METHODS & ETHICS - MY GUARANTEE
I’m a force & fear-free trainer, and only make use of positive, reward-based training. I am not interested in using or teaching aversive methods, the use of positive punishment or negative reinforcement, corrective equipment, force, intimidation or ‘dominance’ theory, or anything else that will impact upon your dog’s physical and mental wellbeing and your relationship.
By making your booking, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and accept the terms and conditions as detailed below. For queries, please contact: 077889755440 or [email protected]
1.Methods & Ethics
1.1 - Toby Duncan Dogs only makes use of positive, reward-based training. The Trainer will not use, advocate for, or teach aversive methods, the use of positive punishment or negative reinforcement, the use of corrective equipment, force, intimidation, or anything else that the Trainer deems will have a negative impact upon your dog’s physical and mental wellbeing.
1.2 - Clients attending training sessions with equipment deemed inappropriate in relation to the aforementioned methods & ethics in 1.1 (e.g choke chains or prong collars) will be asked to remove and replace the equipment with an alternative provided by the Trainer for the duration of that session. If a suitable alternative can’t be supplied (e.g nothing equivalent in appropriate sizing), then the Client may be asked to leave the session so that the equipment can be removed at home, or if the session is held at home but can't proceed, the Trainer will end the session. The Trainer will provide support to the Client to replace the inappropriate equipment, providing information on why the equipment is deemed unsuitable, what alternatives are available, and where to source them. If the Client does not attempt to procure a suitable replacement to the inappropriate equipment, they may be denied access to future training sessions. Clients asked to leave sessions or who have sessions ended early due to inappropriate equipment may not be eligible for a refund for the cost of the session.
1.3 - Clients found to be utilising positive punishment or negative reinforcement will be educated as to what these terms mean, how these apply to their methods, and the negative impact of the application of these methods on their dog. If the Client continues to utilise these methods following this intervention and during the period of training, they may be asked to leave the session, and denied access to future training sessions. Sessions on a 1:1 basis may be ended early under these same circumstances. Clients asked to leave sessions or who have sessions ended early due to use of inappropriate methods or handling may not be eligible for a refund for the cost of the session of packages booked.
2. Vaccination & Health
2.1 - You must inform the Trainer of any illness or injury that occurs prior to a training session taking place. You must not knowingly proceed with a training session whilst your dog is exhibiting symptoms of an infectious disease, an injury, on any other health issue without first making this information known to the Trainer in writing.
2.2 - If your dog is exhibiting symptoms such as repeated vomiting and/or diarrhoea within 48 hours of your scheduled session, you must inform the Trainer, even if veterinary advice is not sought.
2.3 - If your dog has been diagnosed with conditions such as giardia, kennel cough, or any other contagious disease at any time within the last year, you must inform the Trainer of this diagnosis and any subsequent treatment.
2.4 - If your dog displays signs of illness or injury during a session, the Trainer may end the session early.
2.5 - If the client does not inform the Trainer of known or established illness or injury ahead of time and proceeds with the session, the Trainer reserves the right to withdraw from the session at any time, and may not provide a refund. Rescheduling under these circumstances will result in the loss of that session credit, and may require further payment to secure another booking.
2.6 - Advice is to be sought from a veterinary professional on the suitability of certain activities for your dog if they are injured or recovering from a procedure.
3. Refunds & Cancellations
3.1 - Payment for individually booked sessions are to be made upfront at time of booking or prior to scheduling.
3.2 - Packages are purchased on the understanding that it is the Client’s responsibility to book the subsequent number of sessions listed as part of that package. The Trainer will keep note of your sessions and may send you periodic reminders, but cannot be held responsible for unredeemed sessions.
3.3 - Sessions purchased as part of a package must be redeemed within 6 months of purchase. After this stage, session credits may no longer be used or refunded.
3.4 - Refunds for packages are only available up until the time of your first booking, after which point refunds will not be made available. If you need to take a break from regular training for whatever reason, please contact the Trainer directly to discuss deferring these bookings to a later time.
3.5 - Individually booked sessions may be cancelled or rescheduled up to 48 hours prior to your appointment start time. Cancellations made within 48 hours of the appointment will not be eligible for a refund, but may still be rescheduled at the discretion of the Trainer. This policy is applicable only to your original booking - once an appointment has been rescheduled, cancellation at any time may not result in a refund.
3.6 - Clients scheduling sessions as part of a prepaid package who cancel multiple sessions with less than 48 hours notice may forfeit a number of sessions equal to time lost due to those last-minute cancellations.
3.7 - Clients who reschedule or cancel a number of successive sessions may lose any existing session credits, or be denied the opportunity to book any further services, at the discretion of the Trainer.
