Meet your trainers
The experienced dog trainers at Sit Pretty have a shared passion for animals, force-free, science based training and an eagerness to help clients develop a respectful and loving relationship with their pet.
Vanessa Charbonneau
Owner/Head Trainer
As a force-free dog trainer, based in Prince George, BC, Vanessa is eager to use her knowledge and skill set to aid clients in shaping the family pet they’ve always wanted.
While on a journey helping her own dog Kaslo with his dog reactivity, Vanessa has developed a passion for working with dogs with reactivity. Her life with Kaslo has provided her with unique insight into the daily difficulties that come with living with a reactive dog. This experience leaves her better able to help clients help their dogs live more successfully in this big, messy world.
Vanessa has focused her continuing education on fear, aggression and reactivity so she can help these dogs, who are often misunderstood and mislabeled.
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Animals have been an integral part of Vanessa’s life, starting from a very young age. As a child her immense passion for horses and riding consumed every waking moment. Joining the Campbell Valley Pony Club at the age of 12 led her into the world of competitive 3-day-eventing.
Her father is a retired Vancouver Police Officer from the department’s Dog Squad, so for as long as she can remember, she has been surrounded by bold, working German Shepherds. Deeply involved in the puppies’ early training and socialization, spending many evenings and weekends laying scent tracks for the pups, crate training them and teaching them to play tug. After their first pup made it into formal Service Dog Training, Vanessa dedicated her “free time” to laying longer, more challenging tracks and (reluctantly) aiding in bite training.
During high school the love of animals drove Vanessa to become a kennel assistant at the local veterinary clinic, which in turn motivated her to apply to University after graduation to become an Animal Health Technician.
In 2008, Vanessa graduated as a Registered Animal Health Technician from Thompson Rivers University. Although the new career allowed her to help animals on an entirely new level, the number of dogs that were being surrendered to shelters or euthanized based on behavioral issues was overwhelming.
Determined to find another way to aid these animals to possess long, happy lives, she began looking for a credible dog training programs that would teach her how to resolve behavioral issues. After attending one of fellow KPA-CTP Julie Shaw’s lectures at a veterinary conference, Vanessa learned about the Karen Pryor Academy and went on to pursue formal certification as a force free dog trainer.
Vanessa has since added other certifications and logs numerous continuing education hours every year.
Launching Sit Pretty Pet Services in Fort St John, BC in 2013, Vanessa now resides in Prince George, BC, with her husband Chris, their two daughters, and their rescue dog, Kaslo.
In her spare time Vanessa is a foster parent for the BC SPCA, and enjoys reading and various writing projects.
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Vanessa is proud to be one of only two trainers in Northern BC to become BC SPCA AnimalKind Accredited.
In addition to her formal education, Vanessa has attended dog training and animal behavior seminars around North America, learning from experts in the field such as Ken Ramirez and Ken & Debbie Martin
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Diploma in Veterinary Technology
KPA-CTP, Graduate of the Karen Pryor Academy for Dog Trainers
CTC, Graduate of the Academy for Dog Trainers
Aggression in Dogs Master Course, Certificate of Completion
Fear Free Certified Professional
Living & Learning with Animals with Dr. Susan Friedman
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Registered Veterinary Technologist with the BCVTA
BC SPCA Accredited Trainer through AnimalKind
KIND WORDS
“My husband and I were so lucky to find Vanessa and her company Sit Pretty Pet Services.
We rescued a cute little Shih Tzu girl who was very timid, unsure and unfortunately used the house as a washroom. We did some private lessons, where Vanessa taught Zoey and I some basic training. These lessons helped us to bond and I believe taught Zoey that she was safe here. After some work Zoey no longer messed in the house and her personality started to shine.
My Husband and I do little training sessions with her now just for the fun of it and use Vanessa’s tips to teach her new tricks.
Later on we got a puppy named Luke, who we put into Vanessa’s Puppy Preschool group class. The classes were really good at giving me and my husband tools that we needed to teach Luke everything from the basics and socializing skills.
Thank you Vanessa for everything. You are such an amazing dog trainer!
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The training we offer at Sit Pretty Behavior & Training is scientifically proven to be effective and provide lasting results.