Terms and Conditions for Dog Behaviour and Training Services

1. General Information

These Terms and Conditions govern the provision of dog behaviour and training services provided by Aimee Gardiner MSc. By engaging our services, you agree to comply with these terms.

2. Services Offered

Aimee Gardiner MSc offers various dog behaviour and training services, including but not limited to:

• One-on-one training sessions

• Group classes

• Behaviour consultations

• Behaviour modification plans

Although we have trained many dogs and had a lot of success with our training, behaviour is complicated and there may be many factors impacting the behaviour (eg. health, pain, environment). We do not offer any guarentee that training will be sucessful.

You will need to do the training. If you do not stick to the training plan or physically do the training, you will not see results.

3. Booking and Payment

• All bookings must be made in advance

• Payment is required in full at the time of booking to secure your appointment.

• Payment methods accepted include credit/debit cards and bank transfers

• Terms and Conditions for Session Bookings

  1. Payment Requirement
     Full payment for all sessions is required at the time of booking.

  2. Appointment Confirmation
     We cannot confirm your appointment without receipt of payment. Your booking is only valid once payment has been successfully processed. You have 24 hours from the conformation of your appointment to pay, or your slot will be made available again.

  3. Non-Payment Policy
     If payment is not received prior to your scheduled session, your appointment will be cancelled. Under these circumstances, our team will not attend the appointment.

  4. Rescheduling and Cancellations
     If you need to reschedule, we require a minimum of 24 hours' notice. Failure to provide this notice may result in forfeiture of your payment.

  5. Refund Policy
     Please be aware that payments are non-refundable.

  6. Changes to Terms
     We reserve the right to modify these terms and conditions at any time. Any changes will be communicated prior to your booking.

  7. Refunds: Refunds for services rendered by Aimee Gardiner Dog Training are subject to the following terms and conditions. By booking our services, you agree to these terms.

  8. Refund Eligibility Refunds may be requested in the following circumstances:

  • Cancellation by the Client: If you cancel a training session at least 48 hours prior to the scheduled time, you may request a full refund. Cancellations made less than 48 hours in advance will not be eligible for a refund.

  • Cancellation by Aimee Gardiner Dog Training: If we have to cancel a session due to unforeseen circumstances, your session may be rearranged or you may request a refund.

  • Non-Refundable Services: The following services are non-refundable:

  • Where training has been delivered

  • Package deals (multiple sessions purchased at a discount)

  • Group training sessions

  • Any additional services or products purchased

  Refund Request Process: To request a refund, you must:

  1. Submit a written request via email containing your name, contact information, and details of the service for which you are requesting a refund.

  2. Include a brief explanation of the reason for your request.

  Processing Time: Refund requests will be processed within 30 business days. You will receive an email notification once your refund has been processed.

  Contact Information: For any questions regarding our refund policy, please contact us at the provided email address. By engaging our services, you confirm that you have read and understood these terms and conditions.

• Cancellation Policy: Cancellations must be made at least 24 hours in advance of the scheduled appointment to receive a full refund. If a cancelation is made less than 24 hours before the appointment, the appointment cannot be refunded. We reserve the right to cancel or reschedule appointments due to unforeseen circumstances.

4. Client Responsibilities

• Clients must disclose any relevant information regarding their dog’s behaviour, health, and history to ensure the safety and effectiveness of the training. Clients

  acknowledge that withholding, misrepresenting, or failing to disclose pertinent details, such as previous aggression, medical conditions, or behavioural concerns, may pose a significant risk to the safety of the practitioner, the Client, the animal, and others. The Client accepts full responsibility for any legal repercussions that may arise from undisclosed behavioural issues or other relevant factors

• It is the client's responsibility to ensure that their dog is up-to-date on vaccinations and is in good health prior to attending training sessions.

• Clients must maintain control of their dogs at all times during training sessions.

• Clients must ensure their dog is kept under control around other dogs in the session and must not bring dogs up to other dogs or animals in the session unless instructed to do so. Do not force dogs to meet face to face on leads.

• Aimee may have an assistance dog with her who is a working assistance dog. They must not be distracted.

• Dogs must be kept on a lead at all times unless instructed otherwise by the trainer. Clients must adhere to this policy to maintain a safe environment.

• By enrolling in training services, clients acknowledge that Aimee Gardiner MSc and its trainers cannot be held liable for any injuries or damages that may occur during training session.

• Clients are advised to have appropriate insurance for their dogs to cover any potential incidents.

• Your dog and their behaviour remains the responsibility of the owner at all times and it is your responsibility to ensure the health and safety of others. Owners are fully liable for damages caused by their dogs.

