A DOG trainer from near Whitchurch is celebrating after winning an award at this year's Pet Products and Services Awards.

Rachel Rodgers, owner of Nose to Trail, a pet behaviour service, based in Combermere was crowned UK winner of Clinical Animal Behaviourist of the Year for 2023.

Award winners were announced by Luxlife magazine many years ago to recognise companies and individuals for their services to the luxury pet market and Rachel was congratulated for her success.

Award coordinator, Holly Blackwood said: "I am pleased to have had the opportunity to host the 2023 Pet Products and Services Awards this year, and I want to share a huge congratulations to all of our committed winners.

"They’re doing a wonderful job for the health and well-being of our pets, and I’m sure we will see this continue for many years to come."

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Rachel explained the difference between dog behaviour and dog training work.

She added: "The difference between 'dog training' and 'dog behaviour' work is often an area for confusion.

"As a general rule of thumb 'behaviour' is when there is an established problem e.g. separation anxiety, not being able to be left home alone, aggression and fear.

"As a full member of the APBC and a registered Clinical Animal Behaviourist on the ABTC register, I can only take on behaviour cases after getting the okay from the vet.

"This is because research from the University of Lincoln found that up to 82 per cent of behaviour cases seen by clinical animal behaviourists like me had a health component linked to them.

"Of these, the most common is musculoskeletal pain.

"This may be things like hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, luxating patellas, osteoarthritis and so on.

"The list is pretty much endless due to the huge range of health conditions that impact our four-legged friends.

"In dogs, the prevalence of osteoarthritis is staggering with 80 per cent of dogs over the age of eight thought to struggle with this excruciatingly painful condition.

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"But please don’t think that if your dog is young then they wouldn’t be struggling with this – some research suggests up to 35 per cent of dogs under the age of one already struggle with arthritis.

"Being in pain is highly likely to impact on your dog’s behaviour even if you don’t spot any physical signs that they are struggling."