3.8 - The Trainer reserves the right to cancel or reschedule bookings if necessary, and will contact you directly before doing so. In the event that your session is cancelled by the Trainer, you will be eligible for either a refund for the session, or to reschedule the session at your convenience.
3.9 - In the event of an accident or emergency, the Trainer reserves the right to cancel or reschedule your session without making contact prior to doing so. In the event that this occurs, please await further correspondence, as this will occur at the earliest possible time.
4. Insurance & Liability
4.1 - It is recommended that you take out appropriate insurance for your pet, as Clients will be responsible for all vet bills regardless of how they are incurred.
4.2 - Toby Duncan Dogs accepts no responsibility or liability for any loss, damage, accident, injury, or illness to dogs, handlers, or any other persons or property whatsoever.
4.3 - By making a booking for a 1:1 Training session, you are agreeing to host the Trainer at your home or an otherwise agreed upon site, and agree to indemnify Toby Duncan Dogs for any and all personal injury, damage to property, and and and all damage or harm caused to by your dog during training sessions.
4.4 - The Client agrees to undertake proper precautions when accepting the Trainer into their home - if you are uncertain of how your dog may react to the Trainer, please secure your dog either in a separate space, or by keeping them on lead during the Trainer's arrival.
4.5 - If you are aware that your dog has a dog-human bite history, this must be indicated on your intake form or otherwise communicated directly to the Trainer prior to your appointment. If needed, the Trainer will advise you on steps to take to safeguard yourself, your dog, and the Trainer, however you indicate your understanding that it is your responsibility as the homeowner and dog owner to apply any advice appropriately with regard to your property and the needs of your dog.
5. Photographs & Video Footage
5.1 - You and your dogs may be photographed and/or filmed during sessions, either for reference of the Trainer, or for advertising purposes. If you do not wish to have yourself or your dog included in this material, please make the Trainer aware of this at the earliest possible time. Photographs and video footage will otherwise be used at the discretion of Toby Duncan Dogs.
5.2 - Toby Duncan Dogs will not publish any personal information alongside photographs or video footage, bar you and your dog’s first name where applicable. If you wish to be named and/or tagged in any photographs or video footage that is subsequently published to social sites such as Instagram and Facebook, please make this known to the Trainer.
5.3 - Photographs and video footage taken by the Trainer on behalf of Toby Duncan Dogs remain the property of Toby Duncan Dogs.
5.4 - Photographs, video footage, and/or voice recordings of training sessions may not be taken or distributed by the Client without express permission of the Trainer. The Trainer may direct you to take photographs, video footage, and/or voice recordings in order to aid with training where appropriate, but please note that verbal permission must be given.
6. General
6.1 - Children under the age of 16 must be supervised by a responsible adult at all times. All handling must be carried out by an adult member of your party for the duration of the session.
6.2 - As is required by law, your dog must be wearing a collar with an ID tag at all times during training sessions held in a public space (please see: The Control of Dogs Order 1992 for full requirements).
6.3 - It is advised that regardless of location, your dog wears a collar at all times during training to ensure safety in the event that they need to be restrained for any reason.
6.4 - While training in public spaces, it remains at the discretion of the Client whether to allow their dog to work off lead, and the Client remains solely responsible for any loss, injury, or damage to persons or property that may occur while working in these spaces.
6.5 - Content provided as part of any course material or shared with Clients on a 1:1 basis must not be shared without the permission of Toby Duncan Dogs - eg. Video content provided as part of your home resources should not be distributed or shared to any third party or social website.
DEFINITIONS
“The Trainer” is used to refer to the Trainer running the session
“The Client” is used to refer to clients, that is persons booked onto and in attendance during training sessions, classes, or consultation sessions
“Toby Duncan Dogs” is the trading name of Toby Duncan
METHODS & ETHICS - MY GUARANTEE
I’m a force & fear-free trainer, and only make use of positive, reward-based training. I am not interested in using or teaching aversive methods, the use of positive punishment or negative reinforcement, corrective equipment, force, intimidation or ‘dominance’ theory, or anything else that will impact upon your dog’s physical and mental wellbeing and your relationship.
TERMS & CONDITIONS
By making your booking and ticking the box below, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and accept the terms and conditions as detailed below. For queries, please contact: 077889755440 or [email protected]
1.Methods & Ethics
1.1 - Toby Duncan Dogs only makes use of positive, reward-based training. The Trainer will not use, advocate for, or teach aversive methods, the use of positive punishment or negative reinforcement, the use of corrective equipment, force, intimidation, or anything else that the Trainer deems will have a negative impact upon your dog’s physical and mental wellbeing.
