Terms & Conditions
Happy Buddies’ Group Training Courses and Workshops
These terms and conditions apply to all Training Courses, Workshops and Classes run by Happy Buddies Dog Training.
By making a booking you acknowledge that you have read, understood and fully accept the terms and conditions as detailed below:
Bookings:
When time allows, you will receive confirmation of your booking by email. It is the client/guardian’s responsibility to ensure they attend on the correct date, time and at the correct place (this will all be included within an email you’ll receive prior to the course, class or workshop starting). Booking confirms your attendance for the full duration of the course. Please make every effort to attend each week but if you are unable to attend, please let your Trainer know as soon as possible.
Fees and Prices:
The full course fee must be paid at the time of booking. The system for payment will depend on the course being booked. Failure to pay in a timely fashion may result in your place on the course being given to another client. The price advertised at the time of booking will apply.
The Courses:
Puppies and dogs must be vaccinated. Your vet will advise when it is safe for your puppy to attend. If you are unsure about vaccinations please consult your vet directly. This is for the safety of your puppy and others in attendance, therefore, no exceptions can be made. It is your responsibility to have your puppy vaccinated. (NB: We do not consider homeopathic nosodes an acceptable alternative to conventional vaccines for young puppies).
For Puppy School group courses, only puppies under the age of 20 weeks old at the start date of the course will be accepted. SuperPup and Canine College is suitable for any age, as long as they have attended a Puppy School Course previously. Canine Hoopers can be attended by any puppy or dog over the age of 5 months.
Occasionally, we may find that a class environment does not suit a puppy, dog or owner. Full discussion concerning the best way to proceed will be undertaken and this may result in us making alternative arrangements to assist you.
Children over the age of 5 years are welcome to attend our classes as we consider this to be in the best interest of all puppies and dogs attending, however, we cannot guarantee their presence at every class for the purposes of socialising. All children in attendance must be under the supervision of a responsible adult who must agree to prevent them from disturbing the process of learning during the class. Your Trainer reserves the right to ask disruptive children not to attend future classes. For Hoopers courses, spectators and well behaved older children are welcome to attend but they must not be a distraction to the other handlers or dogs.
The safety of clients and their pets is of paramount importance during the classes. By making a booking, you are accepting that participating in an activity with animals, children and adults poses a risk of injury to yourself and your puppy/dog, and you agree to indemnify Happy Buddies Dog Training for all personal injury and damage to property owned by you or others while attending the training classes. You also agree to make any person who accompanies you to the class aware that they are also there at their own risk.
Missed classes cannot be taken at another time as there may not be spare places and it is disruptive to the other groups to have an unfamiliar puppy/dog join part-way through the course.
Happy Buddies Dog Training method of training relies heavily on rewards with food treats. Although we will have some treats available at the class, it is important to bring with you a supply of tasty, smelly food treats that your puppy/dog will work hard for and is used to eating.
All puppies and dogs must remain on lead and kept away from contact with other puppies and dogs within the training venue unless specifically instructed by your Trainer. All instances of accident or injury must be reported to your Trainer at the time they occurred. Well-fitted harnesses and/or flat collars are permitted in class. Flexi leads are not permitted in class to avoid injury to others. Head collars are not permitted in class to avoid injury to the dog's neck and to avoid distraction during training.
The following items are also NOT PERMITTED in Happy Buddies Dog Training classes under any circumstances: choker chains and/or check chains of any description; electronic training collars including citronella; any other device that causes discomfort, pain or fear to the puppy/dog; prong or pinch collars; slip leads; any equipment that the trainer deems unacceptable. The use of physical force, shouting, rough handling or any other type of punishment-based training or behaviour modification techniques will not used. Happy Buddies uses modern, reward-based and ethical behaviour modification and training techniques.
Refunds and cancellations:
If a training class cannot go ahead as planned due to circumstances outside of your Trainer’s control, for example (but not limited to) illness, extreme weather or a problem on route - for example (but not limited to) heat, snow, flooding, fire, car break down, traffic incidents/road closures that cause significant delay or other circumstances that adversely affect attendance by your Trainer - you will be contacted as soon as possible to advise you of the cancellation or alternative arrangements. Alternative options may be to run that particular class online or to postpone it – your Trainer will advise which option is being put in place. If the class is postponed to a different date/time or an online option is undertaken, a refund will not be issued if you do not want to continue via this format.
Please ensure you have provided your mobile number to your Trainer as any cancellation/alternative arrangements will be advised of by phone/text message in the first instance.
Because we operate our classes using a very low tutor:dog ratio, refunds may not be given for any cancellations prior to a course starting unless the place can be filled by another client or unless at least 7 DAYS NOTICE is given. There are no exceptions. We may be able to transfer or defer your place to another course but this is at the discretion of the Trainer and dependent on the age of your puppy/dog at the start of the next available course. Failure to notify us of a cancellation within this time frame will result in no refund. Any refunds that are given for cancellations prior to starting a course, are subject to the deduction of a 20% administration fee.
If you have given sufficient notice to cancel your attendance on a Puppy School course (see above), your refund is subject to the 20% administration fee plus the full cost of the Puppy Pre-School (Pre-Recorded) Session in the event this has already been emailed to you.
There will be no refund for cancellations due to lack of vaccination or no vaccination card, unless we are notified 14 days in advance of the course commencing. It is your responsibility to have your puppy vaccinated and health warranted.
There will be no refund if you attend the first Puppy School class with a puppy that is over the age limit and are then subsequently turned away.
There will be no refund if you attend the first class at The Paw & Whistle venue and are unable to walk up the flight of stairs required to gain access to the training room. This information was clearly stated on our website at the time of booking and within the confirmation correspondence. It is also stated here, in these terms and conditions. If you are unable to walk up a flight of stairs you should not book a class or course at The Paw & Whistle. We may be able to transfer your booking to another suitable course/venue but only if you notify us immediately after making the booking.
There will be no partial refunds for missed classes.
All other cancellation and refund requests are at the discretion of the Trainer and dependent on individual circumstances.