Dog Somatics 101 — Foundations of the Waldrup Somatic Method™

What You Will Learn

Dog Somatics 101 is a foundational course that teaches you how to understand your dog’s nervous system, recognize stress and survival patterns, and use gentle somatic techniques to help your dog return to safety, trust, and emotional balance. You’ll learn how behavior is shaped by the body, not just the brain — and how true regulation begins with the nervous system.

Stress Behaviors

• Understand Stress Patterns
Learn the neuroscience behind overwhelm, shutdown, freeze responses, hypervigilance, and chronic stress in dogs.

• Apply Somatic Techniques
Use gentle, body-based practices that help your dog feel safe, grounded, and supported in their body.

• Build Trust-Based Connection
Develop ethical, consent-based communication that strengthens your bond and deepens emotional safety.

Is This Course Right for You?

This course is designed for individuals who want a trauma-informed, science-driven approach to canine behavior and emotional wellbeing. Whether your dog struggles with anxiety, reactivity, shutdown, or chronic stress — or you simply want to understand your dog on a deeper level — this course gives you a new lens for seeing behavior through the nervous system. No force. No pressure. No compliance-based training. Just safety, connection, and regulation.

Who This Course Is For

• Dog Owners
Learn how to support your dog’s stress patterns, emotional needs, and healing process.

• Rescue & Shelter Workers
Understand trauma responses and help overwhelmed dogs feel safe in their bodies again.

• Trainers & Behaviorists
Integrate nervous-system regulation and somatic principles into your existing practice.

• Therapists & Somatic Practitioners
Expand your body-based understanding to include canine nervous systems and co-regulation.

What’s Inside the Course

Foundational Video Lessons

Short, clear lessons focused on nervous system education and practical awareness

Printable Reflection & Tracking Worksheets

Tools to help you notice patterns, progress, and regulation over time

Guided Visual Demonstrations

Watch real interactions that teach you how to observe, not force outcomes

Real-World Case Examples

Shelter dogs, anxious dogs, and everyday homes—no “perfect dog” edits

Course-Based Q&A Access

Ask questions directly within the course and receive guidance and clarification to support your learning and observation process.

Foundational Nervous System Education

Build a clear understanding of how safety, stress, and regulation shape behavior—without overwhelm or clinical language.

Ready to Support Your Dog’s Nervous System?

Learn the foundations of canine nervous system regulation and build safety-based support whether you’re a dog guardian, rescuer, or professional.