1.2 - Clients attending training sessions with equipment deemed inappropriate in relation to the aforementioned methods & ethics in 1.1 (e.g choke chains or prong collars) will be asked to remove and replace the equipment with an alternative provided by the Trainer for the duration of that session. If a suitable alternative cannot be supplied (e.g nothing equivalent in appropriate sizing), then the Client may be asked to leave the session so that the equipment can be removed at home. The Trainer will provide support to the Client to replace the inappropriate equipment, providing information on why the equipment is deemed unsuitable, what alternatives are available, and where to source them. If the Client does not attempt to procure a suitable replacement to the inappropriate equipment, they may be denied access to future training sessions.
1.3 - Clients found to be utilising positive punishment or negative reinforcement will be educated as to what these terms mean, how these apply to their methods, and the negative impact of the application of these methods on their dog. If the Client continues to utilise these methods following this intervention, they may be asked to leave class, and denied access to future training sessions.
2. Vaccination & Health
2.1 - All puppies attending classes are required to be fully vaccinated at least two weeks prior to the start of the course. Vaccination records are either to be emailed to the Trainer prior to session 1, or brought to session 1 and shared with the Trainer, and Clients found to be in attendance with an unvaccinated or partially vaccinated puppy will be asked to leave class, and may be denied access to future training sessions.
2.2 - Owing to the nature of the venues in use, the Trainer cannot guarantee the background of other visiting dogs or wild animals, either indoors or outdoors. Measures are to be taken by the Trainer in order to minimise the risk of spread of contagious disease, and will be done so in accordance with the evaluation undertaken in the Risk Assessment completed for each venue, however Clients accept that the responsibility to keep their dog protected through vaccination and regular parasite treatment remains theirs.
2.3 - Clients are instructed not to bring dogs to class who are actively unwell or injured unless this has been discussed with a vet and the Trainer prior to the session, and permission to attend has been established in writing from the Trainer.
2.4 - Dogs who display symptoms of contagious illness, including vomiting, diarrhoea, or coughing must not be brought to class until either they have been seen and cleared by a vet, or the symptoms have been absent for at least 48 hours. There are many highly contagious illnesses that can be spread in a shared environment, so the Client is requested to inform the Trainer of any such symptoms prior to attending a session, whereupon the Trainer can make specific recommendations regarding attendance relevant to each individual case.
2.5 - Dogs who have suffered an injury or are otherwise recovering from a procedure or treatment should not be brought to class unless this has been cleared with both a vet and the Trainer. The Client is requested to inform the Trainer of any relevant recent treatments or injuries, as this information can be used to tailor exercises to better accommodate the dog’s needs, and mitigate the risk of aggravating or worsening injuries or otherwise delaying the recovery process.
2.6 - Wherever possible, the Client will be offered the option to attend sessions virtually via Zoom, or in-person without their dog if the dog is not cleared to attend due to illness or injury. This will be determined on a case-by-case basis, and Toby Duncan Dogs cannot guarantee that this option will be available or offered in every case.
2.7 - If at any time the Trainer deems a dog to be too unwell or not otherwise in a fit physical condition to be in attendance during class, the Client may be asked to leave and will not be eligible for a partial refund on this basis. The Client will be welcome to return once their dog has been appropriately assessed and treated by a vet, details of which should be shared with the Trainer prior to return.
2.8 - If at any time the Trainer deems an exercise to be unsuitable for a dog depending on its state relating to any ongoing medical condition, the Client may be asked to sit out the exercise if no appropriate alternative method can be supplied to complete it.
3. Refunds & Cancellations
3.1 - Payment for the total sum of classes is to be made in full at time of booking.
3.2 - Clients are entitled to a cool-down period of one week following payment - once this period has passed, a refund of the entire course fee may only be provided under certain circumstances (to be assessed individually).
3.3 - For Clients who select the Plus tier, once you have redeemed your 1:1 onboarding session, regardless of time-frame in relation to the aforementioned cool-down period, no refunds will be made.
3.4 - When booking onto open enrolment classes, Clients are responsible for ensuring that ALL of their selected dates are suitable. You will be able to select a starting date to suit you, and will automatically be booked into the next 5 classes from that date, excluding any dates that have been made wholly unavailable.
3.5 - Due to the structure of the classes and in order to keep class sizes small, there will be no opportunities for Clients to attend sessions outside of those booked in order to make up for any dates that are missed. The Client will only be eligible to attend the dates chosen at time of booking, and if at any point certain dates become unsuitable, there will be no accommodations made to rearrange dates.
3.6 - In the event that the Trainer is for any reason unable to run your selected classes, you will be informed at the earliest possible time, and will be rescheduled onto the next available dates in sequence. If changes to dates in this manner are significant, i.e. multiple dates are moved forward by several weeks, you may be eligible to receive a full or partial refund at the discretion of the Trainer, if these dates will not be suitable and no other alternative solutions can be found.
