Last updated: 18 June 2026
These terms and conditions govern the booking and provision of dog training and behaviour services by The Whole Hound Academy. Please read them carefully. By placing a booking with us you confirm that you have read, understood and accepted these terms, and a contract is formed between you and us on that basis.
1.1 The Whole Hound Academy is a trading name of Avon Dog Services Ltd, a company registered in England and Wales under company number 08372691, whose registered office is at 2 Northside, Wells Road, Chilcompton, Radstock, England, BA3 4ET. In these terms, “we”, “us” and “our” refer to Avon Dog Services Ltd trading as The Whole Hound Academy.
1.2 You can contact us by email at thewholehoundacademy@gmail.com or through the website at thewholehoundacademy.co.uk.
1.3 In these terms, “you” and “the client” mean the person who places the booking, “the dog” means the dog you bring to a service, and “services” means any class, course, workshop, private lesson, behaviour consultation, residential training holiday, membership or other service we offer.
2.1 A booking is made when you complete our booking process and we accept it. Completion of the booking process and acceptance of these terms forms your contract with us.
2.2 We will use reasonable endeavours to deliver the services described at the point of purchase. We do not guarantee any specific outcome or result. Results vary depending on factors including the dog’s temperament, history and prior training, and your engagement with the programme during and after the service.
2.3 We may decline or cancel a booking at our discretion, for example where a service is unsuitable for your dog. Where we cancel a booking for a reason that is not your fault, we will offer a suitable alternative or a refund of sums paid for the cancelled service.
3.1 Payment in full is required at the time of booking, unless we have agreed an instalment plan with you in writing. Where a service requires a deposit, that deposit is non-refundable.
3.2 Where an instalment plan applies, you authorise us to collect each instalment on the agreed schedule through our payment processor. Your place is not confirmed until the first payment has been received.
3.3 Prices are as stated at the point of purchase. No additional charges will be applied beyond the agreed price except where expressly set out in these terms.
4.1 You may cancel your purchase within 14 days, beginning the day you place your order, and receive a refund, subject to the exceptions below. Any refund will be reduced by an administration fee of £15.00.
4.2 There is no right of cancellation where a class, private lesson or behaviour consultation is due to begin within 7 days of your booking, and you have agreed to it beginning within that period.
4.3 If you need to cancel a course, workshop or private lesson after booking but before it has started, we require 14 working days’ notice for a refund to be made, less the £15.00 administration fee.
4.4 If you start a course and then cancel, fail to attend a course, or fail to attend a one-to-one booking, no refund will be made except in special circumstances, which we will consider on a case-by-case basis.
4.5 Deposits are non-refundable. Where we host a guest trainer or professional for a workshop or course, or run a course of two months or more on consecutive sessions, a no-refund policy applies to that event. We will tell you when this applies at the time of booking.
4.6 If you are unable to attend a session, please tell us as early as possible. We will use reasonable endeavours to offer a rescheduled date where we can, but we are not obliged to do so and any reschedule is at our discretion.
5.1 We use kind, proven and effective methods. We do not allow any form of harsh handling, and we do not tolerate any method, equipment or device that causes pain, fear or intimidation to a dog. We may ask you to stop using any such equipment or method, or to leave a session, if you do not comply.
5.2 We encourage anyone considering a group training course to come and observe a class before booking, so you can be sure the time suits you and you are comfortable with how we run our classes.
5.3 For most sessions you should bring a standard, non-extendable lead and either a flat collar that is as wide and comfortable as possible or a well-fitted harness. Please also bring a variety of training treats and a favourite toy. We will tell you if a particular session needs anything different.
6.1 You must not knowingly book an aggressive or highly reactive dog onto a general training course. Dogs with these needs are supported through our dedicated behaviour services, for which an initial behaviour consultation is required.
6.2 If you are in any doubt about your dog’s suitability for a course, please arrange for us to assess your dog before booking. This can usually be done at the venue you are considering attending.
