About Sonia QuertenmontDog trainer and dog behaviorist

I am Sonia Quertenmont and, for as long as I can remember, animals have held an essential place in my life. Even as a child, I dreamed of protecting them, understanding them and defending their welfare. Combining work and passion was a true calling. Turning it into a career made absolute sense. Today, I support dogs and their families as a positive dog behaviorist and trainer, with consultations in Walloon Brabant and Brussels and online everywhere else.
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17
years of experience with dogs and their families
★
International certifications in positive dog training
A science-based, modern, ethical and kind approach
Femme souriante assise avec deux teckels sur un canapé

My journey
From dog walking to behavior support

After several years in human resources, I chose to give real meaning to my career by devoting myself entirely to dogs.

In 2009, I founded The Dog Nanny, one of the first professional dog walking services in Belgium. For more than fifteen years, I helped hundreds of families and observed thousands of interactions between dogs. This field of work taught me to read their language, to recognize their emotions and to understand the full richness of their communication. That experience naturally sparked my interest in dog training and dog behavior and led me to become a dog trainer and behaviorist.

International certifications and continuing education

Experience, however valuable, is not enough. Truly understanding dogs requires solid scientific training and constantly questioning what you know, based on the latest research.
Logo Victoria Stilwell Academy for Dog Training & Behavior

The Victoria Stilwell Academy for Dog Training & Behavior

That is why I chose to train at The Victoria Stilwell Academy for Dog Training & Behavior. The Academy, one of the most respected global references in positive dog training, is famous for its demanding selection process and rigorous curriculum, spread over several months of training and many exams. I earned my international certification in 2022.
Certificat IAABC Foundation décerné à Sonia Quertenmont

My continuing education

Since then, I have pursued continuing education with researchers, veterinary behaviorists, neuroscientists, geneticists, canine psychologists and ethologists, all internationally renowned.

Knowledge about dogs is constantly evolving, and I consider it my responsibility to update my practice regularly, in order for dogs and their families to receive support based on the best available knowledge.

My method
A positive, science-based and individualized approach

Today, my work as a dog behaviorist, grounded in behavioral science, draws on ethology, neuroscience and the most recent scientific research. I favor positive reinforcement, a modern, kind approach that respects the dog's emotional needs. I reject coercive methods, outdated theories and ready-made solutions.

A dog is not a blank page; each one is an individual in his own right, with his own temperament, history and emotions. My role is to understand him in order to offer lasting advice and solutions, adapted to each family.

Does this approach speak to you?
Contact me →
Femme souriante entourée de plusieurs chiens
Femme serrant un teckel dans ses bras

The Dog Nanny Academy
Passing on a positive approach to dogs

Alongside my consultations, I created The Dog Nanny Academy, the first Belgian training platform in French and English entirely dedicated to a science-based, positive, modern and kind approach to dogs.

There, I share my knowledge through courses designed for dog owners as well as (aspiring) professionals who want to deepen their understanding of dog behavior. Upon graduation, the future dog professionals join the first Belgian network of certified positive dog trainers, ethical and respectful of canine welfare.

Simone
My faithful four-legged sidekick

And then there is Simone...

My little Dachshund has been my faithful companion for many years. She was the very first dog I trained during my studies at The Victoria Stilwell Academy, and those who know her see
a little dog who is truly comfortable in her own fur. She sometimes comes along to consultations, where her cheerful, sociable and reassuring temperament naturally helps some dogs regain their confidence. Over time, she has become my most adorable dog behavior intern.

I am deeply convinced that by understanding dogs better, we also learn to live better with them. That conviction guides every one of my consultations, every one of my courses and every project I develop.
Femme avec un teckel au milieu de tulipes colorées
“I don't train blind obedience. I understand your dog. Because a behavior is never a problem in itself: it is information.”

Want to understand your dog better?

Whether you wish to book a one-to-one consultation or to deepen your knowledge through The Dog Nanny Academy, I will be happy to assist you. I work in Walloon Brabant and Brussels, and everywhere else online.
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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