Important information and terms and conditions
These Terms and Conditions are for the interest of safety, responsibility and welfare for our clients. We reserve the right to change these terms and conditions at any time. Any changes will take immediate effect and it is the responsibility of our clients to read these.
TRAINING CLASSES AND BEHAVIOUR SERVICES
Bookings and payment:
Payment is required in full before attendance to a class or course. To ensure you are guaranteed a place on a course, it is advisable to book online. By completing your booking through our online system, you have acknowledged that you are aware of and accept our terms and conditions. Confirmation of your booking will be forwarded by email. It is the client’s responsibility to ensure they arrive at the right venue and at the correct time.
We cannot guarantee a place on a course unless prior payment has been made via our online booking system, a bank transfer has been made or payment in cash received, we are not able to take any other forms of payment. If you request a place on a course without paying and completing a registration/booking form, there is no assurance a space will be available for you on the course. We will endeavour to contact you when places are limited.
Where a deposit has been paid, the balance of payment is due no later than 48 hours prior to the scheduled start date of the event. If full payment is not received at this time, Pet Behaviour Company reserve the right to cancel your booking. If you anticipate a delay in making your final payment, please contact Pet Behaviour Company as soon as possible. Bookings made within 5 days of scheduled start date require full balance to be paid to confirm the booking.
Numbers of dogs in classes:
We limit the number of dogs in our classes to provide the appropriate trainer to dog ratio. Booking in advance guarantees a place on our courses. We ask that you only bring the dog you registered for class to class with you, and not other family pets, unless by prior written arrangement with Pet Behaviour Company. Multiple dogs from the same family can attend class at the same time but only if each dog to attend has had a separate place booked on the course.
Suitability for classes:
You must not knowingly book a dog that shows aggressive behaviours (these include but are not limited to lunging, growling, snarling and biting) towards people and/or other dogs onto a training course, unless it is a specific course that is intended to address these issues. Should your dog use aggressive behaviours towards any other person or dog during any class, we reserve the right to ask you and your dog to leave. This is the case unless we have explicitly advised in writing that you and your dog attend this class or course. If you do not advise us of potential problems and your dog shows aggressive behaviours in class, you will not be entitled to a transfer onto another course or a refund. We strongly advise that you contact us in advance if you are unsure whether a class environment is suitable for you and your dog. If you are unsure about the suitability of your dog in class and have not asked us to assess your dog before your attendance, you will not be refunded if your dog is unsuitable for the class you have booked. If we have agreed to your dog attending but the dog is not suited to the class environment, we may be able to offer you alternative arrangements or suggestions, including referral for the unwanted behaviour.
Considerations:
Arriving at class:
When arriving at class please avoid meeting any other dogs on lead. Not all dogs are happy being in close proximity to other dogs, particularly when they are restricted by the lead, and this may cause unwanted behaviours. To ensure all coming to class are comfortable, please ensure you allow plenty of space both inside and outside the training venue when seeing and passing other dogs and owners.
Toileting:
The car park of the training venue has an area where you can toilet your dog, which is advisable to do before class starts. This area however is not secure. Therefore, if you let your dog off-lead, you do so at your own risk, and no liability or responsibility can be held against Pet Behaviour Company. There is no dog waste disposal facility at the training venue so after scooping and bagging, you are requested to take home all used poo bags and not leave them in the car park.
Mobile phone:
We kindly ask you to keep your mobile phones on silent or off during class, so as to not disturb others. We ask that you do not hold conversations on your phone during a class. If you need to take a phone call, there are areas away from the main teaching hall which can be accessed if needed.
We may occasionally record or take photos for promotional purposes during classes, however please alert us if you do not wish to appear.
What to wear:
Our training classes are practically focussed therefore appropriate shoes and clothing are recommended. Please wear comfortable flat shoes for safety reasons, as you will be moving about. You may be required to get down on the floor during training, therefore suitable attire is recommended. Outside the ground can be uneven, so please wear comfortable shoes that are appropriate for the weather, bearing in mind we may be working both inside and outside.
Welfare and safety:
Please keep to areas of the building designated only for our training purposes. All dogs must be kept under the owner’s control and on a lead, except where specifically instructed by an instructor. You are responsible for the conduct of your dog at all times. Dogs in class must not lunge at, growl at or bite any other dogs who are present.
We provide a safe and secure environment as practicably reasonable and endeavour to apply good practices with all our training services. We endeavour to run all classes in as safe and professional manner as possible. Pet Behaviour Company also takes all reasonable precautions when providing behavioural services to minimise the risk of injury from being bitten. However remote, dog training is not without risk therefore participation in training and behaviour services is at the owner’s risk. Pet Behaviour Company or any of its individual assistants, or helpers, will not accept responsibility for any loss, injury or damage to any persons, or dogs attending a course, or to their property howsoever caused during the provision of any dog training activities.