6.3 If you have not asked us to assess your dog, and we then find that your dog is highly reactive, nervous or aggressive in a way that makes a group setting unsuitable, we may decline to continue and may not refund your payment.
6.4 Where we have assessed your dog and an issue arises in class, we will offer a suitable alternative, such as one-to-one training or an outdoor class, in order to help you meet your aims.
7.1 You remain responsible for your dog at all times during any service, including its behaviour, supervision and control. You must keep your dog under proper control and on a lead where we ask you to.
7.2 You are legally responsible for your dog under the Animals Act 1971, the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 and other applicable law. You accept responsibility for any injury, loss or damage caused by your dog to any person, other animal or property during or in connection with a service, except to the extent caused by our negligence.
7.3 You must tell us, before and during a service, about anything relevant to your dog’s safe participation, including any history of aggression, biting, illness, injury, or fearful or reactive behaviour.
7.4 You must not bring a dog to a session if it is unwell, in season, or within any exclusion period advised by a vet. Please tell us in advance if any of these apply so we can agree how to proceed.
8.1 You confirm that your dog is in good health and fit to take part, and that its vaccinations, or a recognised titre test result, are up to date and appropriate for group settings. We may ask to see proof.
8.2 You are responsible for your dog’s welfare during a service, including access to water and appropriate rest. If we believe a dog is unwell, distressed or unfit to continue, we may pause or end its participation in the interests of the dog’s welfare and the safety of others.
9.1 We strongly recommend that you hold current third-party liability insurance for your dog, for example through pet insurance or membership of a recognised body such as the Dogs Trust or The Kennel Club, for the duration of any service. It is your responsibility to arrange and maintain such cover.
9.2 We hold our own public liability and professional indemnity insurance in respect of the services we provide. Details are available on request.
10.1 Dog training and behaviour work carry inherent risks, and dogs can behave unpredictably. You attend, and bring your dog to, our services at your own risk and the risk of your dog.
10.2 We are responsible for loss or damage you suffer that is a foreseeable result of our breach of these terms or our failure to use reasonable care and skill. We are not responsible for any loss or damage that is not foreseeable.
10.3 We do not exclude or limit our liability in any way where it would be unlawful to do so. This includes liability for death or personal injury caused by our negligence, and for fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation.
10.4 Subject to clause 10.3, we are not liable for: injury, loss or damage caused by your dog or by another client’s dog; the behaviour of your dog during or after a service; or any failure to achieve a particular training or behaviour outcome. Subject to clause 10.3, our total liability to you for any claim connected with a service is limited to the total fees you paid us for that service.
10.5 We are not liable for any failure or delay in performing our obligations caused by events outside our reasonable control.
11.1 We want every session to be safe and positive for people and dogs. We may ask you to leave, without refund, if your conduct or your handling of your dog puts the safety or welfare of any person or animal at risk, or is abusive towards our staff or other clients.
11.2 Any children you bring to a session remain your responsibility and must be supervised by an accompanying adult at all times.
12.1 We keep your details in confidence and do not pass them to third parties except as needed to provide the services, for example our payment processor. Information shared with our team is handled on a need-to-know basis.
12.2 We may use the email address you give us to tell you about our activities and services. You can opt out at any time by emailing us or using the unsubscribe link in our newsletters. We hold your details for no longer than necessary, and in any event for a maximum of three years from your last activity with us, unless the law requires otherwise.
12.3 Our full privacy policy explains how we collect, use and protect your personal information under UK data protection law, and is available on our website.
13.1 We may update these terms from time to time. The version that applies to your booking is the one published on our website at the date of your booking. We will post the current version, with its last-updated date, on our website.
14.1 These terms, and any dispute or claim arising out of or in connection with them or any service, are governed by the law of England and Wales.
14.2 You and we both agree that the courts of England and Wales have exclusive jurisdiction to settle any such dispute or claim.
If you have any questions about these terms, or about a booking, please contact us at thewholehoundacademy@gmail.com.