3.7 - In the event of inclement weather, most likely extreme temperature including temperatures above the threshold of 24 degrees Celsius, the Trainer reserves the right to postpone classes, or to run them remotely via Zoom. This decision will be made at the discretion of the Trainer, and sessions rescheduled due to external circumstances such as these may not be eligible for the same policy regarding refunds as above.
3.8 - Likewise, in the event that circumstances out of the control of the Trainer, such as problems with the venue, accident, or illness prevent the Trainer from running your selected classes, refunds may not be provided for adjusted dates, but this remains at the discretion of the Trainer.
4. Insurance & Liability
4.1 - It is recommended that you take out appropriate insurance for your dog, as Clients will be responsible for all vet bills regardless of how they are incurred.
4.2 - Toby Duncan Dogs accepts no responsibility or liability for any loss, damage, accident, injury, or illness to dogs, handlers, or any other persons or property whatsoever. By making a booking, you are agreeing to participate in a group session involving other dogs, and agree to indemnify Toby Duncan Dogs for any and all personal injury, damage to property, and and and all damage or harm caused by your dog during training sessions.
4.3 - Clients will not be permitted to handle dogs other than their own, and you agree by making this booking that you will make any person who accompanies you to class aware that they are attending at their own risk, and handle your dog at their own risk.
4.4 - Clients may be given the opportunity to allow their dogs to interact and to play during class at the discretion of the Trainer. In instances where this is permitted, the Client remains responsible for their dog, and must continue to supervise them at all times. The Trainer will provide instruction on how to manage these interactions as well as providing additional supervision, but does not accept liability for any injury, accident, or damage to property that is inflicted upon or by your dog.
4.5 - In the event that any injury is inflicted upon a dog or person by the Client's dog, any veterinary bills or other medical costs remain the responsibility of the Client, and it is recommended that the Client utilises their insurance provider to navigate this.
5. Photographs & Video Footage
5.1 - You and your dogs may be photographed and/or filmed during sessions, either for reference of the Trainer, or for advertising and marketing purposes. If you do not wish to have yourself or your dog included in this material, please make the Trainer aware of this at the earliest possible time. Photographs and video footage will otherwise be used at the discretion of Toby Duncan Dogs.
5.2 - Toby Duncan Dogs will not publish any personal information alongside photographs or video footage, bar your dog’s first name. If you wish to be named and/or tagged in any photographs or video footage that is subsequently published to social sites such as Instagram and Facebook, please make this known to the Trainer.
5.3 - Photographs and video footage taken by the Trainer on behalf of Toby Duncan Dogs remain the property of Toby Duncan Dogs.
5.4 - Photographs, video footage, and/or voice recordings of training sessions may not be taken by the Client without express permission of the Trainer. The Trainer may direct you to take photographs, video footage, and/or voice recordings in order to aid with training where appropriate, but please note that verbal permission must be given.
5.5 - Where recorded virtual classes are subsequently provided to attendees, the Client must not share, distribute, or otherwise make public the recorded material. This material remains the property of Toby Duncan Dogs, and is intended only for active participants of the course and their immediate family.
5.6 - Sharing of recorded virtual classes is strictly prohibited on all social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and X. This material is likewise not to be distributed via platforms including YouTube, Whatsapp, or any other website or sharing platform that would allow the material to be accessed by any other third party.
6. General
6.1 - Children under the age of 16 must be supervised by a responsible adult at all times. No person under the age of 18 should be permitted to undertake primary handling of your dog during any session.
6.2 - As is required by law, your dog must be wearing a collar with an ID tag at all times (please see: The Control of Dogs Order 1992 for full requirements).
6.3 - Your dog must be kept on a lead at all times during training sessions, unless explicitly instructed otherwise by the Trainer.
6.4 - You must not knowingly bring your dog to a training session whilst unwell with an infectious disease or any other health issue that may impact upon the health of others in attendance. If your dog displays signs of an illness during a session, you must inform the Trainer right away, and may be required to leave the session.
6.5 - You must not knowingly bring your dog to a training session whilst suffering or recovering from an injury or other ailment without first informing the Trainer of the circumstances present. The Trainer may advise you to sit out certain exercises, adjust the exercises to accommodate, or ask that you leave the session where appropriate. Advice is to be sought from a veterinary professional on the suitability of certain activities for your dog if they are injured or recovering from a procedure.
6.6 - You must make every effort to clean up properly after your dog when using the space outside the venue. Waste must not be left on the grounds of the venue under any circumstances.
DEFINITIONS
“The Trainer” is used to refer to the Trainer running the class
“The Client” is used to refer to clients of the course, that is persons booked onto and in attendance during training sessions held as part of this course
“Toby Duncan Dogs” is the trading name of Toby Duncan