Roman's Holistic Dog Training

Roman's Holistic Dog Training Helping guardians reach their dog's full potential by teaching them holistic philosophy of dog parent I approach dog behavior from a systemic perspective.
(1)

Since 2007 my vision is that dog owners should know how to teach their dogs the basic social skills. My Holistic dog training approach implements Trauma-Informed , Secure Attachment, Force three approach, Instead of the common “alpha theory” (based on fear and submission), or balanced training (punishment for mistakes and reward for complicated)I create trusted, secure attachment relationships tha

t foster human leadership and reach your dog’s potential. We look at the whole system and environment to understand triggers and create success that lasts. I coach people too, to understand the natural needs and responses of his/her dog. I will point out characteristics specific to each breed or breed-mix and work with their natural skills and tendencies. Dog guardians learn to heal behaviors and reinforce the good ones with clear communication, love, empathy and trust. My methods work quickly and effectively. Most clients see first results after one session. NOTE:
While all post are educational, I might share links to recommended items. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. You will recognize them from “(paid link)”, “ ” or “ ”.

07/13/2025

We’re told dog training must be ethical. But what does that really mean?
Too often, ethics in our field are reduced to checklists and compliance. But if we zoom out - and center the dog as a whole, sentient being - we start to see how limited those definitions really are.

🐕 At the Body level
We’re told it’s ethical as long as there’s no pain.
• The shock collar didn’t leave a mark? ✅ Ethical.
• The crate gives them space to turn around? ✅ Ethical.
• The leash is loose, even if the dog has shut down? ✅ Ethical.

But avoiding harm isn’t the same as creating safety. This is where I began to question my ethics.
It’s why I became a crossover trainer. Because I realized I had been upholding “ethical” standards that still caused suffering.

🧠 At the Mind level
Now we ask: How does the dog feel?
• The tool may not hurt - but does it create fear or confusion?
• The dog may comply - but are they emotionally regulated?
• We may avoid punishment - but are we building real trust?

Here, many professionals lean into LIMA - Least Intrusive, Minimally Aversive.
But I didn’t stop there. I openly criticized LIMA before the LIFE model was ever introduced. And I encouraged my colleagues to upgrade their framework - to move beyond minimizing harm and toward honoring emotional truth.
Because if any part of the dog is shut down -we’re not being ethical. We’re being efficient.

✨ At the Spirit level
This is where the conversation shifts entirely.
We ask: What if this being has a purpose?What if what we call “misbehavior” is part of their purchase , their message, their identity? Dogs are sentient. They feel. They remember. They carry stories in their nervous systems that no checklist can reach.
But we still decide for them - without asking: Who are you here to become?
And now, I find myself questioning LIFE too -Least Inhibitive, Functionally Effective.
A thoughtful and much-needed evolution from LIMA - one that finally centers inhibition as part of the ethical cost,and moves us closer to respecting the dog’s autonomy.
But even LIFE, as powerful as it is, still orients us toward function - toward what is effective, manageable, measurable.
And so I ask:What if our role isn’t just to limit intrusion, but to foster purpose?

I know some people who’ve reached the Mind level still roll their eyes when I say I’m an energy healer and intuitive practitioner.
And I understand. That level has its limits. For many, that’s where the journey ends. But not for me. I keep going because I believe true ethics means never arriving. Always listening.
Always evolving.
Always returning to the dog’s lived experience as the most honest data we have.
Even when it challenges my identity. Even when it leads me into the unknown. Because that’s where healing lives.

🌀 Want to go deeper? This is exactly what I do inside my mentorship program - for professionals who feel like LIMA isn’t enough, and LIFE isn’t the end. We explore the Body. We attune to the Mind. And we begin to trust the Spirit.

I show you what I’ve learned to see, and help you build the skills and presence to reach your own HEAL level of practice.

This is about more than changing behavior. It’s about becoming the kind of guide a sentient being can trust.

👣 Ready to evolve your practice - ethically, emotionally, and intuitively?

Let’s begin that journey together.👉 https://holisticdogtraining.as.me/Short-Web

Watch carefully
07/12/2025

Watch carefully

07/12/2025

Looking to understand and address complex behaviors in dogs? A trauma informed behavior consultation is key for holistic dog training and improving human-dog relationships. Need more info? Type high-five in the comments.

07/09/2025

Leash training starts with theory- part 1

07/08/2025

What to do if your dog to feel uncomfortable being leashed?

No animal does “wrong” in the human moral sense. Animals do not have a concept of morality; their behaviors are adaptive...
06/30/2025

No animal does “wrong” in the human moral sense. Animals do not have a concept of morality; their behaviors are adaptive responses to their environment and social structures.

