Terms & Conditions – Victoria Dog Obedience Training
1. Agreement & Acceptance
By booking or attending any training service provided by Victoria Dog Obedience Training ("Trainer"), you ("Client") agree to the following Terms & Conditions. These terms may change without notice. It is the Client’s responsibility to regularly review and remain informed of the latest version.
2. Services & Training Methods
Training Methods
Victoria Dog Obedience Training uses force-free, reward-based training methods. Aversive tools or harsh handling, including prong collars, choke chains, e-collars or slip leads used for correction, are not permitted.
Use of aversive methods during or between sessions may result in termination of training without refund.
Training Results
Every dog learns at a different pace. Progress may be influenced by factors including age, breed and genetics, temperament, previous experiences and training, health, emotional state, environment, lifestyle and consistency of practice.
For this reason, one dog's progress should not be directly compared with another dog's.
Booking a training programme does not guarantee that a dog will be fully trained or that a behavioural issue will be completely resolved within the booked sessions.
The Trainer will provide professional training and guidance tailored to the individual dog.
Owner Responsibility
Dog training is a collaborative process. Owners are responsible for following the Trainer's guidance and consistently practising recommended exercises between sessions.
Progress may be affected where training is not continued consistently or recommendations are not followed.
Session Duration
Unless otherwise stated, sessions are approximately 60 minutes.
Sessions may be shortened, paused or adapted when necessary for the dog's welfare, safety, concentration or ability to learn, including due to weather, fatigue, stress, illness or environmental conditions.
If training needs to be paused for more than 10 minutes, the additional time will be provided during another session.
If a session runs more than 15 minutes over the scheduled time, an additional charge may apply.
Feedback – 5 & 10-Day Life Skills Training
For 5-Day and 10-Day Life Skills Training, feedback provided at drop-off is included within the approximate session time and is not additional to the booked training duration.
This allows the Trainer sufficient time to travel safely and arrive on time for the next scheduled client.
3. Booking & Payment Terms
Private Training
Once a training programme has been agreed, booking confirmation will be provided via WhatsApp, text message or email. A waiting list may apply depending on availability and seasonal demand.
A £100 non-refundable reservation fee is required to secure the booking. This is not an additional charge and will be deducted from the total cost of the training programme. Once the reservation fee has been received, a proposed training start date will be offered.
After the start date has been confirmed, an invoice for the remaining programme balance will be issued. The full balance must be paid by the invoice due date, before the first training session. Due dates may occasionally fall within 1–2 days of the reservation payment, depending on how soon the programme is due to begin.
Failure to make payment by the stated due date may result in the booking being automatically cancelled and the reservation fee remaining non-refundable.
Full programme payment is required in advance. Weekly payments and instalment plans are not available. Training appointments reserve dedicated spaces in the Trainer's diary which can no longer be offered to other clients. Upfront payment also allows bookings and administration to be managed efficiently.
Unless specifically listed as an exception, taster, trial and single sessions are not available. Dog training is a process, and one session may not provide sufficient time to assess the dog, establish a working relationship and make meaningful progress. Training is therefore provided through structured programmes designed to support consistency and the individual dog's learning needs.
Payment is accepted by bank transfer only. Cash and cheques are not accepted.
Group Classes
Places in group classes are secured only once payment has been received by the invoice due date. Unpaid bookings may be cancelled and the place offered to another client.
Missed classes are not eligible for partial refunds.
For cancellations made more than 7 days before the course begins, a 50% refund will be provided. Cancellations made within 7 days of the course start date are non-refundable.
A minimum of 3 dogs is required for a group course to proceed. If the minimum enrolment is not reached and the course is cancelled by Victoria Dog Obedience Training, clients will receive a full refund.
4. Cancellations & Refunds
Client Cancellations
A minimum of 48 hours' notice is required to cancel or reschedule a training session.
Sessions cancelled with less than 48 hours' notice or missed without notice may be charged or counted as used, except where reasonable consideration is given for genuine emergencies, illness or severe weather.
Repeated late cancellations may result in additional charges or termination of the programme. Two consecutive late cancellations (non-reasonable) may incur a £35 administration charge, while three late cancellations may result in termination of the remaining programme without refund.
If a client becomes unresponsive for more than 15 days, despite reasonable attempts to make contact, Victoria Dog Obedience Training reserves the right to close the booking and consider the remaining sessions forfeited. Training spaces are reserved specifically for each client and cannot always be offered to others at short notice.
If a client chooses to withdraw from a programme after training has commenced, unused sessions are normally non-refundable, subject to the client's statutory rights.
