The Reflective Relationship Program


A Clear You, for Them.


Unlock your potential, prioritize self-reflection, and integrate my connection-based framework for life with your dog (and others).

Registration is Closed. Join the Waitlist!

Join the Waitlist!


Be notified when the Reflective Relationship Program resume! 


Raise your hand if....


  • You feel disconnected when your dog engages in problematic behavior concerns.
  • You want additional tools to support your relationship with your dog. 
  • You feel out of control and hopeless in your efforts to support your dog (and yourself).
  • You tend to blame yourself for your dog’s behavior concerns. 
  • You find yourself going down shame spirals, believing thoughts about your dog and yourself that cause suffering.
  • You have feelings of isolation, resentment, grief, resistance, and overwhelm when it comes to your behavior modification journey. 

The training process and behavior modification journey can be messy, daunting, and not linear. This level of uncertainty and discomfort often leads to miscommunication, blaming, and disconnection between the pet parent and the dog.






My promise to you

Join me for a 3-month live, intensive program where we explore ourselves through the relationship with our dogs. This program cultivates the necessary human end of the leash skills for successful training sessions, sustainable behavior change, and connected relationships. 

This program is designed to expand your self-awareness through education, deep inquiry, and exercises with your dog. The experience takes you on a journey giving you the tools to stay gentle but honest with yourself as you look deeply into your relationship with your dog, yourself, and others.






better relationship with your dog

Registration is closed.


"This is the course I didn't know I needed until I was in it. Rather than an earth-shattering experience, it was more like finding precious gems that I didn't know existed, and now I don't know how I lived without them."


Jenni P, professional trainer and pet parent


Investment: $549.00


What you'll learn and practice in

the personal growth course dedicated to dog guardians.



#1: Understanding your dog’s experience 

You'll learn key concepts such as, the emotional lives of dogs, how they learn, and how behavior modification works. Not only will we use these concepts to develop a better understanding and connection to your dog, but we'll also use them as a parallel framework for your journey as well. 

#2: Self awareness of your thoughts and behavior

Self–awareness is a key ingredient for connection in any relationship, especially the one with your dog. We underestimate how much our thoughts and behavior can impact our dog's behavior and the training process. By examining your own behaviors, beliefs, and mindset, you can often affect behavior change and deepen the relationship with your dogs.  

#3: The Six Connection Principles

The Six Connection Principles are designed to prevent suffering and disconnection between you and your dog. Each week will be devoted to a new Connection Principle. You'll learn about each principle during the modules, implement them into your daily life through homework activities, and discuss the experience on the community integration calls. 

    1. Pausing to Notice all Conditions
    2. Observing Labels and Language 
    3. Getting Curious
    4. Recognizing Needs and Co-creating
    5. Advocating for Everyone
    6. Celebrating Often  

#4: Behavior change principles

While this is not a training course per se, we'll introduce behavior change principles with the goal of modifying your behavior in order to support your dog's behavior.

#5: Balancing being and doing

All of the skills listed above are to help you practice observing, accepting, and shifting patterns of control. Marissa will introduce the concept of balancing between influencing (doing) and allowing (being) with your dog. She'll discuss why it's so important and how it's a common struggle for most people.   

What students have to say:



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"Being a part of this program has been a life-changing experience for me. I have grown so much throughout this process both as a pet parent and a person.  The bonus was that I came out of the course meeting some new and amazing like-minded pet parent friends."


Kelly F.

pet parent

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"I feel so enlightened after this course and generally overall happier. Thank you for shining a light on how important it is to take care of myself and celebrate my dog. I will implement these skills into my everyday life and always remember to give myself a little bit more grace!"


Tiffany C.

pet parent

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"This is the course I didn't know I needed until I was in it. Rather than an earth-shattering experience, it was more like finding precious gems that I didn't know existed, and now I don't know how I lived without them."


Jenni P.

professional trainer and pet parent


Meet Marissa

A certified positive reinforcement canine behavior consultant, author of Human-Canine Behavior Connection, and podcast host.

My mission is to empower pet parents to prioritize self-reflection, curiosity, and empathy for sustainable behavior change and a deeper human-canine bond. 

I use my Six Connection Principles as a framework to inspire transformation. This framework invites my clients to utilize the training process and their relationship with their dog as an opportunity for increased self-awareness.

This collaborative work results in behavior change for everyone. 


Learn and Integrate with Marissa


Marissa brings an extensive amount of experience to this course. Starting with her 15-year experience working with animal shelters, clients and their dogs, her relationship with her late dog Sully and now her puppy, Peru, her ongoing coaching education, her ongoing dog behavior education, and her extensive personal development journey. 

She is excited to support you LIVE during this 3-month journey! As always, she will bring a level of warmth and vulnerability, making this program the perfect place to grow as a pet parent.

You’ll get direct feedback from her on the live community calls so you can integrate the concepts into your daily life. She has been witness to so many people shift their mindset and achieve the relationship goals they are striving for. Now it’s your turn! 

Registration is closed.


Investment: $549.00










This program is for YOU if…

  • You’re on a positive reinforcement, force-free, behavior modification journey with your dog and need emotional support for the human end of the leash. 
  • You want additional tools to strengthen your relationship with your dog. 
  • You want a safe space to learn and practice connection-based skills to enhance your relationship with your dog. 
  • You want to grow as a person and cultivate a deeper relationship with yourself. 
  • You're a LIMA-based professional trainer supporting other pet parents on their training journey. Learning about ourselves is a critical skill for us to be successful working with people. 