Punishing a dog’s behavior is often perceived by the dog as aggression or a threat, which can lead to increased fear, anxiety, and even aggressive responses from the dog. Physical or harsh verbal punishment can make a dog feel unsafe, causing stress and insecurity that may manifest as defensive or aggressive behaviors.

That’s why you will never see me punishing or correcting a dog for a behavior.

Something only few professionals can wrap their head around…

References:
de Waal, F. (2016). Are We Smart Enough to Know How Smart Animals Are?

Bekoff, M. (2004). Wild Justice: The Moral Lives of Animals.

Tinbergen, N. (1963). On aims and methods of ethology

The Iscp. "Will Punishment Make Your Dog Aggressive?"

Cohen S. (2015) A Punished Dog Is an Aggressive Dog.

06/26/2025

Supporting Learning Through Relationship: Moving Beyond Behavior Charts

In the field of dog behavior, much like early childhood development, we’ve leaned heavily on structured frameworks to explain how learning occurs. One of the most referenced frameworks is known as “the quadrants”—positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement, positive punishment, and negative punishment. These terms help categorize how consequences affect future behavior. But when it comes to helping dogs thrive, emotionally, relationally, and behaviorally, quadrants alone aren’t enough.

Just as children aren’t motivated solely by reward and consequence, neither are dogs. Our relationships with them shape how they feel, learn, and grow.

Centering Safety and Emotional Connection

Dogs learn best in environments where they feel safe. When our interactions foster a sense of emotional safety, we reduce stress and create space for curiosity, flexibility, and engagement. This mirrors what we know from developmental science: learning is relational, and safety is the foundation for growth (Porges, 2011; Van der Kolk, 2014).

In practice, this means observing closely, responding with empathy, and adapting to each dog’s comfort level. We’re not simply managing behavior, we’re nurturing emotional regulation and mutual trust.

“When individuals feel safe, the social engagement system is accessible, supporting learning and social interaction.”
(Porges, 2011, paraphrased)

Agency as a Developmental Need

Rather than striving for compliance, I help dogs build the confidence to make choices. Providing dogs with agency—a sense of control over their actions—isn’t permissiveness; it’s a developmental support. Much like a child who thrives when given autonomy within secure boundaries, dogs flourish when we allow them to opt in and out of interactions without fear or coercion.

In my trauma informed work, I’ve seen again and again how offering dogs choices creates a feedback loop of safety, trust, and deeper engagement. It’s through this relational rhythm that real learning happens.

“Being able to feel safe with other people is probably the single most important aspect of mental health.”
(Van der Kolk, 2014, p. 81)

A Living Example: Tilly’s Top Of The Hill Game

Tilly, my Rough Collie, demonstrates how simple interactions can become opportunities for mutual learning. We began with an activity I call the “Top Of The Hill Game.” I loured her with a treat onto a raised mat (podest), and she voluntarily stepped up. No force, no pressure. When she stepped on the mat with all four paws, I acknowledged it with a treat. Then I tossed another off the mat, inviting her to step away.

What followed was not a drill—it was a conversation. She returned on her own and offered a down, so I responded with another treat. It became a co-created rhythm: come, lay down, toss, return. When she later chose a softer mat, I followed her lead, then gently guided her back to the podest with subtle feedback. Through this, we developed a shared language, built not on commands, but mutual responsiveness.

Honoring Breed-Specific Needs

Just as every child’s development is shaped by temperament and biology, every dog brings their own instincts and history to the table. Ancient and guardian breeds were developed for independence and environmental sensitivity—not immediate obedience. In contrast, many modern pet breeds were selectively bred for sociability and trainability.

Expecting a Pyrenees or Akbash to have a border collie recall, or a Cane Corso or Neo to approach strangers like a Golden Retriever, ignores these deeply rooted traits. Respecting these genetic profiles helps us adjust expectations and set dogs up for emotional success.

Relationship Is the Real Method

Over the course of my work with thousands of dogs and families, I’ve learned that change doesn’t come from reward schedules or correction systems—it comes from connection and trust. When we tune into a dog’s biological, emotional, social, learning and cognitive needs, we begin to see behavior as communication, not defiance. And when we respond with warmth, clarity, and presence, we help dogs regulate and feel safe enough to grow and reach their potential.

This is the heart of my approach: a trauma informed, relationship-based model of canine care where learning happens in the context of safety and emotional resonance. Quadrants may explain how behavior changes, but they can’t explain why dogs choose to trust us. Only relationships can do that.

A Shared Responsibility

Much like educators, evaluators, and therapists working with children, every person on a dog’s care team—guardian, trainer, vet, or behaviorist—plays a role in creating emotionally supportive environments. When we all center safety and relationship in our work, we unify around a common principle that helps dogs, and humans, thrive.

