Certified Dog Behaviorist course in Belgium

Do you want to understand behavior problems in dogs in depth and make it your profession? I train the future dog behaviorists of Belgium in a demanding, ethical and science-based practice, to support anxiety, reactivity, aggression and the most complex problems in dogs with accuracy.
I offer a certifying program, inspired by international best practices and by the approaches taught in the most respected English-speaking training programs.
4.9/5 on Google
Certifying course
Belgian professional network
160 h
of training, 14 modules of theory and practice
Classes in small groups, in person in Waterloo or remotely
10 h
of one-to-one coaching right up to the exam
First Belgian network of certified positive behaviorists
A profession dog owners can trust
Participants assis à des tables lors d'une formation canine

Who is this course for?

This course is for already-certified trainers who want to extend their skills to established behavior problems, as well as for animal professionals already trained in positive methods. It requires a solid foundation in dog training before enrolling: this is not an introductory course.

You come away with the competence and credibility to take on cases you would not have dared to handle until now.

Prerequisites to become a dog behaviorist

To enroll in this course, you must have completed my positive dog training course and be certified, or hold a diploma from one of the following schools: The Victoria Stilwell Academy, The Academy for Dog Trainers (Jean Donaldson), Karen Pryor Academy, IAABC Foundation Professional Programs, School of Canine Science, IMDT (Institute of Modern Dog Training), Dog Training College, COAPE or the Nordic Dog Trainer Institute.

If you come from one of these schools — unless you graduated from my own course or from The Victoria Stilwell Academy — a video interview is used to validate your skills before enrollment. Graduates of other schools are not admitted to this curriculum.

A complete curriculum to become a professional dog behaviorist

The profession of dog behaviorist is not officially recognized. As a result, anyone who calls themselves a behaviorist can offer you training. What sets me apart are my international certifications, a rigorous professional practice and continuing education driven by the latest scientific findings in dog behavior.

This curriculum immerses you in a fine understanding of behavior problems: anxiety, reactivity, aggression, predatory instinct, trauma. You learn to decode canine communication and to identify the origin of a behavior before acting on the symptom.

Solid theoretical input in ethology and neuroscience lets you build real knowledge of each animal. Genuine supervised fieldwork completes this learning. I specialize in these problems and pass on a rigorous reading of every situation.

Classes take place in small groups, in Waterloo, Walloon Brabant, with a remote option that guarantees quality follow-up whatever your starting level.
See upcoming course sessions →

See the dog behaviorist course program

Note that the detailed content of each module remains reserved for enrolled students.

Non-detailed overview of the course program, module by module
  • Module 1: Neurobiology and neuroscience of canine behavior
  • Module 2: Stress, emotions and resilience
  • Module 3: Clinical reasoning and behavior assessment
  • Module 4: Anxiety disorders in dogs
  • Module 5: Reactivity: understanding and management
  • Module 6: Aggressive behavior and bites: assessment and intervention
  • Module 7: Psychological trauma and emotional recovery
  • Module 8: Complex emotional disorders
  • Module 9: Evidence-based behavior modification
  • Module 10: Designing an individualized behavior protocol
  • Module 11: Supporting families and professional communication
  • Module 12: Clinical reasoning: case studies
  • Module 13: Professional ethics and interdisciplinary collaboration
  • Module 14: Professional development and keeping up with the science

Individual support right up to the exam

You are never left to fend for yourself. I coach and support you individually throughout the modules: real case studies, personalized feedback, observation of real consultations to anchor your field experience and your observation work.

This support prepares you for the particularly demanding final certification exam. Each person progresses at their own pace, right up to that final exam, alongside other passionate participants, in the same small, supportive group.
Contact me →
Formatrice animant une formation en salle avec un chien couché au premier plan

Next dog behaviorist course session

From xx/xx/2026 to xx/xx/2026 

Waterloo town center, opposite the TEC W and 366 bus stop, or 20 minutes from the train station.
€3,250 €2,950 incl. VAT (launch offer)
Contact me
Femme souriante entourée de plusieurs chiens

A certifying title, governed by a strict code of ethics

As the profession of dog behaviorist is not officially recognized, I am building the first Belgian behaviorist certification, in French and in English, backed by my membership of international positive training associations.

By passing the exam, you sign my code of ethics and conduct — unless you have already signed it through my positive training course: training without punishment, coercion or intimidation, with respect for animal welfare and everyone's safety.

You then earn the title The Dog Nanny Academy – Certified Canine Behavior Consultant, with the right to display the certification badge on your website and social media, and I add you to the list of my graduates on my website and social channels. We stay in touch through a Facebook group accessible only to my graduates, and I can accompany you during your first consultation or let you sit in on one of mine.

Frequently asked questions about the dog behaviorist course

By completing a demanding certifying curriculum, reserved for those already trained in positive methods. That is exactly the path I offer at The Dog Nanny Academy, structured around ethology, neuroscience and a strict code of ethics, to practice this profession seriously and credibly.

The dog trainer course prepares you for day-to-day support: recall, leash walking, socialization and resolving minor common “problems” such as nipping and jumping up, among others. The dog behaviorist course goes further, into the management of established problems such as anxiety, reactivity or aggression, and is open only to people already certified in positive training.

My own Certified Positive Dog Trainer course is one route in, but not the only one: a diploma from a recognized positive training school (see prerequisites above) also allows you to enroll, subject to a validation interview for most of these schools.

You must have completed my positive training course and be certified, or hold a diploma from a recognized school (The Victoria Stilwell Academy, The Academy for Dog Trainers, Karen Pryor Academy, IAABC, School of Canine Science, IMDT, Dog Training College, COAPE, Nordic Dog Trainer Institute), with a video interview to validate your knowledge depending on your school of origin.

The curriculum covers anxiety, reactivity, aggression towards people or other dogs, predatory instinct, compulsive disorders, trauma and the most complex behavior problems in dogs, in light of the latest canine science.

No. No dog trainer or behaviorist diploma is officially recognized anywhere in the world. That is why I am building the first Belgian behaviorist certification, in French and English, governed by a strict code of ethics and recognized by my professional network.

You earn the title The Dog Nanny Academy – Certified Canine Behavior Consultant, with the right to display the badge on your website or social media. You also sign my code of ethics and conduct, unless you have already signed it through my positive training course.

The fee is €3,250 incl. VAT (excluding special offers). To find out about upcoming availability and how to enroll, contact me directly.

Income varies widely depending on your status (self-employed or salaried), your region and your client base: there is no single or guaranteed figure. Above all, this course gives you the legitimacy, the Belgian professional network and the concrete tools to build a sustainable activity, alongside an existing job or full time.

You can launch your business as an independent behaviorist, join an existing organization, or add to your current practice as a dog trainer, dog sitter or shelter professional, working alongside pet owners who need your expertise.

The entire curriculum rests on my code of ethics: no coercive methods, no punishment, no intimidation. Respect for animal welfare is a non-negotiable requirement, taught from the very first module.

Yes, provided they are already certified in positive training. Dog trainers, dog sitters and shelter professionals will find a fascinating specialization for supporting the most complex behavior problems with rigor. In addition, I also offer theme walks so you can keep practicing in the field after the course.

Ready to become a certified dog behaviorist?

Join this demanding curriculum and give your dog behavior practice a professional, ethical and scientific framework. I support you personally, from the first module through to certification, to make this specialization a real professional springboard.
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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