A Philosophy of Fun
Gentle Puppy Training believes in beginning puppy training at an early age, in a fun and rewarding environment so you can begin instilling good manners BEFORE bad habits and unruliness become entrenched! We say No! to using pain, fear, force or intimidation in training.
All techniques used by Gentle Puppy Training are dog & people friendly and are FUN, EASY and EFFECTIVE for both dogs & owners. As our mentor Dr. Ian Dunbar PhD says, “Training is not about dominance or obedience. Training is about Trust, Respect and Relationship”
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About Monique
Monique Charbonnier was the first Certified Professional Dog Trainer -Knowledge Assesssed(CPDT-KA) in Abbotsford, British Columbia She is a graduate of the The Academy of Dog Trainers ( Jean Donaldson Founder & Instructor) where she earned a certificate in the Counseling Course. Monique has trained and coached people and dogs for more than 33 years. At first, she trained under the business name “Academie du Bon Chien” in Quebec, the first French positive reinforcement-based puppy classes in the province. Then in 1996, with 6 Newfoundland dogs and one cat, she has moved to Abbotsford, British Columbia where she has started “Gentle Puppy Training”.
Maintaining “the Gentle and Fun approach” Monique excels in teaching Kindergarten Puppy Class, New Kid on the Block and Super Power Teen class”. Monique offer Speciality Classes ;Boomerang Coming when Called , Walk with me Loose Leash Training and Fun Scent games Intro to Nose Work. Monique also helps owners with dogs exhibiting behavior problems such as excessive barking, anxiety, aggression, phobia, fear, resource guarder, house-soiling, destructive chewing and more, either in the comfort of their home or in her new Training Sanctuary.
Monique is a charter member of the APDT (USA), and a regular attendee to their annual conferences in Canada & the USA. Monique was one of the 700 trainers from 13 countries who attended the 2016 APDT conference in Las Vegas!, She has participated with her dogs in numerous lectures, seminars and workshops given by her mentors: Dr Ian Dunbar, Jean Donaldson, Patricia McConnell, Nicole Wilde, Turid Ruguass, Karen Pryor, Suzanne Clothier and the list goes on!
Monique provides free seminars and puppy parties in veterinary hospitals in her community. She also offers demonstrations with her dogs at fundraiser events. She was the expert trainer on a local television show called “The Pet Zone”.
Prior to working in the dog-training field, Monique was a horse trainer, instructor , and a veterinarian technician. She also had the opportunity to observe canine communication and body language of 65 fox hounds living together and this randomly for period of 8 years . For over 39 years, she is a reputable, hobbyist Newfoundland dog breeder under the name Mouska. Monique took obedience, agility, tracking, musical freestyle , K9 Nose work and clicker training classes with her dogs. The famous Jean Donaldson owner of The Academy of Dog Trainers was one of her instructors in the Super Training course.
Monique is an advocate of gentle, positive, force free ,fear free, fun & effective training. She approves her mentor Dr Ian Dunbar who says “Training is not about obedience or dominance; training is about Trust, Relationship and Respect”.