📹 Watch the full video of Tilly’s game to see this in action. ( and our neighbor coming for a surprise visit.)

Whether you’re a professional trainer, a dedicated foster, or simply someone who loves dogs deeply, you’re already part of their emotional landscape. I support people across all roles, guardians, educators, and caregivers, in learning how to bring safety, secure attachment, and compassion into their daily interactions with dogs. These aren’t advanced techniques reserved for specialists; they’re relationship-based skills that anyone can learn. Together, we can raise dogs who feel understood, supported, and truly connected.

If you’re interested, let me know in the comments.

Yes, dogs can learn new behaviors, but learning doesn’t happen in isolation. It happens within a system.If a dog lunges ...
06/26/2025

Yes, dogs can learn new behaviors, but learning doesn’t happen in isolation. It happens within a system.
If a dog lunges at a visitor, freezes at the sound of a truck, or growls at a family member, it’s not “misbehavior.” It’s an interaction with context, with environment, with objects, with beings and based on their internal state.

From a holistic perspective, behavior is never just about the behavior itself.
Just like the forest, is not about the wood.
It’s about the dog’s relationship to what’s in front of them.
We have to ask:
What meaning has the dog assigned to this person, animal, or space?
What past experiences shaped that meaning?
What cues in the environment are reinforcing that interpretation?

A leash might represent safety to one dog, loss of agency to another, and association to pain for this particular dog.
A person walking a dog on the other side of the street might mean nothing to you, but to a dog with trauma history, it may represent an unresolved memory, a trapped incomplete survival experience.

Another dog approaching could signal a play opportunity, or, biased by past experiences, it could unconsciously trigger anxieties or defensive behaviors rooted in earlier attachment patterns and formative social encounters.

The key insight: dogs don’t just respond to stimuli, they respond to their interpretation of it.
And that interpretation is shaped by memory, emotion, genetics, early learning and felt safety.

So when we say “replace the behavior,” we have to be aware:
We’re not replacing a physical action. We’re aim to reshaping the dog’s internal experience, their emotional associations, expectations, and sense of safety, so that their outward behavior naturally shifts as their perception of the world changes.

We’re helping the dog re-encounter the world in a new way, where that object, space, or being no longer carries the same emotional charge. Dont be fooled to believe that happens with repetition alone. It happens with shifting the dog’s POV emotional safety, agency, co-regulation, and quite often by improuving the dog’s health, attachment and self management.
This isn’t about operant conditioning. It’s deep neuro-emotional work. In some cases it’s about the behavior practitioner’s self reflection…

Want your dog to stop reacting?
Then you need to understand what their nervous system is reacting to, why it believes that reaction is the best available option, and often question why their behavior is bothering you.

This is why surface-level training protocols often fail, especially for dogs labeled “reactive” or “difficult.”
This is why having only quadrants, impeccable timing and the yummierst treats may not be enoght to help your dog or your client.

If you’re ready to explore the full relational ecology behind your dog’s behavior, how they interpret, interact, and adapt, I offer consultations, mentoring and guidance rooted in holistic, applied ethology and trauma-informed human-dog-relational therapy.

You’re warmly invited to reach out and discover whether holistic training is the path your soul, and your dog, has been searching for.

🚨 BREAKING: EU In Process To Passing Historic Animal Welfare Law for Dogs and Cats 🐾June 19, 2025: Is European Parliamen...
06/25/2025

🚨 BREAKING: EU In Process To Passing Historic Animal Welfare Law for Dogs and Cats 🐾

June 19, 2025: Is European Parliament in favor of sweeping reforms that set minimum EU-wide standards for the welfare, breeding, sale, and import of dogs and cats? This would mark a monumental shift toward ethical, science-backed care.

🚫 Training Tools & Handling
• Prong and choke collars without safety stops are now banned.
• Positive reinforcement is the standard. Training methods based on fear or pain are flagged for future prohibition.
• The Commission is empowered to ban additional devices—including shock collars—if found to cause pain or psychological harm (Article 7.3).

🧬 Ethical Breeding Rules
• Inbreeding is banned (no breeding between parents & offspring, siblings, half-siblings, or grandparents & grandchildren).
• No breeding for extreme conformational traits that cause suffering (e.g., flat faces, excessive skin folds).
• Litters are limited to 3 within 2 years, with mandatory recovery periods.
• Dogs with mutilations or harmful traits are barred from shows that promote unethical breeding.

🌍 New Import & Trade Standards
• All imported dogs and cats must be microchipped and registered before entering the EU.
• They must be entered into an EU member state’s database within 2 days of arrival.
• Only pre-approved third countries with humane breeding oversight can export pets to the EU.
• A new pet travel notification system will track non-commercial entries to block fraud and illegal trade.