My Story with Sully


I'll never forget the first time my dog, Sully, barked and lunged at another dog while on leash. I felt embarrassed and confused. 

This wasn't “supposed” to happen to me - I'm a dog trainer after all. Over time, Sully’s behavior started to get worse and I became more and more frustrated with him.

I took a step back and developed a training plan with the hopes of changing my dog’s behavior. The training plan focused on what I wanted Sully to do instead of barking and lunging. I thought if I could control his behavior, we would both be happy! Right?! Wrong...

The Aha! Moment


And, that’s when it hit me! My plan was only addressing Sully’s behavior. 

  • What about my thinking or behavior needed to shift? 
  • What was my role in this relationship?
  • And how could I work together with Sully instead of making him the one to blame?

When I stopped trying to control Sully and focused exclusively on understanding him, how he sees the world, and why he was reacting in certain ways, I was finally able to get to the root of his problems AND develop compassion for him along the way. 

That is when the true behavior shift took place for BOTH of us!

What you'll walk away with.....




Marissa Martino, a positive dog training expert, crouches next to a black dog.

A framework of skills

Marissa Martino, a positive dog training expert, crouches next to a black dog.

The Six Connection Principles

Marissa Martino, a positive dog training expert, crouches next to a black dog.

Increased self-awareness

Marissa Martino, a positive dog training expert, crouches next to a black dog.

Behavior change strategies

Marissa Martino, a positive dog training expert, crouches next to a black dog.

Productive and compassionate mindset

Marissa Martino, a positive dog training expert, crouches next to a black dog.

A like-minded community


Why should you learn and practice the Six Connection Principles?


When you practice observing and shifting your thoughts and behavior patterns, your relationship with your dog has the possibility of including more connection. The Six Connection Principles will help you avoid misunderstanding, overwhelm, burnout, and inaccurate assumptions. They are the antidote to suffering. 

And, learning these skills through the lens of your dog first makes them much easier to apply them to yourself and others. Get ready to GROW!


If you want a deeper connection with your dog (and yourself), this course is for you! 


"Simply put, I'm very grateful for this course because it helped me accept the dog I have in front of me. The group community calls added another dimension taking it farther than I could have imagined."

 - Chelsea (pet parent)

Course Details - 3 month program

Begins: Tuesday, April 11 - Wednesday, June 28th (see details below)


What to Expect:


Modules and Homework 

  • A new module will be released every other Tuesday, beginning April 11th.
  • You'll get access to each module's dynamic content and real-world examples. You'll also receive homework activities for you to complete with your dog and yourself.   

Live Community Calls

  • During these every other week live calls, we’ll discuss the previous week’s homework as a group (and in breakout rooms), practice the connection principles, and provide an opportunity for Q&A.
  • There will be 2 community call options to ensure smaller groups of attendees. Please see the options below. 
  • Each person will choose a session that works for their schedule and attend that session every other week so you are with the same group of attendees. This is designed to provide an intimate feeling, or cohort environment, as we develop community throughout the program. 
  • All sessions will be recorded and uploaded to the platform for both cohorts to see. 

Community Call Schedule 

  • Tuesdays, 6pm - 7:15pm MST, begins April 18th, meeting every other week until 6/27
  • Wednesdays, 12:00pm - 1:15pm MST, begins April 19th, meeting every other week until 6/28

Other Details

  • 1 year access to all content.
  • 3-4 hour commitment per week for 3 months.
  • We’re only opening the course to 30 people for a limited time so get your spot today. 


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The Course Includes:

Live calls with Marissa for 3 months

Thought-provoking modules

PDF copy of slides 

Weekly homework activities

1 year access to all content

Support through community

"The biggest gift I received from this course was the reminder to keep my finger on the pulse of the Six Connection Principles. Breaking the concepts down so thoroughly helps us to integrate them into everyday life. Everyone who has the opportunity to work with Marissa is so lucky. Her approach is unique, genuine, and truly magical."

 - Laura F. (pet parent)

What you’ll walk away with:


  • A deeper relationship with your dog and yourself
  • Productive, graceful, and compassionate mindset
  • Less resistance and resentment towards your dog and others, more acceptance for everyone 
  • Increased self-awareness, the number one ingredient for any successful relationship 
  • Compassion and empathy for your dog, yourself, and others  
  • Behavior change strategies 
  • My Six Connection Principles in your relationship toolbox you can access ongoing
  • A like-minded community committed to personal growth, feeling less alone

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Frequently Asked Questions

#1: What if I cannot attend the live calls?


The live calls are a major part of this program. It's where you learn from others, share your experience, and grow in community. You'll want to attend them so you can reap the full benefits of the program. However, both community calls will be recorded and uploaded to the online platform so you can watch them at your convenience.


#2: If I can't make my designated community call session, can I attend the other community call option?


Yes, you can drop into the other call if that works for your schedule and/or you can watch your recorded cohort call when it's uploaded to the online platform.


#3: What if I do not like the course, can I get a refund?


Yes, I want everyone to feel happy with their experience, so please reach out to request a refund within the first 30 days of the course.


#4: Is this therapy?


Absolutely not. Marissa is not a therapist. However, the content in this course and the community live calls can be therapeutic.  


#5: I am a trainer and behavior consultant. Should I take this course?


Absolutely, becoming self-aware and embarking on a personal development journey has been one of the many tools I use as a behavior consultant. Come learn about yourself through the relationship with your dog and bring that awareness and compassion to the work with your clients.