Melissa Nicholson is a professional, insured pet dog trainer based in her 'born and bred' community.  She has been involved with dogs all her life and has a wealth of experience and knowledge to help ensure you enjoy having an obedient, loyal and happy canine friend.  Melissa prides herself on providing a friendly, successful service you will want to recommend to others.

About Melissa:

Melissa has around dogs all her life.   For the past 10 years she has been teaching owners to train their dogs in classes, individually or in workshops.   She has also been a Community Education Tutor for Dog Training with North Shropshire College in Whitchurch and Oswestry.  She teaches all levels of classes from puppies into adulthood.   She currently works with an average of over 80 dogs and handlers each week in over 15 classes and 121s.  Melissa also offers 1-2-1 training,  Canine Hoopers and will support local charity events as a fun dog show judge or to offer advice.   Melissa has vast experience in supporting handlers to take their dogs successfully through The Kennel Club's Good Citizen Dog Scheme.

Melissa is Affiliated to the British Institute of Professional Dog Trainers (visit www.bipdt.org.uk) having obtained a Certificate in Basic Instructional Techniques in 2013.

She has also completed an Advanced Instructors Course with Odin Canine Services, holds a 1st Class BSc (hons) Degree in Management Science having had a marketing career with Global Companies before retraining to teach dog training, has a keen interest in canine psychology and behaviour, has attained all levels of the Good Citizen Dog Scheme and the Bronze Award National Pet Code with the BIPDT.  She is working towards furthering her professional qualifications with The Kennel Club Accredited Instructor Scheme (KCAI scheme) and in December 2014 gained a BTEC Level 3 Award in Education & Training (formerly PTLLS).

In May 2017, Melissa became an Approved Examiner (A2 list) for The Kennel Club Good Citizen Dog Scheme Bronze  & Silver Award Tests.  As a class instructor, she is eligible to also act as an assessor for The Puppy Foundation Award.

In November 2018, Melissa passed her Canine Hoopers UK Level 1 Instructors Program and is now qualified to instruct Hoopers classes from foundations up to Beginner Competition level.

During the pandemic, Melissa has adapted her teaching methods and created lots of helpful resources to help support her clients remotely.  She's decedicated lots of time to provide training or a friendly voice on the ense of the phone in a Covid-19 secure way to help care for her clients and their dogs.

2021, Melissa became a Volunteer Traininer for the charity Dog A.I.D. (Dog Assistance In Disability) and looks forward to supporting the charity in its work for many years to come.

She has also taught groundwork agility for fun (incorporating the BIPDT National Code Agility) and Heelwork To Music.   She has volunteered alongside Shropshire Council Dog Warden Service to help educate children on the safe interaction with dogs and responsible dog ownership at annual events.  Her family have also been involved in representing the Safe & Sound Scheme for The Kennel Club at Discover Dogs in 2015 and Crufts 2016.  Melissa was also a member of the Whitchurch Dog Display Team from childhood onwards.  Melissa is always developing her professional skills, enjoying researching and practising the latest thinking related to understanding dogs and positive, force free training.

Melissa lives with her family and 10 year old Bichon Frise 'Bobby' - rehomed when he was 10 months old - and  5 year old Golden Retriever 'Christie'; who has been with her from a puppy.  She is inspired by Heelwork To Music, obedience training and Canine Hoopers when working with her own dogs.

You may also meet Melissa's mum Carole Hill who often assesses classes.

About Carole:

Carole has Associate Membership of the British Institute of Professional Dog Trainers (ABIPDT) having first attained a grade with them in 1988.  She has been a Dog Handling Community Education Tutor for the North Shropshire College for over 25 years.

She was involved with the Whitchurch Dog Display Team for over 35 years.  Carole has been training every possible breed/type of dog for over 35 years and has a significantly long and successful personal CV with numerous wins and placings in breed showing, working trials, agility, Display Team and Heelwork To Music (HTM).

Carole supports hundreds of dog and handler teams through The Kennel Club Good Citizen Dog Scheme each year, has owned a Pets As Therapy (P-A-T) Dog and has represented the Good Citizen Dog Scheme at Crufts.

She is also an Examiner for all levels of The Kennel Club Good Citizen Dog Scheme (B list).