📣 This is a turning point. For the first time, the EU is drawing a legal line: our pets are not products, and their emotional and physical well-being matters.

Let’s make sure this bill passes.
🐶💛 No more suffering behind closed doors. No more cruelty disguised as training. No more unchecked puppy mills.

Thank you Linda Michaels MA for raising awearness

https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-10-2025-0135_EN.pdf

How to Help Your Dog with Heat Stroke: Medical Expert GuidanceHeat stroke in dogs is a life-threatening emergency. Immed...
06/23/2025

How to Help Your Dog with Heat Stroke: Medical Expert Guidance

Heat stroke in dogs is a life-threatening emergency. Immediate action can save your dog’s life.

🚨 What to Do Right Away
• Move your dog to shade or a cool, well-ventilated area [2][3][9].
• Begin cooling immediately using cool (not cold) water—pour it over the body or use a wet sponge. Focus on the groin, armpits, belly, and paws [2][3][5][7].
• Use a fan to increase evaporative cooling [4][7][9].
• Offer small sips of cool water—never force them to drink [2][7].
• Avoid ice or ice-cold water—these can constrict blood vessels and cause shock [2][5].
• Do not drape wet towels over your dog, they trap heat. You can place damp towels under your dog in mild cases [2].
• If available, check their temperature, cool them down to 103°F (39.4°C) but no lower [3][5][9].

🏥 Get to a Vet Immediately

Even if your dog seems to improve, veterinary care is essential. Heat stroke causes invisible internal damage that needs expert treatment [1][3][5][7].
• Transport your dog right away while continuing cooling and using car A/C [1][4].
• Call ahead so your vet can prepare.

💉 What Vets Do
• Administer IV fluids, oxygen therapy, and medications for inflammation, clotting, and neurological support [4][5][7].
• Monitor for organ failure, brain swelling, clotting disorders, and delayed complications [1][5][7].
• Your dog may need hospitalization for monitoring and supportive care.

⚠️ Know the Signs
• Heavy panting, drooling, weakness, collapse
• Vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, or confusion
• Bright red gums or very pale gums
• Risk is highest in flat-faced breeds, seniors, overweight dogs, and dogs with medical issues [1][2][7]

☀️ How to Prevent It
• Skip walks and play during hot/humid weather
• Walk in early morning or late evening
• Never leave your dog in a car—even for a minute
• Provide shade, cool water, and rest breaks when outside

“The faster you cool the dog, the better chance he has of surviving.” — Dr. Maureen McMichael, University of Illinois [7]

Hot Note:
If you suspect heat stroke, act fast. Don’t wait. Time matters more than anything else.

Sources:
[1] Cornell: https://www.vet.cornell.edu/departments-centers-and-institutes/riney-canine-health-center/canine-health-information/heatstroke-medical-emergency
[2] RSPCA: https://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/dogs/health/heatstroke
[3] AKC: https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/heatstroke-in-dogs/
[4] Today’s Vet Practice: https://todaysveterinarypractice.com/emergency-medicine-critical-care/todays-technician-heatstroke-in-dogs/
[5] VCA: https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/heat-stroke-in-dogs
[6] Memphis Veterinary Specialists: https://www.memphisveterinaryspecialists.com/site/blog-cordova/2019/11/25/dog-heat-stroke-symptoms-treatment-prevention
[7] U of Illinois VetMed: https://vetmed.illinois.edu/pet-health-columns/warm-weather-heat-stroke/
[8] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJf8meRsUuk
[9] Red Cross: https://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/pet-heat-safety.html

06/21/2025

In this live session, we’re unpacking what puppy biting really means—from a trauma-informed, holistic lens.
If you’ve been told to correct, scold, or “nip it in the bud,” this is your chance to hear a more compassionate, science-informed approach rooted in trust and secure relationship.

� We’ll cover:

Why biting is a normal, healthy expression

How to respond without damaging trust

The survival and sensory roots of biting

Why teaching how to bite is more important than stopping it

What dysregulation looks like, and how to support it

Whether you’re a dog guardian, foster, or trainer, this conversation will help you understand biting as communication, not conflict.

� Need support with your puppy?
Book a consult with a trauma-informed behavior specialist:
� https://holisticdogtraining.as.me/Short-Web



� New to streaming or looking to level up? Check out StreamYard and get $10 discount! �

Address

Eugene, OR

Opening Hours

Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm
Saturday 9am - 5pm
Sunday 9am - 5pm

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Roman's Holistic Dog Training posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to Roman's Holistic Dog Training:

Shortcuts

Share

Category