Who This Is For:

This program is designed for individuals who want to work with the canine nervous system, not against it. ✔️ Dog trainers, behavior professionals, and canine bodyworkers seeking a deeper, physiology-based framework ✔️ Veterinarians, vet staff, and shelter professionals working with high-stress, reactive, or shut-down dogs ✔️ Rescue workers and shelter teams supporting dogs in chronically dysregulated environments ✔️ Professionals who value consent, observation, and ethical intervention ✔️ Dog guardians who want to understand the why beneath behavior and build true safety and trust ✔️ Anyone ready to slow down, observe, and let regulation lead change

Who This Is NOT For:

This program may not be the right fit if: ✖️ You are looking for quick fixes or obedience-based behavior correction ✖️ You prefer rigid protocols over responsive, nervous-system–led work ✖️ You are uncomfortable slowing down or working without guaranteed outcomes ✖️ You want a purely command-based or compliance-focused training model ✖️ You are not open to learning through observation, embodiment, and practice

"When you understand the nervous system, behavior stops being confusing."

It becomes a physiological response you can assess, support, and influence with intention.  If you’ve ever looked at a dog labeled “reactive,” “aggressive,” or “shut down” and felt in your body that something deeper was happening, this work will change the way you see dogs forever.

Comprehensive Training

Equip yourself with advanced, evidence-informed skills to assess, regulate, and transform the canine nervous system across real-world settings.

Cutting-edge Research + Science

Understand stress responses, autonomic states, and behavior through the lens of modern neuroscience—then apply it practically through somatic work.

Hands-On Application

Develop hands-on somatic skills guided by the dog’s autonomic state—not behavior alone—using fascia-informed touch, breath-synchrony, leash-led regulation, and real-time nervous-system observation.

About the Course

The Waldrup Somatic Method™ Pro Series is a comprehensive professional training designed to bridge the gap between behavior, physiology, and nervous-system regulation in dogs. This certification goes beyond obedience and behavior modification to address what’s happening underneath—in the body, the brain, and the autonomic nervous system. Ideal for trainers, behaviorists, veterinarians, shelter professionals, bodyworkers, and dedicated dog guardians seeking a deeper, more ethical approach to canine wellness.

Meet Your Instructor - The Waldrup Somatic Method™

This program was created by Rose Waldrup, an advanced canine somatic specialist working hands-on with dogs across shelters, rescues, private homes, and professional settings—where traditional training and behavior modification often fall short.  Through her fieldwork, Rose observed a consistent pattern: dogs labeled “reactive,” “shut down,” or “untrainable” were not failing to comply—they were operating from dysregulated nervous systems. That realization reshaped her work entirely. The Waldrup Somatic Method™ emerged from this intersection of lived experience and science—integrating neurobiology, stress physiology, fascia-informed touch, and real-time nervous-system observation.  The method is grounded in consent, regulation, and nervous-system ethics, offering dogs safety without force, coercion, or suppression. In this training, you won’t be taught a script or a set of techniques to impose. You’ll learn how to see the nervous system, listen to the body, and respond with precision and care—meeting each dog exactly where they are.

Course Curriculum

13 Chapters · 178 Lessons

  1. 1

    Welcome to the Waldrup Somatic Method™ Pro Series

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Video - Welcome to the Pro Series

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      LESSON 0.1 Welcome

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      LESSON 0.2 Course Overview & How to Use This Certification

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      LESSON 0.3 Scope of Practice & Professional Boundaries

    5. (Included in full purchase)

      LESSON 0.4 Medical, Behavioral & Legal Disclaimer

    6. (Included in full purchase)

      LESSON 0.5 Ethics, Context, and Real-World Application

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      LESSON 0.6 Certification Requirements & Completion Expectations

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      LESSON 0.7 Intellectual Property & Use of Materials

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      LESSON 0.8 Course Policies & Expectations

    10. (Included in full purchase)

      LESSON 0.9 Final Practical Assessment Overview

  2. 2

    MODULE 1 — Advanced Neurobiology & Stress Physiology

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      The Dog’s Brain & Body: A Nervous System Overview

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      LESSON 1.1 The Brain–Nervous System Connection

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      LESSON 1.2 How Dogs Process Threat

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      LESSON 1.3 Understanding Stress Hormones

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      LESSON 1.4 The Limbic System in Dogs

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      LESSON 1.5 Sympathetic Activation

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      LESSON 1.6 Parasympathetic States

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      LESSON 1.7 Allostasis & Chronic Stress

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      LESSON 1.8 Neuroplasticity & Somatic Change

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      Glossary

    11. (Included in full purchase)

