Living with Dogs - Canine Coaching

Confirmation
Your registration will be confirmed by automated e-mail once your completed class reservation is received. A complete registration includes online registration form, payment and vaccination records. Please contact us if you have not received the confirmation email, we do our best to make sure you receive it, but email filters or technical issues may prevent the email from arriving in your inbox. Payment is required at time of registration to reserve a space in class.

Vaccinations
For the safety of your classmates please provide proof of vaccinations at your first class. An invoice or certificate of vaccination from your veterinarian will be sufficient.

Payment
Payment for classes shall be made before or at the beginning of the first class. We prefer to spend class time with handlers and dogs and not on paperwork. Registration in advance means you benefit more from class time and get more for your money. We reserve the right to charge a premium for late registration at the door for classes and workshops. Group classes are held by the session, private classes may be attended by the hour.

Make Up Sessions
Make-up sessions for missed classes are available by appointment for an additional fee that covers the instructors time and if applicable, for equipment, field or facility rental. Scheduling for make up sessions is based upon the instructor's availability. If you know you are going to miss a class you should call for an appointment as far in advance as possible. If you cannot make a class and are not able to do a make up lesson the handbook will help you learn the material that was covered in class.

Observers
Anyone wishing to attend class may observe one class without your dog prior to enrolling provided your request is made in advance to attend as an oberserver. Observers are limited to one person.

Refunds
It is very important to commit to the class when you sign up. However, if you request a refund in writing 7 days before classes begin, Living with Dogs will refund the class fee minus a $35.00 administration fee. Once the sessions start, refunds will not be available because your registration reserves a place in the class that will not be available to another student after the start date of the class and expenses such as rent will be incurred in your behalf to run the class for the entire session.

Class Credit
If you find you cannot take the class we will give you a partial class credit to be used within 60 days, provided the request is made in writing before the start of the second class in the series. We will deduct a $30 fee for the first class plus a $35 administration fee to help cover expenses incurred in your behalf to run the contracted series of classes. The balance may be applied to another class starting within 60 days. No credits toward transfers will be issued after the second class.

Returned Checks
There is a $35 charge for all returned checks plus bank fees.

Cancellations
For private lessons: If you need to cancel or reschedule your lesson, please give us at least 48 hours advance notice to avoid forfeiting your lesson. Private and Puppy Kindergarten Sessions need to be completed within 60 days of first class date to avoid forfeiting your lessons. You may cancel group classes with 24 hour notice before the first class.

Group Class Postponments & Cancellations
Classes may be postponed or cancelled by Living with Dogs if a minimum enrollment is not met. You will be notified prior to the first class session. If you were registered for that class, you will be notified two days before the class was scheduled to begin. At that time you can enroll in an alternative class (provided there is space available), receive credit toward a future class, or receive a full refund.

Equipment
Choke Chains, Prong Collars and Flexi-Leads (retractable leads) are not permitted. Back-attach harnesses are discouraged in order for you and your dog to have a more successful experience. Easy-Walk (front attach) harnesses, flat collars, short 4' leads and on Gentle Leaders are encouraged.

Attendance
We encourage you to attend every session in your class. Six weeks is not a very long time in a dog's lifetime, attendance and practice at home is key to learning. Our classes are designed to be taught as a series; therefore, attendance each week is important. Drop-ins are not permitted. Our handbook and handouts are availble to our students online. If you miss a session please check the online area for the material for your class. Instructions for online access will be provided to you by email after the first class..

Aggressive Dogs
If your dog is aggressive to either people or dogs, please consult us before enrolling in a class, as it may be inappropriate for your dog to attend a group class. If we feel your dog does not belong in a group class, we reserve the right to ask you and your dog not to attend future classes. However, there are options for dealing with aggression, and we can explore such options. Please answer the questions on the registration form as thoroughly and honestly as possible.

Training Methods
The training methods used in this class are based on reward-based methods. If you are considering using aversive or compulsive methods for training please consult with us prior to making your decision. Compulsive or aversive methods will not be allowed in the classroom, as they may be disturbing and/or disruptive to other attendees.

Disruptive Behavior
If you, your family members or your friends, are disruptive to the class, you will be asked to leave. If the disruptions are serious or on-going, you will be asked to stop attending classes and refunds will be given per the refund policy. If your dog is disruptive to the class, we will attempt to modify such behavior before taking the more steps outlined above.

Transferring to Private Lessons
In order to protect all participants in a class, we reserve the right to decline entry to any dog who presents behavior issues that may be overly dangerous, disruptive, or that may be exacerbated by participation in a group class. If behavior issues are discovered during the class and the trainer determines that it is in everyone's best interest to seek private training, arrangements for private lessons will be made. Class fees may be pro-rated towards private lesson fees. If you decline the offer for private lesson with us, your class fee may be pro-rated for another group class in the future, or will be forfeited.