Nellie’s Paws & Co

Nellie’s Paws & Co Neurodivergent Dog Trainer
Premium Home-From-Home Dog Boarding
Reward-Based Training Methods
Inclusive For All
Online & In-Person (Cheshire) Support ⬇️

Does dog training feel like a lot to take in?You’re listening to the trainer.Watching your dog.Thinking about timing, tr...
28/05/2026

Does dog training feel like a lot to take in?

You’re listening to the trainer.
Watching your dog.
Thinking about timing, treats, your lead, your hands, your body language.
And wondering if everyone’s looking at you.

That is a lot to hold at once.

If you’ve worked with great trainers and still felt like you were drowning … it’s not you. It’s not the dog trainer. It’s not your dog either.

I’m Natalie at Nellie’s Paws & Co, and I’m a neurodivergent dog trainer based in Sandbach, Cheshire. I get it because I live it too.

My sessions are inclusive and adapted for you. The pace, the environment, the way I explain things. My job isn’t to overwhelm you with information. It’s to coach you, so you can confidently support your dog in everyday life.

You deserve training that actually works for your brain!

📍 Sandbach, Cheshire | face to face, online (UK wide) & small group classes available

Send me a DM with the word READY and I’ll reach out for a FREE, no pressure chat to see how I can help. 👇

People think this work is just about dogs.But for me, it’s about what dogs can mean to us.Mine has been comfort, compani...
27/05/2026

People think this work is just about dogs.
But for me, it’s about what dogs can mean to us.

Mine has been comfort, companionship and a huge support to my mental health.

So I know that when the bond is that close, the hard parts can feel really big too.

Dog training can feel overwhelming when you’re trying to take in all the different parts of an exercise, worrying you’re being judged, comparing your dog to others, or feeling like you’re getting it wrong (even when no one has said that to you)

Dog Boarding can feel just as hard when you’re going away and carrying all the guilt and worry about leaving them.

That’s why my values are so personal to me.

I want people to feel supported when they need help with their dog, and reassured when they need to leave them. I want owners to properly relax, knowing their dog is safe, settled and loved like family.

That is the heart behind both my dog training and dog boarding 🐾

If you’ve ever felt this way about your dog, you’re exactly the kind of owner I created this space for 🤍

Not all dog advice is safe advice.And that might sound a little dramatic, but it really matters.The dog industry is stil...
23/05/2026

Not all dog advice is safe advice.
And that might sound a little dramatic, but it really matters.

The dog industry is still largely unregulated, which means anyone can call themselves a dog professional and offer advice.
But there is a difference between having experience with dogs and being trained to give behaviour or training advice.

Both can have value, but they are not the same thing.

Qualified dog trainers invest a huge amount of time, money and energy into studying, learning, practising and continuing to develop their knowledge.

Not because we want to overcomplicate things.
But because the advice we give can directly affect a dog’s confidence, behaviour, welfare and safety.

When a dog is struggling with fear, frustration, anxiety, reactivity, guarding, stress or big emotions, the advice they receive really matters.
The wrong approach can increase stress, damage trust, or make the behaviour harder to work through.

This is why qualifications, continued learning, ethical methods, insurance and knowing when to refer on are so important.

I’m a qualified dog trainer and I’m also working towards becoming a qualified behaviourist.

Dogs and their owners deserve safe, thoughtful, reward-based support. Also support should be clear, kind and realistic for the human too, which is why my training is neurodivergent-friendly and inclusive for all owners.

Choosing a dog professional is about more than finding someone who loves dogs.
It’s about finding someone who understands behaviour, welfare, safety and the impact their advice can have.

If you’re ever unsure what to look for when choosing support for your dog, feel free to message me 🤍

Feel like you’ve failed at dog training?You haven’t 🤍Sometimes training makes sense in the session, but feels much harde...
22/05/2026

Feel like you’ve failed at dog training?

You haven’t 🤍

Sometimes training makes sense in the session, but feels much harder once you’re back home.

You forget to practise.
Life gets busy.
The routine disappears.
You start worrying you’re doing it wrong.

And if you’re neurodivergent, finding the time, structure and headspace to fit training into everyday life can feel even harder.

That does not mean you do not care.
It means the plan needs to work for you too.