      Neurobiology of Stress Packet: Practitioner Edition

    12. (Included in full purchase)

      Applied Example: Interpreting Stress Through the Nervous System

    13. (Included in full purchase)

      Quiz

    14. (Included in full purchase)

      Reflection Assignment

  3. 3

    MODULE 2 — Applied Polyvagal Theory: State Shifts in Dogs

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Polyvagal Theory: A Framework for Understanding Dogs

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      LESSON 2.1 The Autonomic Nervous System & State Hierarchy

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      LESSON 2.2 Ventral Vagal State: Safety, Regulation & Social Engagement

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      LESSON 2.3 Sympathetic Activation: Mobilization & Survival Responses

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      LESSON 2.4 Dorsal Vagal State: Freeze, Shutdown & Collapse

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      LESSON 2.5 Neuroception: How Dogs Detect Safety & Threat

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      LESSON 2.6 State Shifts, Transitions & Mixed States

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      LESSON 2.7 Behavior vs State: Reframing Canine Behavior

    9. (Included in full purchase)

      Applied Example: Understanding Nervous System State in a Dog

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      Quiz

    11. (Included in full purchase)

      Canine Nervous System Map Explained

    12. (Included in full purchase)

      Canine Nervous System State Map (Polyvagal-Informed)

    13. (Included in full purchase)

      How to Use the Canine Autonomic Flow Chart

    14. (Included in full purchase)

      Canine Autonomic Flow Chart

    15. (Included in full purchase)

      Reflection Assignment

  4. 4

    MODULE 3 — Somatic Assessment: Intake, Observation & Patterning

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Somatic Assessment in Dogs: Intake, Observation, and Nervous System Patterning

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      LESSON 3.1 The Purpose of Somatic Assessment

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      LESSON 3.2 Intake as a Nervous System History

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      LESSON 3.3 Observation as a Core Clinical Skill

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      LESSON 3.4 The Operator as Investigator: Observation, Neutrality, and Bias

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      LESSON 3.5 Nervous System Patterning in Dogs

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      LESSON 3.6 Differentiating Behavior from Physiological State

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      LESSON 3.7 Ethical Boundaries & Practitioner Responsibility

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      LESSON 3.8 Micro Signals: Learning to Read the Dog’s Nervous System

    10. (Included in full purchase)

      Canine Micro Signals Chart

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      Applied Example: Reading Micro Signals in Real Time

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      Sample Somatic Assessment – Shelter Environment

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      Sample Somatic Assessment – Home Environment

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      Somatic Observation & Intake Worksheet

    15. (Included in full purchase)

      Quiz

    16. (Included in full purchase)

      Reflection Assignment

  5. 5

    MODULE 4 — Measurement & Data: HRV, Respiration, Thermal Imaging, Cortisol

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Reading the Nervous System: What HRV, Breath & Heat Tell Us About Safety

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      LESSON 4.1 Why Measurement Matters in Somatic Work

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      LESSON 4.2 Heart Rate Variability (HRV): What It Measures in Simple Terms

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      LESSON 4.3 How HRV Is Measured and Interpreted

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      LESSON 4.4 Using HRV Ethically in Practice

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      LESSON 4.5 Respiration as a Window Into Nervous System State

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      LESSON 4.6 Touch, Breath, and Co-Regulation

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      LESSON 4.7 Thermal Imaging and Heat Patterns

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      LESSON 4.8 Cortisol as a Measure of Stress and Recovery

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      LESSON 4.9 Integrating Data Without Losing the Dog

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      LESSON 4.10 Ethical Use of Technology and Documentation

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      LESSON 4.11 Medication, Physiology, and Interpreting Data Responsibly

    13. (Included in full purchase)

      Case Study - Thermal Imaging Changes Following Somatic Regulation

    14. (Included in full purchase)

      Case Study: Preliminary Findings on HPA Axis Responsiveness Following a Brief Somatic Intervention

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      Quiz

  6. 6

    MODULE 5 — Somatic Touch Techniques: Fascia, Pressure & Mechanoreception

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Video 5.1 - Reading the Nervous System Through Touch (Pressure, Pace, and Feedback)

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Regulation Framework - From 3R to 5R

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      LESSON 5.1 Why Touch Is a Nervous System Intervention

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      LESSON 5.2 How Dogs Experience Touch Through the Skin

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      LESSON 5.3 Technique Sequencing & Clinical Decision-Making

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      LESSON 5.4 Pressure Literacy: Understanding What the Nervous System Reads

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      LESSON 5.5 Fascia: The Body’s Sensory and Organizational Network

