Terms & Conditions

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

The Dog Behaviourist

These are the terms and conditions for The Dog Behaviourist and any associated party, person, or animals involved with The Dog Behaviourist.

Definitions

‘Owner’: The individual or entity who has legal ownership of the Dog and who enters into training with The Dog Behaviourist. This includes representatives, agents, or family members acting on behalf of the Owner.

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1. Responsibilities and Liability

• The Trainer will use best judgment and exercise professional care in the training of the Owner’s Dog.

• Due to the unpredictable nature of dogs, the Owner remains responsible for the welfare, supervision, and control of their Dog at all times during training sessions, whether indoors or outdoors, on or off lead.

• The Owner acknowledges that their Dog’s behaviour remains the sole responsibility of the Owner. If the Dog causes injury, damage, loss, or death to any person, property, or animal, the Owner agrees to assume full liability.

• The Owner agrees to release and hold harmless the Trainer and The Dog Behaviourist from any claims, damages, or expenses arising from the behaviour of the Owner’s Dog.

• Transit & Weather Liability Exemption: The Trainer and The Dog Behaviourist assume zero liability for any injury, illness, medical crisis, or death of the Dog resulting from transport or environmental weather factors. This includes, but is not limited to, heat stroke, heat exhaustion, hypothermia, or vehicular incidents while the Dog is being transported or training outdoors. The Owner accepts all inherent environmental and transit risks.

2. Owner Participation and Training Commitment

• The Trainer will not be held responsible for any perception by the Owner of having been given wrongful or inappropriate information or advice.

• The Owner recognises the integral role they play in their Dog’s training process and acknowledges that there are no guarantees that their Dog will achieve the desired level of

training, despite the Trainer’s best efforts.

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3. Non-Refundable Services

Any and all money paid for assessments or training is strictly non-refundable and non-transferable under any circumstances.

4. Package Services

• Training packages are sold as a complete programme and are non-refundable.

• All sessions included in a package must be used within three (3) months of the start date, unless otherwise agreed upon in writing.

• Sessions not used within this time period will expire and cannot be refunded, transferred, or credited.

• Packages are intended exclusively for use by the specific Dog and Owner named at the time of booking and cannot be transferred to another party.

5. Owner Equipment and Safety Responsibilities

• Dogs must wear a secure collar and lead, slip lead, or muzzle suitable for safe handling, at the Trainer’s choice and direction.

• The Owner is solely responsible for ensuring that all equipment is safe, properly maintained, and securely fitted.

• The Owner acknowledges that group dog activities involve inherent risks and that incidents between dogs cannot be entirely eliminated.

6. Cancellation Policy

• If the Owner is unable to attend a scheduled appointment, a minimum of 48 hours’ notice must be given by contacting 0472 599 585.

• Appointments cancelled or rescheduled with less than 48 hours’ notice will be charged and billed in full.

7. Late Arrival

If the Owner arrives late, the session will still end at the originally scheduled time, and the full session fee will apply.

8. Payment Terms

Full payment is required at the time of booking via the bank transfer method nominated by The Dog Behaviourist.

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9. Health and Safety

• The Owner must fully inform the Trainer of any illness, injury, medical condition, or behavioural concern affecting the Dog prior to any session.

• The Trainer reserves the absolute right to refuse or immediately stop training if continuing is deemed unsafe.

• Dogs must remain on-lead at all times unless explicitly instructed otherwise by the Trainer.

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10. Behavioural Disclosure

• The Owner agrees to fully disclose any known history of aggression, biting, or reactivity before any training session begins.

• Failure to disclose such critical information may result in the immediate termination of services without a refund, or incur an additional safety management fee.

11. Veterinary Emergency

• If the Dog becomes ill or injured during a session and the Owner cannot be immediately contacted, the Owner authorises the Trainer to seek veterinary care on their behalf.

• Any and all associated veterinary costs remain the sole financial responsibility of the Owner. 

• The Dog Behaviourist is explicitly not responsible if a dog is bitten by a venomous animal (such as snakes or spiders) and subsequently suffers injury, illness, or death.

12. Training Equipment

The Trainer may recommend or use specific training equipment. The Owner remains responsible for ensuring this equipment is properly maintained, adjusted, and safely fitted.

13. Use of Media

The Owner consents to photos or videos of the Owner and/or the Dog being taken during training sessions. The Dog Behaviourist reserves the right to use these materials for marketing, educational, or promotional purposes unless a restriction is requested by the Owner in writing.

14. Confidentiality

Training methods, systems, and materials provided by the Trainer are strictly confidential and must not be shared with third parties or published online without explicit prior written permission.

15. Force Majeure

The Trainer or The Dog Behaviourist shall not be liable for any failure or delay in performing their obligations under these Terms and Conditions if such failure or delay is caused by a Force Majeure event (including but not limited to acts of God, severe natural disasters, extreme weather warnings, government restrictions, or sudden emergency/illness of the Trainer). In such events, sessions will be rescheduled.