Terms and Conditions

Courses

We encourage all people considering booking to come along and view our class before booking onto it. This will enable you to be sure you can make the allocated time and that you like the way we run our classes. We do not allow any form of harsh handling and we use proven kind and effective techniques. Therefore, we do not accept check chains, pinch, prong, electric or compressed air collars, rattle cans, water sprays or any aversive devices. All you need to bring is a standard lead or training lead plus a collar that is as wide and comfortable as possible, a harness if required and a variety of training treats.

You must not knowingly book an aggressive or highly reactive dog onto these courses (except the Rehab course). If in doubt, please make arrangement for us to assess your dog before booking onto a course. This can be done at the venue you are considering attending. If you have not asked us to assess your dog and then find that your dog is highly reactive, nervous or aggressive we may not refund your course payment. However, if we have assessed your dog and still find the dog is aggressive in the class we will offer an alternative solution such as one to one training or an outdoor class etc in order to meet your aims.

We use disinfectants to reduce risks of disease.  We take every precaution to reduce risk of disease, however, we cannot be held accountable should a dog become poorly. This has not happened before, however, there is a very small risk with un-vaccinated puppies.  We would ask that you ensure you only bring healthy dogs/puppies to class. If you suspect your dog may be ill (diarrhoea/vomiting/off food) please do not bring him/her to class.

2 Hour Behaviour Assessment and Training Session

The behaviour session consists of a 2 hour meeting at Widget’s Farm, summary training notes and vet liaison. Further 1 hour catch-ups are not included in the cost but are recommended in some cases. Owners can book 1 hour catch-ups if they have had a 2 hour behaviour session in the last three months. If Widget’s Farm hasn’t seen the dog in more than three months, then owners may be asked to book a longer session.

Behaviour Package (not currently available)

The behaviour package consists of an initial 2/3 hour meeting at the client’s home, three weekly catch-up calls and one final one-hour review at Widget’s Farm. The package will aim to complete a month after the initial consultation. Owners are required to put in place any management requests made by the behaviourist in advance of the consultation.

Keeping in touch (training and behaviour packages)

We will send you notes by email following the initial face to face session. While we may send reminder emails, you are responsible for contacting us with progress reports. We will call you on an agreed evening for the catch-ups and, if unanswered, you will call us back or we will assume the catch-up is not required.

If you have not responded to our emails, we will assume you have decided to not to continue with our services. You will be removed from our active client list. You may reapply for additional support.

Behaviour packages and expiry date

The behaviour package is designed to provide a suite of potential support at a reduced rate at the start of a case. As such, the package support is time limited and is available up to one calendar month from the initial appointment - all package support is required to be taken up within that time however the final review session can be used up to two months after the initial consultation where holidays or health tests have caused delays. It is your responsibility to provide reasonable availability for the final review session and it must be requested and scheduled within 2 months of the initial consultation to be included within the package. It will also be subject to our standard cancellation policy. Please let us know as soon as possible if you believe your final session may need to be delayed into the second month. Should any part of the package not be taken up, or booked, within 2 months of the initial consult, no refund or postponement of services will be given.

Ongoing support after the behaviour package

Those that wish to continue with regular support, after their package has finished, will be eligible for 1 hour review sessions at the hourly rate at the time of booking and / or able to join our rehab classes where appropriate. Monthly review sessions are suggested as a minimum in more complicated cases. Where there has been a gap of at least 6 months between review sessions, you may be required to book a longer appointment to allow the behaviourist to undertake additional reviews of the case. Any additional review of the clinical history and correspondence with your vet will also incur charges and this will be decided on a case by case basis dependent on the work required.

If you wish to seek a behaviour support on a new issue, or for a different animal, this will be booked as a new behaviour package.

Cancelling or rescheduling

Please give us as much notice as possible if you need to cancel or reschedule a booked session.

training classes

Payment in full is required at the time of booking to secure your place. To ensure your place is booked it is better to pay online. If it becomes necessary to cancel the course after you have booked and paid for it, but before you have started it, for a refund we require 14 days notice for standard dog training courses (ie puppy and adolescent class) and 30 days notice for any of the specialist events or guest trainers. Any refund made will be reduced by an administration fee of £15.00. If you start the course and then cancel or fail to turn up no refund will be made.

Sessions are non-transferable, if you miss a class we may send you homework but we cannot guarantee a catch-up session.

private sessions

Deposits are required to hold an appointment time and are non-refundable. The remaining balance is due on, or before, the training session. Clients that cancel within 2 working days (48 hours) will be liable for the full session cost or may reschedule with a 50% additional charge. Cancellations which are less than 1 working day (24 hours) will be liable for the full session cost and any reschedules will be at the full rate.

behaviour consults and package sessions

Deposits are required to hold an appointment time and are non-refundable. The remaining balance is due on, or before, the first behaviour visit. Clients that cancel within 2 working days (48 hours) will be liable for the full package cost or may reschedule with a 50% additional charge. Cancellations which are less than 1 working day (24 hours) will be liable for the full session cost and any reschedules will be at the full rate.

Health & Safety

If your pet is ill or suffers an injury immediately prior to or during the Event, please notify the Office. Do not bring your pet to the Event if s/he is ill or injured, or has been infected with, or has been in contact with another dog infected with, a contagious disease.

If your pet is neutered immediately prior to or during the Event, please notify the Office.  

Dog training is a physical activity and as such Handlers are reminded to train with due care and attention to their own safety and that of others. Handlers are responsible for the conduct of their dog at all times.

Handlers and Delegates are reminded to refrain from the use of harsh handling, aversive techniques and equipment intended to punish e.g. choke chains, prong collars, pet correctors etc.

Widget’s Farm will make all reasonable endeavours to run courses in a safe and professional manner at all times and in accordance with veterinary advice (where applicable) and good practice. Widget’s Farm has public liability and general insurance suitable for a dog training club. Any physical activity can have risks, however remote. Participation in Widget’s Farm activities is entirely at the risk of the participant. Neither Widget’s Farm, nor its individual instructors or helpers, nor the owners or landlords of our training venues, accept any responsibilities, whatsoever, for any injuries or losses sustained which are not covered by Widget’s Farm insurance. Handlers and/or owners remain responsible for their dogs at all times and are advised to ensure they have adequate pet or household insurance cover for liability in the unlikely event of damage or injury caused by their dog to property or to a third party.