Dog behaviorist in Waterloo

Does your dog growl, bark for no apparent reason, or struggle to cope when you're away? Based in Waterloo, I come to your home to understand the origin of these problems and restore a peaceful relationship with your dog. My work as a dog behaviorist rests on a positive approach, respectful of animal welfare, adapted to each dog's pace and daily life.
Whether you live in Waterloo or a neighboring municipality such as Braine-l'Alleud, I come to you to observe your dog in his real environment. It is in his daily life that behaviors show, and that is where lasting solutions are built.

My dog behaviorist services in Waterloo

As a behaviorist and trainer, I offer a local service to the residents of Waterloo and the surrounding area, with two complementary strands. Dog behaviorism covers deeply rooted problems: anxiety, reactivity, aggression, excessive barking, trauma and predatory instinct management, among others.

Training, for its part, lays the foundations of a peaceful relationship with your dog: recall, leash walking, house training, socialization, safety skills. Whether your companion is a puppy, an adult or a rescue dog, the support adapts to his profile, with concrete advice you can apply from our very first meeting. I also offer courses for dog owners and (aspiring) professionals who want to understand their dog better or who want to become a dog behaviorist.
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Dog behavior consultations

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Dog training

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Academy courses

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The area I cover around Waterloo

I come to your home in Waterloo and in nearby municipalities such as Braine-l'Alleud and Rhode-Saint-Genèse. No practice to visit: I come directly to your home, or outdoors, to observe your dog in the setting where his behaviors show most accurately. If you live outside this area, however, an online consultation remains possible, anywhere in Belgium and beyond.
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My approach: positive and science-based

Every session relies on positive reinforcement and respect for your dog's pace, without punishment or coercion. Unlike some methods that rely on coercion, my approach relies on trust and connection. I draw on continuing education in modern behavior science to offer you concrete, lasting solutions. The goal: smoother communication and a stronger bond between you and your dog.

They trust me

30 Google reviews · Average rating ★ 4.9/5 · Over 3,000 dogs supported in Walloon Brabant and Brussels.
Publié sur Google
Victor Baescu
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We have adopted a Bichon half breed from a shelter and despite consistent training he was very reactive and barking while meeting other dogs... Sonia was great in delivering a 2 hours session together with her amazing dog, Simone and we have seen an immediate improvement in our dogs ability to socialize with other dogs... I would strongly recommend Sonia and Simone
Publié sur Google
Slivye
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Super ravie des services de Sonia. Sa grande gentillesse, ses conseils précieux, ses explications m ont donné entière satisfaction et tout cela, tout en douceur pour notre poilu . Je conseille à fond: j étais venue pour le démarrage de l éducation de mon chiot . Quelques semaines plus tard, Lulu sait déjà faire beaucoup de choses diverses .Et surtout… séduire Sonia 😃😃
Publié sur Google
Farah
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Nous sommes arrivés chez Sonia épuisés, remplis de doutes et de peurs pour l’avenir de notre jeune chien réactif envers ses congénères. La cohabitation n’était plus possible. Là où d’autres nous parlaient d’abandon ou de placement en refuge, Sonia a pris le temps de nous écouter, de comprendre notre situation et de croire en lui… et en nous. Grâce à son accompagnement profondément bienveillant et aux protocoles d’apaisement qu’elle a mis en place, notre quotidien s’est transformé. J’étais à bout et je n’y croyais pas, et pourtant, pas à pas, nous avons retrouvé une vie plus calme, plus stable, et surtout la confiance a remplacé le découragement. Merci infiniment pour ton humanité, ta patience et ton professionnalisme. Ce que tu as fait pour Venom et pour notre famille est inestimable🐾.
Publié sur Google
Alejandra Tejera
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Sonia is an amazing behaviourist. She understands dog language and our dog absolutely adores her. Since she has been helping us, our dog is much more confident, better at socialising with other dogs and the bond with us has also grown stronger. We understand our dog’s needs much better. We tried another dog trainer before her, who claimed to be a ‘positive’ trainer, and my husband and I were truly appalled at the amount of bad advise based on domination and fear. Please, be very careful out there. Trainers love to use the word ‘positive’ for marketing reasons and then apply the same old dog training methods of decades ago. Sonia is a TRULY POSITIVE trainer. She understands that dogs are sentient and truly amazing creatures who deserve to be a part of our family and feel loved and safe. Reinforcing those feelings truly works. We are living proof of it. Also, she speaks English wonderfully, so that she will be able to help not only in French, but also in English. If you are in need of help to fix whatever issues you are experiencing with your furry friend, do not look any further. Your dog could not be in better hands!!
Publié sur Google
Olga Markarian
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Even before our session Sonia took the time to learn and think deeply about our new puppy and the challenges he was dealing with. When we met, she immediately tuned in to his personality and history, especially after a difficult experience at the breeder and a long recovery from his fracture. Sonia is very knowledgeable and her approach is gentle, insightful, and genuinely reassuring. She gave us practical, thoughtful advice that already helped us understand our puppy's behaviour and needs. You can really tell she loves what she does and has a deep empathy for both dogs and owners, which is especially important when you've had a tough start. Also, a special mention to her wonderful assistant Simone - an absolute delight and a perfect role model for our Ollie. Thank you so much Sonia & Simone!
Publié sur Google
Anna Ost.
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Sonia is a very skilled canine behaviourist. She quickly grasps the issues that need to be addressed and is able to propose workable strategies immediately, while being very attentive to your needs and canine wellbeing and breed specifics at the same time. Highly recommended!
Publié sur Google
Erik Hellebaut
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J’ai eu ma première rencontre avec Sonia, spécialiste en comportement canin pour mon chien Popeye, et j’ai tout de suite été mis en confiance. J’ai beaucoup aimé son écoute, sa bienveillance et son approche personnalisée. Elle a su cerner rapidement les besoins de Popeye, et je sens déjà que nous sommes sur la bonne voie. Hâte de poursuivre les prochaines séances !
Publié sur Google
Van Assche Lenel
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Sonia m’a convaincue que cette approche pouvait être bénéfique et positive pour le chien, et pour moi 😊 ! Moi, qui voyais le comportementalisme pour chien sans trop d’intérêt jusqu’ici. Très belle expérience, Sonia est une personne sensée, très sensible aux bien-être des animaux et de très bons conseils. Fiabilité à 100% !
Publié sur Google
Maggie Egan
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I love Sonia’s approach to understanding dogs’ behaviour. Her explanations were very clear & approach to training easily applied. I highly recommend a consultation & opportunity to learn with Sonia.
Publié sur Google
Magali Peers
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Je recommande vivement Dog Nanny comme comportementaliste canin. Sonia est très à l'écoute et nous accompagne avec une attitude tout en positivité et bienveillance dans l'éducation de notre chiot. En une séance c'est fou tout ce que l'on apprend comme trucs et astuces, et au lendemain de notre séance et avec la pratique je vois déjà un changement très positif. Bien consciente que "endurance et persévérance" sont les maîtres mots du changement, j'ai toujours la voix solaire de Sonia dans ma tête quand je pars en promenade avec mon chien (et lui pique parfois ses intonations) ;-) Que du bonheur !

