Training T&Cs | Cotswold Hound

Cotswold Hound Booking Terms and Conditions.

Please ensure you have read and understood these Terms and Conditions before you make a booking. Payment of your training fees implies you have read, understood and expressly accepted them.

General

We believe animals deserve care and love and are committed to training force-free maximizing fun and playful techniques. We emphasize fun and joy in our training and work to minimize stress as much as possible.
We base our training methods on scientifically proven force free methods. If there should be a conflict between what is animal-friendly and what the animal's owner/s desires, we will side with what is animal-friendly.
There is overwhelming scientific evidence that positive reinforcement is the best way to train animals. We do not advocate physical corrections, throwing things at or near the animal or spraying liquid in an animal's face. We are committed to using at most a very mild aversive only as a last resort. Shock collars, prong collars or choke chains are never used or recommended.
We consistently work to continue our education and keep up to date with developing trends in the training world to ensure the dogs welfare is at the centre of what we do.
We educate humans to employ patience and to seek to understand animal's needs and wants.
We coach people to communicate consistently and clearly with their animals.
We work within our level of competence. We do not give advice on anything that is outside of our area of expertise. For issues that are outside of our area of expertise we will discuss this with the client and where agreed refer clients to competent professionals for specialist support.
We keep client information confidential sharing client info ONLY with other Cotswold Hound staff when needed, with the exception of neglect or abuse of an animal or if the animal is dangerous.
Clients should know they are empowered to decline any recommendations that we make for them or their dogs. We encourage clients to ask questions.
Vaccinations: we require that your dog is up to date on all core vaccines in order to attend a group session
When attending group training sessions your dog is required to be on a lead and under control at all times, unless otherwise directed by a member of the Cotswold Hound team.

Client responsibilities

When working with Cotswold Hound you agree -

to fully engage with the process of training your dog to the best of your ability and understand that any changes you are hoping to achieve will involve commitment and consistency
to understand there is no ‘silver bullet’ or ‘quick fix’ when working with behavioural issues and progress is dependent on your effort within and outside of training sessions
be open and honest in providing information so we can assist in the best way possible
ask for clarification if anything which is explained in unclear
have an open mind with regard to potential solutions, changes and strategies
not to use aversive tools (choke chains, anti-pull harnesses, prong collars, spray or e-collars, rattle cans, water sprays etc) while undertaking training
not to seek advice from another trainer or behaviour consultant for the same issue whilst you are working with us

Contract of Sale

Completion of the booking process and acceptance of our terms and conditions forms your contract with Cotswold Hound.

Payment

Payment for group training must be made in advance and are made at the time of placing a booking. It is not possible to attend a course unless payment has been received.

Payment for 121 sessions will be invoiced at the time of booking. Payment must be made within 14 days of receiving this invoice. We reserve the right to stop any further sessions until payment has been made.

We accept payment by PayPal, online bank transfer/BACS – contact us for details

Cancellations

You have a legal right to change your mind about proceeding with your course purchase under the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013. All cancellations/Postponements must be made by email to bryony@cotswoldhound.co.uk within 14 days of your booking being confirmed and 14 days prior to the course.

Cancellations of group class bookings will be subject to the following fees:-

Cancellations within 0-7 days prior to the start date of the sessions will be charged the full course fee.
Cancellations within 7-14 days prior to the start date of the sessions will be charged 50% of the full course fee.
Cancellations more than 14 days prior to the start date of the sessions will be fully refunded.
If the participant fails to attend the course the full course fees are payable.

Cancellation of single group sessions will be subject to the following terms:

Cancellation within 48 hours prior to the start date of the sessions will be charged the full session/course fee.
Cancellation 48 hours or more prior to the start date of the sessions will be able to transfer their session to an alternative date/time providing there is availability.
No refunds for missed group sessions
If unable to attend 3 sessions in a row Cotswold Hound will reserve the right to cancel your full booking – no refund will be provided in these circumstances.
If the participant fails to attend the course the full course fees are payable.

Cancellation of 121 sessions or other booking will be subject to the following terms:

Cancellation within 48 hours prior to the start date of the sessions will be charged the full course/session fee.
Cancellation 48hours or more prior to the start date of the sessions will be able to transfer their session to an alternative date/time providing there is availability.
Cancellation of a block of more than 1 session will be charged the full fee.
Any 121 sessions where we are unable to arrange a session at a mutually agreeable time will be classed as a cancellation.
Any 121 sessions are valid for 30 days from invoice date, after this date they will expire.

For the avoidance of doubt, a cancellation is defined as any appointment which cannot be made at the time, date and location stated when originally booked.

Should Cotswold Hound have to postpone/cancel a session/s for any reason, you will be offered an alternative date or credit note for a future session.

