Episode Details

She spent five years in prison. For the first 30 days of the dog training program there, she wasn't allowed to have a dog at all, just a leash, walking alongside handlers who did.

Em talks with Madison Skoog Simpson about the prison dog training program that changed the direction of her life, the medication and mental health struggles she navigated while incarcerated, and how the training philosophy she started with eventually gave way to something completely different once she came home.

You'll hear:

• What the first 30 days of the program actually looked like, and why dogs weren't part of it yet
• How Madison's approach to training shifted after a friend told her "efficiency isn't enough"
• What she wants people to understand about dogs labeled "too much" and the people who've been labeled the same way

Press play if you've ever needed proof that it's possible to rebuild something real from the hardest place you've been.

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📧 em@thedogwhoaskedformore.com

This podcast explores life with dogs, dog behavior, dog behavior problems, dog obedience, dog anxiety, reactive dogs, dog reactivity, and dog training. It's for the dog community navigating overwhelm, guilt, burnout, and self-doubt while struggling to keep up with a dog who asks for more. Episodes cover canine nutrition, dog food, dog enrichment, dog body language, dog communication, emotional healing, self-trust, personal growth, and finding real relief in the connection you have with your dog. Whether you're raising a reactive dog, feeling discouraged, or simply trying to better understand your dog and yourself, this podcast helps you create a calmer life together and strengthen the bond that changes both of you. We're now building to take this conversation on the road, bringing honest support directly to dog parents around the world.

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