A WHITCHURCH-based dog training and behaviour firm is celebrating after collecting two awards, with a potential third on the way.

Nose to Trail, which was set up in March 2020 by experienced rescue dog trainer Rachel Rodgers, has again been crowned Dog Trainer of the Year for Cheshire by the Corporate Live Wire Prestige Awards.

Last year amid the Covid-19 pandemic, Rachel, 32 and from Nantwich, was delighted to be awarded the title of Dog Trainer of the Year for the first time.

Her success continues this year not only with retaining this title but also receiving in the same week the accolade of Clinical Animal Behaviourist of the Year 2021 – Northwest England from the Small Business Awards.

Nose to Trail's use of scent work to help rehabilitate fearful and aggressive dogs has also led to Rachel receiving a nomination in the national Tailwise Bark Mark awards.

Rachel's firm has been short listed as a finalist in the Top Dog Mentor – Dog Wellbeing category and is currently in third place behind Cavalier Matters and Sarah Fischer from ACE connections.

On winning the awards and being nominated for a third, Rachel said she was delighted.

"The awards themselves are obviously wonderful to win but the thing that means the most to me is that my clients have gone out of their way to nominate me of their own accord," said Rachel.

"With the Tailwise Bark Mark nomination I had no idea I had been nominated until I was tagged in a post on Instagram.

"When I shared the post on my own page a client I hadn't heard from in months messaged me to say she had nominated me because of the help I had given in training her pet dog to be her fully qualified assistance dog.

"During the pandemic a lot of new dog trainers started operating in the local area and it is very hard for pet dog owners to know who to trust with their beloved pooches.

"Our industry is completely unregulated at present, so I hope that these awards along with my accreditations from the Association of Pet Dog Trainers) and the Association of Pet Behaviour Councillors continue to give people the reassurance that their dogs are in safe hands with Nose to Trail."

Voting for the award remains open until Friday, October 15.

If you would like to vote for Nose to Trail, visit go.tailwise.com/barkmark-categories/top-dog-mentor-dog-wellbeing