• You must listen to your trainers instructions at all time

• If your dog shows aggressive behaviours, especially towards visitors, please ensure that they are kept in another room when your trainer first arrives and that they wear a muzzle. At an appropriate time we will advise you how to appropriately bring them into the room.

• Aimee Gardiner is not a test subject to see if your dog will bite visitors. Please ensure her safety by taking appropriate precautions.

• If your dog barks at visitors past the first, initial entry to your home, please put them away in another room. Aimee has hearing issues and will not be able to hear you effectively if your dog is barking through the consultation

5. Confidentiality

Client information and dog behaviour records will be kept confidential and will not be shared with third parties without prior consent, except as required by law.

• Clients details are kept confidential and data is never sold or passed on to a third party for promotional use.

• Occasionally, it will be necessary to discuss your case with other professionals or for auditing and monitoring processes, especially with the organisations Aimee Gardiner is a member of. This will not include your personal data, and you and your pet will be anonymized wherever possible.

• In the event of an emergency, Aimee may share your information with emergency service personnel where appropiate.

• Occasionally, welfare concerns will come up. Aimee Gardiner may share your details with social services, pest control services and other relevent authorities. You will be informed.

• 6. Assistance Dog Training
  

As Assistance Dogs go into public areas to train that are not usually accessed by dogs there are extra terms and conditions.

• We will only train assistance dogs to perform behaviours to assist with disabilities. We do not train dogs just to be companions in

• Assistance Dog training is discounted to make it more accessible. Therefore assistance dog training will only take place in Solihull. Training sessions in other areas are charged at the full rate and with travel.

• It is your responsibility to ensure your dog is housetrained before accessing public access settings

• Your dogs must be taken to the toilet and be completely empty before accessing public access. Accidents inside jepodise the venue and access rights for other teams.

• You need to fill out an assistance dog form with emergancy contact details and details of any medical issues and medical episodes you may have and what you want to occur if these happen. You do not need to provide this information but we will contact medical assistance for any medical episodes that occur that have no detailed plans.

• We advise that you do not interact with the public during training unless specifically agreed with by the trainer.

• We are happy to train dogs for people under the age of 18. However, someone over the age of 18 must attend the session with them and be responsible for them. They must engage with the session of their own accord. We cannot make anyone engage with dog training if they do not want to.

• You are responsible for labelling your dog if you want to and you are responsible for having appropriate insurance for public access. If you do not have insurance you accept liability personally. Pawfectly Behaved cannot be held responsible.

• Your dog must be fit and well to attend training.

• We will not teach unethical tasks. These include but are not limited to: tethering, bracing, and guide work on inappropiate dogs due to size, weight or structure.

  7. Children and Training Sessions

• Children are welcome to attend training sessions but they remain your responsibility at all times.

• Children under 18 must be supivised by an adult over the age of 18 at all times during sessions

• We cannot be responsible for supervising your child

• Children will potentially find dog training boring. We cannot provide entertainment for your child. If you bring entertainment for your child please make sure it is quiet and non-disturbing to dogs and other people.

8. Training Methods

We are reward based trainers who do not use fear, pain, discomfort or intimidation in our training.

• We do not allow the following equipment in our training session:

  • Prong Collars

  • Electric, E or Shock Collars

  • Check or Choke Chains

  • Spray Collars

  • Grot or French Collars

  • Rattle Cans

  • Pet Correctors

• We also do not allow smacking, pinching, pulling ears, shouting or lead jerking.

9. Photos and Videos

We routinely capture and record images and video of dog training sessions to use for a variety of purposes. This includes, but is not limited to, social media, educational talks and use on promotional materials.

• All images and videos produced by Pawfectly Behaved remain under copyright and cannot be used for commercialised purposes without permission.

• You can request that images and videos filmed during session are not shared publicly.

9. Banned Breeds

We can train banned breeds under certain situations

• We will be able to help your XL bully on the following basis (Direct quote from our insurers).

  1. The dog is registered with the index of exempted dog (IED) and a copy of the life certificate is obtained and provided to us in the event of a claim.

  2. A copy of the public liability insurance certificate for the dog is obtained and provided to us in the event of a claim.

  3. The dog handler ratio is 1:1 with their handler at all times (this can be yourself, a member of staff or the owner aged over 18)

  4. The dog is Neutered – in line with Government Rules

  5. The dog is Micro Chipped

  6. The dog is kept on a lead and muzzled at all times in public and classes

  7. If you are providing the training on a 1:1 basis at the customers home or a privately rented secure field where the dog cannot escape from, the dog is not required to be on a lead or muzzled.

• On this basis, to work with us, you must give us a copy of your certificate and public liabilty certficate before training commences.