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      LESSON 5.6 Fascia, Trauma, and the Myth of “Storage”

    9. (Included in full purchase)

      LESSON 5.7 How Fascia Release Is Applied in Dogs

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      Video 5.2 - Fascia Release in Dogs: What It Actually Looks Like

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      LESSON 5.8 Mechanoreception and State Change

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      LESSON 5.9 Listening Through the Hands

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      LESSON 5.10 Consent, Choice, and Predictability in Touch

    14. (Included in full purchase)

      LESSON 5.11 Common Misunderstandings About Touch Work

    15. (Included in full purchase)

      LESSON 5.12 Integrating Touch Into a Full Regulation Plan

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      LESSON 5.13 Using Video Recording as a Professional Somatic Tool

    17. (Included in full purchase)

      Hands On Techniques Explained

    18. (Included in full purchase)

      Hands on Techniques PDF

    19. (Included in full purchase)

      Video 5.3 - Hands On Techniques

    20. (Included in full purchase)

      Follow the Dog: Somatic Flow Guide

    21. (Included in full purchase)

      Somatic Flow Video Instructions

    22. (Included in full purchase)

      Video 5.4 - Somatic Flow

    23. (Included in full purchase)

      Real-Life Session Excerpts: Observation Practice

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      Video 5.5 - Real Life Session Footage (Isla)

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      Video 5.6 - Real Life Session Footage (Luna)

    26. (Included in full purchase)

      Quiz

    27. (Included in full purchase)

      Reflection Assignment

  7. 7

    MODULE 6 — Somatic Movement & Proprioception + The Leash as Sensory Input

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Video 6.1 - Somatic Movement in Real Time: Reading the Nervous System During Motion

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      LESSON 6.1 Movement as a Nervous System Language

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      LESSON 6.2 The Leash as Sensory Input

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      LESSON 6.3 Proprioception and Regulation

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      LESSON 6.4 Movement With External Input

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      LESSON 6.5 When Movement Regulates and When It Overwhelms the Nervous System

    7. (Included in full purchase)

      Applied Example: What This Looks Like in Real Life

    8. (Included in full purchase)

      Quiz

  8. 8

    MODULE 7 — Trauma, Reactivity & High-Arousal Cases

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Video 7.1 - Trauma, Reactivity, and High Arousal

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      LESSON 7.1 Understanding Trauma in the Canine Nervous System

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      LESSON 7.2 Reactivity vs High Arousal vs Trauma

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      LESSON 7.3 Attachment Strategies in Trauma-Impacted dogs

    5. (Included in full purchase)

      Cheat Sheet: Reactivity vs. High Arousal vs. Trauma

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      LESSON 7.4 Somatic Principles for High-Arousal and Trauma-Impacted Dogs

    7. (Included in full purchase)

      LESSON 7.5 Spinal Guarding, Flinch Reflexes, and Proximity Safety

    8. (Included in full purchase)

      LESSON 7.6 What Progress Actually Looks Like in Trauma Cases

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      LESSON 7.7 Common Somatic Missteps in Trauma and High-Arousal Dogs

    10. (Included in full purchase)

      LESSON 7.8 Safety Awareness When Working With High-Arousal and Trauma-Impacted Dogs

    11. (Included in full purchase)

      LESSON 7.9 Somatic Work with Dogs with Disabilities (Including Blind & Sensory-Impaired Dogs)

    12. (Included in full purchase)

      LESSON 7.10 Process Over Outcome in Trauma and High-Arousal Work

    13. (Included in full purchase)

      What Not to Do: Somatic Touch in Trauma, Reactivity, and High-Arousal Cases

    14. (Included in full purchase)

      Shelter & Rescue Somatic Do’s and Don’ts

    15. (Included in full purchase)

      Case Study 1: Titus - Frozen / Shutdown Nervous System Presentation

    16. (Included in full purchase)

      Case Study 1: Titus - Frozen / Shutdown Nervous System Presentation

    17. (Included in full purchase)

      Case Study 2: Flurry - Fear, Avoidance, and Hypervigilant Exploration

    18. (Included in full purchase)

      Case Study 2: Flurry - Fear, Avoidance, and Hypervigilant Exploration

    19. (Included in full purchase)

      Case Study 3: Frankie - High Arousal, Safety Threshold Exceeded

    20. (Included in full purchase)

      Applied Example: Reactive Dog on Leash

    21. (Included in full purchase)

      Applied Example: Trauma-Impacted Shelter Dog

    22. (Included in full purchase)

      Quiz

  9. 9

    MODULE 8 — Co-Regulation: Human Nervous System & Dog Dynamics

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Video 8.1 - Co-Regulation in Practice