All training provided will be by instructors who are theoretically and practically skilled and have been assessed professionally within the field and have been deemed by Pet Behaviour Company to have the necessary experience and skills.
Use of information or advice given in connection with the above sessions including but not limited to any liability for errors, inaccuracies, omissions or misleading or defamatory statements.
Owners are advised to have appropriate pet insurance cover that includes third party liability insurance. Pet Behaviour Company has public liability and relevant business insurance to run classes and provide training and behavioural advice.
Pet Behaviour Company will not take responsibility for misinterpretation of advice. Whilst we hope you find the information and guidance given interesting and informative, the contents are for general information only. We believe the contents to be true and accurate at the date of the session but can give no assurances or warranty regarding the accuracy, currency or applicability of any of the contents in relation to specific situations and particular circumstances. As such, the contents should not be relied upon and professional advice should be taken in specific cases. In addition, none of the content of the session will form any part of any contract between us or constitutes an offer by us. Specific disclaimers may apply in addition to certain content or parts of the session.
Children in class:
We encourage family members to attend classes. Children are welcome and when encouraged to participate often make competent handlers. Children under 16 years of age must be accompanied by an adult. Children are encouraged to behave appropriately in the presence of unfamiliar dogs and are requested not to run in class, or distract other dogs from working. For safety reasons it is advisable all children are educated in how to approach an unfamiliar dog.
Young children may not find training classes exciting. It can be challenging to supervise young children while training a dog. Very young children can become bored and may need another adult to supervise them. If you provide your children with entertainment during a class, please ensure it is quiet and will not distract other class members.
Cancellations, refunds and postponements:
Cancellations for a course that has been paid for requires at least 48 hours’ notice. Any refund will incur a £50.00 administration fee. Course fees will not be refunded within 48 hours’ notice of the course starting. We are unable to refund course fees once the course has commenced.
Please notify us beforehand if you will miss a class. Partial refunds for missed classes are not given. Unfortunately, we are unable to provide make up sessions, however we will endeavour to ensure you are able to catch up at your next attendance.
We reserve the right to postpone dates where weather or elements outside of our control cause running of classes not to be possible. Under these circumstances you will be notified by email or phone as soon as possible, and postponed class dates will be rescheduled.
Insufficient numbers booked onto a course may result in a course being postponed or cancelled. In this instance you will be notified of future course dates or offered private tuition. If this is not acceptable a full refund will be given.
Requests for a refund and any cancellations, including for one-to-ones are made at the discretion of Pet Behaviour Company and any decision is made on a case-by-case basis.
Start times:
Please arrive in time for each class as latecomers can be disruptive to the other dogs in class. Dogs arriving late can experience stress if barked at by the other dogs. If you are late and we are working dogs off lead, for safety reasons the doors will be locked. Please wait for a convenient moment and we will open the door for you.
Our methods:
We use kind, fair and effective techniques avoiding the need to use physical correction of any type. Harsh handling of dogs is wholeheartedly discouraged and the use of check chains and other coercive or punitive methods, including lead jerking, shouting or smacking, is not permitted.
You may not use any gadget or device in class that we consider aversive, such as slip leads, working leads, pinch collars, spray collars, compressed air canisters, rattle cans or water squirters, or any other device or method that has potential to cause injury, pain or fear. Any owner who continues to use harsh methods when asked not to, will be asked to leave our classes and not return and will not be eligible for any form of refund.
Dogs unfit for class:
Welfare and safety of all dogs is paramount to us. Dogs in an unfit state of health due to illness, disease or injury cannot be brought to class. Do not bring your dog to class if they have been in contact with an infectious disease, such as kennel cough or conjunctivitis. If you are unsure as to whether your dog is well enough to attend, please refer to your Vet for guidance. If your dog is unable to attend, you are encouraged to attend the class without your dog so you can maintain continuity of training.
Dogs should be adequately protected by vaccination as advised by your vet and verification may be requested. Puppies can attend our classes from one week after their first vaccination has been administered by a Vet, as long as your vet is in agreement. For all puppies wellbeing verification of vaccination status must be provided. Failure to provide confirmation will result in puppies not being able to participate in a class. Puppies not having completed their vaccination programme must not walk on the ground outside of the venue and are to be carried into and out of the training establishment, and to and from vehicles.
Bitches in season are not permitted to attend a class. Please notify us if you consider your bitch may come into season during a course. Refunds are not given, although we may offer alternative arrangements, such as deferring to another course.
Change of instructor:
Pet Behaviour Company reserves the right to appoint an alternative appropriate training instructor for any workshop, event or course should Lynn, or the advertised training instructor be unable to attend, and will not issue refunds or amendments to confirmed participants. We will always endeavour to inform all participants of any change at the time of event or course.