About Me

Roman Gottfried is a certified dog trainer and trauma-informed holistic behavior consultant. He has worked with local and national rescues like National Great Pyrenees Rescue, Newfoundland Club of New England and animal shelters like, Stamford Animal Shelter, Town of Hempstead Animal Shelter, Austin Animal Center and Rogue Valley Humane Society, and in the professional training and canine behavior coaching industry. He consulted on the Texas Juvenile Justice Department’s dog fostering program for their juvenile detention facilities. He is also an avid content creator on social media because he believes everyone should have access to good training and behavior tools.

Roman is a complex trauma survivor and has applied his journey toward healing to his approach to helping dogs and their families. He also recognizes that dogs can help us heal and that sometimes their behavior is a reflection of things that we may be experiencing in our lives.

image picturing a person offering his hand and dog responding with their paw

Our Commitment to Ethical Training Methods

Experience the Difference with LIFE-Infused Techniques

At Roman’s Holistic Dog Training, we firmly reject the use of any aversive training tools such as shock collars, choke collars, or prong collars. Our methods are rooted in the Do No Harm philosophy and the LIFE (Least Intrusive, Functionally Effective) training framework, ensuring that every interaction with your dog is respectful, effective, and nurturing.

What We Believe:

● Safety First: Your dog’s physical and emotional safety is our top priority. We use methods that protect your dog from harm and psychological stress.
● Trust and Respect: Building trust is at the heart of our training. We respect your dog’s pace and comfort level, gradually introducing new behaviors through positive reinforcement.
● Holistic Well-being: Our approach goes beyond simple obedience. We focus on your dog’s overall well-being, incorporating aspects of their physical health, emotional state, and environmental influences to foster a balanced and happy life. Training Techniques Include:
● Positive Reinforcement: Rewarding desired behaviors to encourage their recurrence, fostering a joyful learning environment.
● Environmental Management: Adjusting your dog’s surroundings to prevent unwanted behaviors and ease their stress.
● Cognitive Behavioral Approaches: Addressing the underlying emotional responses that lead to behaviors, promoting healthier reactions and decision-making.
● Attachment-Based Training: Enhancing the bond between you and your dog, making training not just effective but also a shared, enjoyable experience.
Through these humane and ethical methods, we empower you to lead through understanding and compassion rather than force. Our goal is to transform both behaviors and relationships, creating a harmonious living environment for you and your dog.

Join Us to Forge a Path of Compassionate Care Discover how our holistic, trauma-informed training methods can make a significant difference in your life and the life of your beloved canine. Book a consultation today and begin the journey toward a deeper, more fulfilling relationship with your dog.

What Is Holistic Dog Training

Holistic dog training is a comprehensive approach that views dogs not just as pets but as sentient beings with unique needs and personalities. This method integrates various aspects of canine-anthropology, ethology (the science of animal behavior), and a “do no harm” philosophy, ensuring that training is trauma-informed and gentle.

At its core, holistic dog training is about understanding dogs from their point of view. Instead of imposing strict norms or trying to mold them into what we think they should be, this approach respects their natural behaviors, breed traits, and individuality. It’s about giving dogs more choices and acknowledging their hierarchy of needs, much like we do with humans.

This training method also draws from multidisciplinary behavior healing and parenting approaches, including attachment theory, which emphasizes the importance of a secure bond between dogs and their owners. Additionally, it often incorporates elements of energy healing, recognizing the impact that the emotional and energetic environment has on a dog’s wellbeing.

The goal is to create an environment that is equally pleasant and fulfilling for both humans and dogs. It’s about adjusting not just the dog’s behavior but also the environment and the way humans interact with their canine companions, fostering a deeper, more empathetic, and understanding relationship.

Certifications:

Certified dog trainer, Holistic behavior consultant, Reiki master teacher

More info about the service provided:

Trauma-informed behavior assessment, separation anxiety, holistic training, attachment problems, sibling rivalry, business coaching

Behavioral issue focus:

I commonly working with families with reactive and aggressive dogs, dogs with developmental problems, anxiety and phobias

Training methods:

100% Do No Harm

I’m working with Families to learn how to educate and help the dogs establish a secure attachment, identify trauma, and communication, challenges, and better understand the dogs breed traits and individual personality. After the assessment, I put together a behavior treatment plan based on the dogs needs and the family’s abilities.

Why I became a dog trainer:

It was always my passion to help dogs feel safe and cared for in homes. I also have a passion to help dogs with no family to find one, helping them with their behavior problems and healing trauma

Service areas:

USA, England, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Europe, English Speaking Asia

My favorite part of being a dog trainer:

Being able to manage my time, working with clients, working with people and dogs, living a healthy lifestyle and helping dogs. My #1 dog training tip: My number one training tip is not a training tip, before you train your dog, establish a secure attachment relationship

About Us