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      LESSON 8.1 What Co-Regulation Actually Is (And What It Is Not)

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      LESSON 8.2 The Human Nervous System as the Primary Variable

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      LESSON 8.3 When Human Dysregulation Disrupts Somatic Work

    5. (Included in full purchase)

      LESSON 8.4 Co-Regulation vs Dependency: Ethical Boundaries

    6. (Included in full purchase)

      LESSON 8.5 Practitioner Presence: The Non-Negotiable Skill

    7. (Included in full purchase)

      Applied Example: One Dog, Two Humans, Two Outcomes

    8. (Included in full purchase)

      Applied Example: One Dog, One Human, Two Nervous System States

    9. (Included in full purchase)

      Examples of Co-Regulation in Practice

    10. (Included in full purchase)

      Somatic Self-Regulation Exercises for Practitioners

    11. (Included in full purchase)

      Quiz

  10. 10

    MODULE 9 — Applied Settings: Shelters, Vet Clinics, K9 Units, Trainers, Multi-Dog Homes

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Video 9.1 - Applying Somatic Work in Real-World & High-Demand Environments

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      LESSON 9.1 Translating Somatic Principles Across Environments

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      LESSON 9.2 Shelter Environments: Containment, Predictability, and Safety

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      LESSON 9.3 Working Dogs and High-Demand Roles

    5. (Included in full purchase)

      LESSON 9.4 Trainers, Handlers, and Professional Collaboration

    6. (Included in full purchase)

      LESSON 9.5 Multi-Dog Homes and Group Nervous System Dynamics

    7. (Included in full purchase)

      LESSON 9.6 Applied Settings Adaptation Guide

    8. (Included in full purchase)

      LESSON 9.7 The Veterinary Nervous System Support Blueprint

    9. (Included in full purchase)

      Applied Example: Shelter Intake Scenario

    10. (Included in full purchase)

      Applied Example: Multi-Dog Home with One Dysregulated Dog

    11. (Included in full purchase)

      Applied Example: Police Officer Regulating a K9 at the End of a Shift

    12. (Included in full purchase)

      Applied Example: Veterinary Clinic Setting

    13. (Included in full purchase)

      Applied Example: Service Dog Setting

    14. (Included in full purchase)

      Quiz

  11. 11

    MODULE 10 — Professional Practice, Protocol Design & Certification Practicum

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Video 10.1 - Bringing It All Together

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      LESSON 10.1 Scope of Practice and Professional Responsibility

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      LESSON 10.2 Protocol Design: From Observation to Session Plan

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      LESSON 10.3 Safety, Consent, and Ethical Application

    5. (Included in full purchase)

      LESSON 10.4 Practicum Guidelines and Video Submission Criteria

    6. (Included in full purchase)

      LESSON 10.5 Evaluation Criteria and Certification Standards

    7. (Included in full purchase)

      LESSON 10.6 Integration Into Professional and Real-World Settings

    8. (Included in full purchase)

      LESSON 10.7 Collaboration and Referral: Knowing When to Involve Other Professionals

    9. (Included in full purchase)

      LESSON 10.8 Sample Protocol Design: An Example of Applied Session Planning

    10. (Included in full purchase)

      Final Video Submission

  12. 12

    Final Module — Integration, Integrity & What Comes Next

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Closing - Congratulations

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Integration: What Certification Actually Means

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Staying Within Integrity After Certification

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      Evaluation Flexibility & Accessible Assessment

    5. (Included in full purchase)

      Next Steps: Practice, Referral, and Continued Learning

    6. (Included in full purchase)

      Community, Registry, and Professional Representation

    7. (Included in full purchase)

      What’s Coming Next: Advanced Education Pathways

    8. (Included in full purchase)

      Certification Review, Issuance, and Registry Placement

  13. 13

    RESOURCE HUB

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Neurobiology of Stress Packet: Practitioner Edition

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Canine Nervous System State Map (Polyvagal-Informed)

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Canine Autonomic Flow Chart

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      Canine Micro Signals Chart

    5. (Included in full purchase)

      Somatic Observation & Intake Worksheet

    6. (Included in full purchase)

      Hands on Techniques

    7. (Included in full purchase)

      Follow the Dog: Somatic Flow Guide

    8. (Included in full purchase)

      Shelter & Rescue Somatic Do’s and Don’ts

Ready to Transform Canine Wellness?

Enroll now to gain advanced competency in canine nervous-system regulation and somatic restoration. ✔️ Payment plans available ✔️ Designed for working professionals ✔️ Learn at your own pace with lifetime access

Enroll Now