Certified Positive Dog Trainer course in Belgium

Do you dream of turning your passion for dogs into a real profession? I train the future dog trainers of Belgium in a demanding, ethical and science-based practice, recognized internationally. Certified as a positive trainer by international organizations myself, I pass on the best practices — the ones you need to master to become a certified positive trainer. The content I teach? It comes from the world's best trainers: your path to real recognition.
4.9/5 on Google
Certifying course
Belgian professional network
155 h
of training, 12 modules of theory and practice
Classes in small groups, in Waterloo or online
20 h
of one-to-one coaching right up to the exam
First Belgian network of certified positive dog trainers
A mark of trust for dog owners
Participants assis à des tables lors d'une formation canine

Who is this course for?

This course is for dog lovers who want to make it their profession. It is also for people changing careers and for professionals who want to broaden their skills (breeders, owners of boarding facilities, dog day cares or dog cafés, shelter volunteers, groomers, dog sitters, dog walkers, animal care workers, veterinary assistants and veterinarians).

This course is also suitable for self-taught trainers already working in the field who want to structure their knowledge and earn a certification.

Prerequisites to become a dog trainer

A secondary school diploma or equivalent (high school diploma, central examining board, business management certificate). For the practical activities, you must have access to a dog or puppy that is untrained or poorly trained, aged at least 12 weeks. The dog does not have to be your own. Your motivation takes care of the rest.

A complete curriculum to become a professional dog trainer

The course comprises 155 hours spread over 12 modules of theory and practice. You will learn to identify the origin of behavior and to solve the problems encountered in everyday life, through solid theoretical input and real fieldwork with dogs.

It combines theory and real-life practice with real dogs, to anchor your knowledge of canine communication, behavior problem management and teaching skills, from puppies to adult dogs.

Classes take place in Waterloo (Walloon Brabant), in small groups, with a remote option for quality follow-up, whatever your starting level in the animal world.
See upcoming course sessions →

See the dog trainer course program

For intellectual property reasons, the full details of each module are shared only with enrolled students. Here are the 12 core modules of the curriculum:

Non-detailed overview of the course program, module by module
  • Module 1: Ethology, domestication and animal welfare
  • Module 2: Canine cognition
  • Module 3: A dog's fundamental needs
  • Module 4: Canine communication
  • Module 5: Learning theory
  • Module 6: Applied positive training
  • Module 7: Common behavior problems
  • Module 8: Dog health
  • Module 9: Enrichment and dog sports
  • Module 10: Teaching and knowledge transfer
  • Module 11: Launching your dog training business
  • Module 12: Introduction to behavior consulting

Individual support right up to the exam

You are never left to fend for yourself. Twenty hours of one-to-one coaching round out the program: personalized exercises, feedback, and participation in real consultations to strengthen your field experience.

This support prepares you for the final certification exam. By passing it, you earn your dog trainer certification and join the first Belgian network of certified positive dog trainers, a real springboard for building a relationship of trust with every owner and their dogs.
Contact me →
Formatrice animant une formation en salle avec un chien couché au premier plan

Next Certified Positive Dog Trainer course session

From 30/08/2026 to 20/12/2026 
(weekends, outside school holidays)

Waterloo town center, with remote option
€2,350
Contact me

From 30/08/2026 to 20/12/2026 
(weekends, outside school holidays)

Waterloo town center, with remote option
€2,350
Contact me
Femme souriante entourée de plusieurs chiens

A recognized, ethical certification, backed by international standards

I am building a Belgian positive dog trainer certification, recognized internationally through my membership of positive training associations. By passing the exam, you become a member of the first Belgian network of certified trainers and commit to upholding my code of ethics and conduct: a practice without punishment, coercion or intimidation, guided by animal welfare and safety.

You earn the title of The Dog Nanny Academy – Certified Positive Trainer and the right to display the certification badge on your website and social media. I add you to the directory of my graduates on my website, visible to all, which strengthens your credibility. We stay in touch through a Facebook group reserved exclusively for graduates. I can accompany you during your first consultation or invite you to sit in on one of mine.

Frequently asked questions about the dog trainer course

By completing a full certifying curriculum that combines scientific theory and supervised practice, through to a final exam. My Certified Positive Dog Trainer course gives you the knowledge of ethology, canine communication and positive training methods needed to practice this profession seriously and credibly. All practical information is sent to you upon enrollment.

The dog trainer course prepares you for day-to-day support: basic skills, socialization, leash walking, recall, sit, down, stay, among others. The dog behaviorist course goes further, into the management of established problems such as anxiety or aggression. My two courses are complementary and are aimed at future dog trainers who want to cover the full range of a dog's behavioral needs.

Discover the dog behaviorist course.

You need a secondary school diploma or equivalent, and access to a dog for the practical activities, puppy or adult, not necessarily your own. A good dose of motivation and curiosity about canine science does the rest.

The curriculum is available remotely, live, if you cannot travel to Waterloo. All practical exercises, quizzes and even the exam can be completed from home.

You can launch your own business as an independent dog trainer, join an existing organization, or add to your current practice in the dog world.

A fact sheet with the dates and fee of the next session is available higher up on this page. New sessions start several times a year, always in small groups of students. Contact me by email to enroll or to find out about upcoming availability.

Alongside the certifying curriculum, I offer theme walks and online conferences so you can keep practicing and deepening your knowledge after the course.

Ready to become a certified dog trainer?

Join the next session and give your passion for dogs a professional, ethical and scientific framework. I support you personally, from the first module through to certification, to make this new profession a lasting success.
Dog behaviorist & dog trainer in Waterloo. A positive, science-based and respectful approach — since 2009.
Services
Infos
Contact me
Chaussée de Bruxelles 132
1410 Waterloo
+32 478 30 41 94
VAT - BE0841.091.948
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