s for dog parents who are overwhelmed navigating life with dogs and want a clearer understanding of their dog, practical support, and a stronger bond while creating a calmer daily life with their dogs. Episodes cover canine nutrition, dog body language, dog communication, dog food and behavior, gut health, dog wellness, enrichment for dogs, dog enrichment activities, routines, dog lifestyle, and regulation — so life with your dog can feel calmer, more manageable, and more sustainable. Hosted by a dog trainer, canine nutrition coach, and retired vet tech, the show blends training, nutrition, and enrichment to support and bond with sensitive, anxious, pure-bred, and rescue dogs at home and in real life. Affiliate links support the podcast and help fuel the RV dream 💛