FAQ: dog behaviorist in Waterloo

I come to Waterloo itself, but also to Braine-l'Alleud, Rhode-Saint-Genèse, Ohain, Woluwe-Saint-Pierre and Auderghem. If you live further away, an online consultation remains possible, anywhere in Belgium and beyond.

The vast majority of consultations take place at your place, because that is where your dog's behaviors show most naturally. Some situations, such as outdoor reactivity, may call for a session on a walk in your neighborhood.

First contact usually happens within 24 to 48 hours. The first consultation at your place is then scheduled according to our availability.

The first phone contact is free. The behavior assessment at your place and the personalized management and training plan are charged according to a detailed rate card, which I share with you during our first exchanges.

As soon as your dog's behavior worries you or goes beyond what you know how to handle on your own: aggression, intense fear, separation anxiety, or barking and destructive behavior that set in over time. The earlier you act, the faster the progress, but it is never too late to start.

Yes, alongside individual sessions, I offer theme walks in small groups, useful for socialization, positive training and learning to walk on a leash, among others. Online conferences are also scheduled to round out your knowledge of dogs.

They are two complementary professions, and I practice both. The trainer lays solid, positive foundations, even before a problem appears. The behaviorist steps in once a problem has set in, to understand its cause and resolve it for good. Many of my clients in Waterloo call on me for both, at different points in their dog's life.

Ask yourself this: is your dog still learning the basics (recall, leash walking, house training, sit, wait, among others), or does his behavior genuinely worry you (aggression, fear, anxiety)? In the first case, dog training is enough. In the second, behavioral support is called for. If in doubt, simply contact me: I will point you in the right direction from our first exchange.

Yes. I support puppies, adult dogs and rescue dogs, whatever their breed or history. My positive approach adapts to each dog's temperament and pace.

Very much for real: many dogs experience absence as a temporary loss of security, which can show as vocalizing, destructive behavior or agitation at the moment of departure. This is what we call separation anxiety, a common problem I regularly treat during my consultations in Waterloo.

A bored dog may become destructive, bark a lot, become hyperactive or, on the contrary, listless. These signals are not whims: they reflect an unmet need, whether physical, mental or relational.

It is a useful guideline, not an exact science: 3 days to decompress in his new environment, 3 weeks to learn the household routine, 3 months to feel fully confident. Every rescue dog moves at his own pace, and that is precisely what I support, case by case.

A dog does not "sulk" in the human sense, but he can clearly express discomfort or frustration through his behavior: he withdraws, avoids contact or seems distant. Learning to read these signals is part of my work as a behaviorist.

Why choose The Dog Nanny Academy à Waterloo

My name is Sonia Quertenmont, a certified positive dog behaviorist and trainer, and a professional member of The Pet Professional Guild and the IAABC. My training at The Victoria Stilwell Academy, a global reference in positive training, and my many courses in dog behavior guide my entire practice: respect for animal welfare and work on emotions, never resorting to coercion.

Whether you are in Waterloo or a neighboring municipality, every session takes place at your place, where your dog lives his activities and his daily life. A 15-minute call is offered within two weeks of the consultation.
Are you ready to get the harmony back to your family?
For more information or to book an appointment, contact me.
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