A booking can only be postponed on one occasion. Requests for subsequent transfers will be treated as cancellations.

All credit notes are valid for 6 months from the date of issue

Any refunds will be made to you within 14 days of you telling us you have changed your mind.

Weather and Welfare

We will train in all weather conditions and won't cancel a session due to poor weather. However, in certain extreme weather conditions, Cotswold Hound reserve the right to postpone courses upon safety grounds and will offer a rearranged date. All attendees bringing their dogs to the sessions must take personal responsibility for their and their own dog's comfort and welfare. Please dress appropriately for the weather, including appropriate footwear.

Travel in all conditions is purely at the risk of attendees and Cotswold Hound take no responsibility for accidents or other eventualities.

Vaccinations: we require that your dog is up to date on all core vaccines in order to attend a group session

If your dog has ever bitten a person/other animal, you MUST report this prior to your consultation.

If you are advised that a veterinary check is required it is your responsibility to ensure this is carried out.

If in doubt due to your dog's behaviour or the weather, please do not bring your dog and contact Bryony@cotswoldhound.co.uk

Session/Course Content

Cotswold Hound reserves the right to change the content, timing, date, venue or Instructor of the course in order to provide a high quality service or where it is necessary for reasons beyond our control. Cotswold Hound reserves the right to cancel a course up to and including the date of the course and will strive to give as much notice of this as possible. Individuals booked onto a cancelled course will be given the option of a full refund or of rescheduling to a future course date. Cotswold Hound will not be liable for any losses or expenses arising from amendments to the course or cancellations. Course materials are supplied only for your personal use.

Intellectual Property

Cotswold Hound remains the owner of all intellectual property in any course materials, handouts and communications. No part of the materials may be copied, recorded or reproduced without our permission.

Disclaimer and Liability Release

Owners are to understand that training and/or modifying behaviour poses a risk of injury. You are to ensure that necessary steps are taken at all times to prevent injury, including avoidance of situations that might trigger an aggressive behaviour.

The owner (owner of dog named above, client of Cotswold Hound, and handler of dog) agrees that Barnaby Tompkins and Cotswold Hound will not be liable for any damage or loss resulting from failure of the dog to respond to any cues or commands taught to the dog by Cotswold Hound or resulting from counselling and advice supplied to owners of dog.

The dog's behaviour now and in the future is solely the responsibility of the owners (client) of the dog. Should any behaviour on the dog's part now or in the future result in damage to the property, owners, or person of some third party, owner agrees to assume full responsibility to such third party for any and all such damage, and to absolve Barnaby Tompkins and Cotswold Hound from any and all obligations to pay such damage to a third party.

All dogs are trained or otherwise handled or cared for or if owner receives instruction by Barnaby Tompkins and Cotswold Hound without any liability whatsoever on Barnaby Tompkins and Cotswold Hound for loss, damage from disease, death, running away, theft, fire, injury to persons, other dogs/cats or property by said dog, or other unavoidable causes.

In the event of in-home training provided by Barnaby Tompkins and Cotswold Hound, the owners agree to release Barnaby Tompkins and Cotswold Hound from any and all liability whatsoever for loss or damage to property whether before, during or after the consultation and when implementing suggested techniques with your dog. In the event of training provided outside the home at an alternative location owner agrees to release Barnaby Tompkins and Cotswold Hound from any and all liability whatsoever for loss or damage to property, or injury to dog/cat, or owner, or handler whether before, during or after the consultation and when implementing suggested techniques with your dog.

Digital Media

Photographs, video or digital recordings are taken of dogs in training for coaching and, among other things, use in advertising by Cotswold Hound. You (the client) acknowledge that all such images are the property of Cotswold Hound and give consent, without compensation, to use, reproduce, and alter the images, in print and electronic format (including the internet), either alone or in combination with other texts and graphics.

Limitation of Liability

Cotswold Hound will accept no responsibility for any losses, either direct or indirect, which you suffer in connection with the services provided under this contract.

Data Protection

Any personal information you give to us with be processed in accordance with the Data Protection Act 2018. We will use the information to process your booking, to provide the courses and to inform you about similar courses which we provide, unless you tell us that you do not want to receive this information. Any personal data you provide may be held on computer files. All personal data will be handed appropriately in accordance with the provisions of General Data Protection Regulations.

Applicable Law and Jurisdiction

These terms and conditions are governed by and construed in accordance with English law and any dispute arising out of or in connection with them shall be settled by the English courts.

Complaints/Feedback procedure

Should you wish to make a complaint or provide feedback, please email to feedback@cotswoldhound.co.uk. This will be reviewed and responded to accordingly.