10. Subscriptions and Packages

Subscriptions and Packages are subject to terms of use.

• Subscriptions

  • Subscriptions mean a number of training hours are set aside for your use each month.

  • How you use those hours are up to you (ie. 4 hour sessions or 2 two hour sessions per month)

  • The subscription is valid for the month and is paid in advance. Sessions expire at the end of the month.

  • You may cancel your subscription at any time but they are non-refundable.

  • Assistance Dog Subscriptions are for task training and public access training only.

  • The client is responsible for managing their subscription including cancelling the package where needed. It is advisable clients use a subscription tracker to ensure they are getting value for money.

• Packages

  • There are for a set number of sessions.

  • You need to use your sessions within the set time frame indicated.

  • Sessions will expire at the end of this time period if unused.

  • Packages are non-refundable if any of the sessions have been used.

  • Assistance Dog Packages are for task training and public access training only.

Subscriptions

• Puppy subscriptions can only be used with dogs 12 months and under.

• Subscriptions mean a number of training hours are set aside for your use each month.

• How you use those hours are up to you (ie. 4 hour sessions or 2 two hour sessions per month)

• The subscription is valid for the month and is paid in advance. Sessions expire at the end of the month.

• You may cancel your subscription at any time but they are non-refundable.

• Puppy subscriptions are meant help your puppies growing up. Topics shown will be covered when developmentally appropriate and won’t be covered in one month.

• Whatsapp and email support is subject to conditions. See Whatsapp/Email Support

Whatsapp/Email Support is subject to certain conditions

• There is a fair use policy. Messages will be answered within buisness hours. This is 9-5 on the weekdays and it is not available at weekends or during bank holidays, holidays or Aimee’s annual leave.

• Abusive messages will result in your access to the service being terminated with no refund.

• Messages may not be answered straight away. It is for support and is not an emergancy line.

• Calls to the number will not be answered. The support is whatsapp/email only.

• Aimee cannot give out medical advice. For health conditions or concerns, please contact your local vet.

11. Neurodivergent/Disability Friendly

We are disability friendly and have extensive experience training with disabled people.

In our workshops, you may:

• Fidget

• Eat or Drink

• Leave the main talks and take your dog for a wander around the field (Yes, even if we are still talking. No we never take offence.)

• Get up and walk around (unless a dog is nervous of people)

• Sit on the floor

• Get up and move away for any reason

• Stim

• Bring someone with you!

• Refuse to do any exercise and, no, you don’t have to explain why.

• Wear ear defenders

• We use neurodivergent communication

• We can adjust training as much as possible to your requirements. Please bear in mind that training cannot be made fully accessible. We cannot change the fundemental laws that underline behaviour and training nor can we change the nature of animals to be more disability friendly. Animals will develop how they develop. However, we can train in disability friendly ways and put mangement stratagies in place to help.

• In Assitance Dog Training, where we train is accessible but accessibility is the responsibility of the service providers. I cannot change fundemental aspects of public access like the amount of people, noise levels and physically being in a public space. Adjustments and aids are welcome for you to mitigate this.

• We train in wheelchair accessible areas and can tailor training to be wheelchair accessible.

• If you have access requirements, just let us know.

• Aimee Gardiner is disabled and may need to use aids. She may also need to take action in sessions to mitigate disability. An assistance dog may be in attendance.

12. Inclusion

• We are an inclusive service provider. This includes LGBTQIA+ rights, therefore we have a zero tolerance policy for misogyny, homophobia or transphobia of any kind and reserve the right to revise our service provisions in light of any behaviour which contravenes the EA2010 or constitutes bigotry or hate

• People will be treated with respect in my sessions. No disrespectful language relating to any protected characteristic is allowed. We reserve the right to refuse service without refund.

13. Weather

In cases of severe weather, training will be cancellled due to human and animal welfare.

• Weather over 23 degrees will be subject to restrictions and weather over 26 degrees means training sessions will be rearranged

• Weather under 3 degrees will be subject to restrictions and weather under -3 means training sessions will be rearranged

• Yellow and Red weather warnings for the area means training sessions will be rearranged for a time when the weather warning is over.

• Torrential rain, high winds, extreme heat and snow and ice may mean your training session will be rearranged

9. Amendments

Aimee Gardiner MSc reserves the right to amend these Terms and Conditions at any time. Clients will be notified of any changes via email or during training sessions.

10. Governing Law

These Terms and Conditions are governed by the laws of England and Wales. Any disputes arising from the provision of services will be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.

By engaging our dog behaviour and training services, you confirm that you have read, understood, and agreed to these Terms and Conditions.