Concerns About Training
Any concerns regarding the dog's progress or the training provided should be raised with the Trainer as soon as possible during the programme, allowing the Trainer an opportunity to discuss the concerns and, where appropriate, review or adapt the training plan.
Where a client is dissatisfied following already the first session, they should contact the Trainer within 1–2 days so the matter can be discussed promptly.
Refund Requests
Any refund request relating to the training service should be made in writing by email and should clearly explain the reason for the request. Where a client wishes to request a review of the training based specifically on dissatisfaction with their dog's progress, this should normally be raised within 7 days of the final training session. This allows the dog's performance to be assessed reasonably close to the training period.
A refund will not automatically be provided because:
Victoria Dog Obedience Training cannot guarantee that behaviours learned during training will remain reliable if they are not consistently practised and reinforced afterwards. The Trainer cannot be responsible for deterioration or changes in behaviour occurring after the programme due to lack of practice, changes in environment, handling, health, development or other circumstances outside the Trainer's control.
What Counts as Training Progress?
Training progress does not require a dog to perform a behaviour perfectly or with 100% reliability.
A dog may be considered to be making progress where they demonstrate an understanding of the behaviour being taught and are able to perform or begin performing it with appropriate guidance, reinforcement or under suitable conditions.
Reliability and generalisation normally require continued practice across different handlers, environments and levels of distraction after the behaviour has first been learned.
Maintaining Training After the Programme
Skills developed during professional training require continued practice and reinforcement. Once the programme has ended, responsibility for maintaining and developing those skills transfers to the Owner.
Victoria Dog Obedience Training cannot guarantee that a dog's behaviour or training level will remain unchanged weeks or months after the programme has ended, as the Trainer has no control over the dog's subsequent training, handling, environment, lifestyle or experiences.
A later deterioration in behaviour or loss of reliability does not, by itself, demonstrate that the original training service was unsuccessful.
Trainer Cancellations
Where possible, clients will receive at least 48 hours' notice if the Trainer needs to cancel or reschedule a session. This may not always be possible in cases of illness, emergency or unexpected unsafe weather conditions.
Any session cancelled by the Trainer will be rescheduled at no additional cost.
5. Session Conduct & Safety
Clients should arrive on time for all scheduled sessions. A maximum waiting period of 10 minutes applies. If a client is late without prior notice, the Trainer may leave and the session will be considered used and charged accordingly.
Dogs must remain on lead unless otherwise instructed by the Trainer and should wear a secure collar or harness with an ID tag. A standard lead is required; retractable leads are not suitable for training sessions. Long lines may be required for recall or off-lead training.
Clients are responsible for cleaning up after their dog.
For safety reasons, the Trainer may require a dog to wear an appropriately fitted muzzle where necessary.
Puppies under 12 weeks may attend suitable private home sessions before completing their vaccination course, subject to appropriate health and safety precautions.
Training may be adapted, shortened, paused, relocated or rescheduled where weather, environmental conditions, safety concerns or the dog's welfare make this necessary.
Mutual respect and appropriate behaviour are expected throughout the programme. Abusive, threatening or aggressive behaviour towards the Trainer will not be tolerated and may result in immediate termination of services without refund, subject to applicable consumer rights.
Clients must provide accurate parking and access information where training takes place at or near their location. Any parking charge or penalty resulting directly from incorrect information provided by the client must be reimbursed to the Trainer. Failure to reimburse such costs may result in further recovery action.
6. Group Class Behaviour Guidelines
Group classes are not suitable for dogs showing aggression, significant reactivity or severe anxiety towards people or other dogs. In these cases, 1:1 behaviour rehabilitation or specialised training should be arranged instead.
Dogs in season must not attend group classes.
Owners must provide accurate information about their dog's behaviour before enrolment. If important behavioural information is withheld or incorrect and the dog is subsequently found unsuitable for the group environment, the dog may be removed from the class and no refund will normally be provided, subject to applicable consumer rights.
Puppies must have received the required vaccinations appropriate for attending group classes, in accordance with their veterinarian's advice.
7. Data Protection
Personal information will only be collected and used where necessary for training, communication, booking and administrative purposes.
Client information will be handled securely and will not be shared with third parties unless required by law or with the client's consent.
8. Intellectual Property
All original website content, training materials, guides, documents, resources and training tools created by Victoria Dog Obedience Training remain the intellectual property of the business.
These materials are provided for the client's personal use only and may not be copied, reproduced, shared, published, sold or distributed without prior written permission.
9. Governing Law
These Terms & Conditions are governed by the laws of England and Wales.
By booking and purchasing any service from Victoria Dog Obedience Training, the client confirms that they have read, understood and agreed to these Terms & Conditions.