My training is reward-based, calm and broken down into clear, manageable steps, so both you and your dog feel supported.

Need training to feel more realistic and manageable?
Send me a message and we’ll take it step by step 🐾

Something new is coming in June 🐾I’m currently testing out a new booking app called Bark with a few very lucky clients… ...
20/05/2026

Something new is coming in June 🐾

I’m currently testing out a new booking app called Bark with a few very lucky clients… or unlucky, depending on how the testing goes 😂

From June, I’ll be rolling it out to all Nellie’s Paws & Co clients to make requesting boarding and daycare dates much easier.

At the moment, booking requests and messages can come through lots of different places like WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, text messages… and it can be a lot to keep track of.

Bark will help keep everything much clearer, with booking requests and confirmed dates all in one place.
You’ll be able to request your dog’s dates through the app and see your confirmed bookings, which should make things easier for everyone.

To access my calendar, you’ll need my private access code. This will only be given once your dog has completed their meet & greet, introduction and trial, and is approved for boarding or daycare.

Just a little note …. bookings requested through the app will still need to be approved by me.

Even if I’m not showing as full, I still need to carefully match the dogs already booked in to make sure the group is calm, safe and suitable.
Small numbers and carefully matched dogs will always come first here 🤍

More details coming soon! 🐾

This dog myth gets misunderstood a lot…“A tired dog is a calm dog.”As a dog trainer, I wish more owners knew this isn’t ...
19/05/2026

This dog myth gets misunderstood a lot…

“A tired dog is a calm dog.”

As a dog trainer, I wish more owners knew this isn’t always the full picture.

Walks matter. Exercise matters. But if your dog is still wired, struggling to settle, or becoming more over aroused after lots of activity, simply doing more isn’t always the answer.

Rest, sniffing, calm enrichment, structure and mental stimulation can all play a huge part in helping dogs feel calmer and more regulated. You don’t always have to “walk it out.”

Sometimes the kindest thing is finding the right balance for your individual dog.

This is exactly the kind of thing I help owners with by creating thoughtful enrichment and calm, realistic routines that suit the dog in front of us. That might be a dog who gets over aroused easily, a puppy who needs help switching off, or a dog on crate rest or restricted exercise where simply doing more walks isn’t an option.

Need help working out what your dog actually needs?
Pop me a message …. I’d be happy to help 🤍

A good dog training session starts before I even meet your dog.Today I completed another IMDT courseThe Consultation and...
16/05/2026

A good dog training session starts before I even meet your dog.

Today I completed another IMDT course
The Consultation and Follow-Up Report

Dog training starts with the consultation.
For me, a consultation is where I get to understand both ends of the lead. This is your dog and you.

I want to know what daily life looks like, what your dog is finding difficult, what you’re finding difficult, what has already been tried, what your goals are and what kind of support will actually feel realistic at home.
Because reward-based dog training should never feel like a one-size-fits-all plan.

Then comes the follow-up.

This is where I make sure you’re not left trying to remember everything from the session on your own.
Clear follow-up emails help break things down, give you something to come back to, and make the next steps feel much easier to follow.

As a neurodivergent-friendly dog trainer, this is a huge part of how I work. But this approach isn’t only for neurodivergent owners …. it’s inclusive for everyone 🤍

Clear communication, realistic training plans and proper follow-up support can make dog training feel much more achievable for both you and your dog.

Looking for reward-based dog training that supports the human as well as the dog?
Message me to chat about how I can help 🤍

3 signs your dog’s reward might not be working 🐾If your dog takes the treat but doesn’t stay engaged, struggles when the...
15/05/2026

3 signs your dog’s reward might not be working 🐾

If your dog takes the treat but doesn’t stay engaged, struggles when the environment changes, or switches off quickly during training, it doesn’t mean they’re being difficult.

Sometimes the reward just isn’t quite right for that moment.
In dog training, motivation matters.

What your dog loves at home might not be exciting enough in the garden, on a walk, or when there are more distractions around.
That’s exactly why I use “Choosies” before training.

It’s a simple 5-minute exercise that helps you find out what your dog actually wants to work for that day instead of guessing.

I’ve got a free 10-minute video that talks you through it step by step, so you can try it at home with your own dog.

Comment CHOOSIES and I’ll send it over 🐾

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Sandbach

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