CANCELLATION & CLASS POLICIES

Registration/Payment:
Please note: we require both full payment and up to date vaccine records to confirm your registration for all services.

Payments can be made via email money transfer or online with a credit card. Please note all Package purchases must be paid via credit card at the time of purchase.

We cannot offer prorated classes if you cannot attend some of the group class dates. When you register, you are signing up for a spot for the entire class set.

Group Class Cancellations/Refunds
Multi Session Group Class (multi-session & single session):

• Refund up to 7 days before the start of the first class less a $20 administration fee or opt full credit to apply to future services.
• 7 days - 4 days notice before the start of class, a full credit to apply to future services. All credits expire 6 months after issue.
• Less than 4 days notice before the start of the first class no refunds or credit will be issued
  

Once the class set has started there is no refund or credit option available. Please ensure your schedule allows for attendance of all classes as make-up sessions for missed classes are not offered.

Once a Young Puppy Socialization Package has been started there is no refund or credit option available. Please ensure your puppy will be 14 weeks (16 weeks for small breeds) or under at the last class in your package.

Once a Group Class Package has been started there is no refund option available. A prorated credit can be applied to future services for classes not yet started in the package. All credits will expire when the package was set to expire.

Missed Classes and Make-ups:
We are unable to issue refunds, credits, or make-ups for any missed classes that were originally scheduled. If you miss a class, you will still receive your homework via email each week.

Please note that attendance is mandatory at the first class in a class set.

Private Class Cancellations/ Refunds:

• Full refund up to 5 days of the first scheduled class less a $20 administration fee or opt for a full credit to apply to future services.
• 5 days to 48 hours cancellation notice before the start of the first lesson, a full credit to apply to future services less 50% of the value of the first lesson.
• Any cancellation less than 48 hours of the first lesson will have no refund for the scheduled lesson and can opt for either a prorated refund less $20 administration fee or a prorated credit for future services.
  

Once a Private Class package has been started you can prorate the remaining lessons towards future services. No refunds will be given for remaining lessons in a package.

For scheduled lessons in your package:

• Cancellations within 5 days of the scheduled lesson will result in a $20 admin fee to reschedule.
• Cancellations 5 days to 48 hours notice will result in a $50 fee to reschedule
• Cancellations within 48 hours will  have no refund or credit. To schedule a 'makeup' lesson at the end of your package, you will be charged the full price of the single lesson.
  

All credits expire 6 months after issue.

Private Lesson Cancellations/ Refunds:

• Full refund up to 5 days of the scheduled lesson less a $20 administration fee or opt for a full credit to apply to future services.
• 5 days to 48 hours cancellation notice, receive a 50% credit towards future services.
• Any cancellation less than 48 hours will not have a refund or credit option.
  

Once a lesson package has been started you can prorate the remaining lessons towards future services. No refunds will be given for remaining lessons in a package.

All credits expire 6 months after issue.

Day Training Cancellations/ Refunds:

• Refund up to 5 days before the first training session in a package less a $20 administration fee.
• 5 days to 48 hours cancellation notice before the first training session, a full credit to apply to future services less 50% of the value of the Day Training Package.
• Any cancellation less than 48 hours of the first training session will have no refund or credit option available.
  

Initial Consult Cancellation/Refunds:

• Up to 5 days before of the scheduled consult will result in a $20 administration fee to reschedule, receive a package refund or credit towards future services.
• 5 days to 48 hours notice will result in a $50 administration fee to reschedule, receive a package refund or credit towards future services.
• Within 48 hours will have no refund or credit for the consult. To schedule a 'makeup' consult, you will be charged the full price of the single consult.
  

All credits expire 6 months after issue.

Group Walk Cancellations/Refunds:
Full refund up to 48 hours before the scheduled walk less a $5 administration fee or opt for a full credit to apply to future services.

Any cancellation less than 48 hours of the scheduled walk will have no refund or credit option.

Private Walk & Potty Break Visits Cancellations/Refunds:

• Refund up to 5 days of the scheduled walk less a $10 administration fee or opt for a full credit to apply to a future service.
• 5 days to 48 hours cancellation notice, receive a 50% credit towards future services.
• Any cancellation less than 48 hours will not have a refund or credit option.
  

Once a Potty Break Visit Package has been started you can prorate the remaining visits towards future services. No refunds will be given for remaining visits in a package.

All credits expire 6 months after issue.

Vaccinations:
Current, up to date, vaccines must be received before your spot in class is confirmed.
Minimum vaccines required for Group Classes:

• Young Puppy Socialization classes: 1st set of DHPP or DA2PP
• All other Group Classes: 2nd set of DHPP or DA2PP and Rabies (if old enough)

Vaccines (including Rabies) must then be kept up to date on your veterinarians vaccine schedule.
For all other services - Vaccines must be kept up to date on your veterinarians vaccine schedule.
Titre tests can be provided in lieu of continued vaccines once core vaccines have been received. Please provide (or ask your vet to forward) a copy of your dogs' vaccines/titre test each time they are received.

Dismissal:
If your dog is dismissed from a class or set of classes, for any reason, there will be no refunds or credits issued for completed or remaining classes. Reasons for dismissal from class may include, but are not limited to, an altercation or incident between the dog and another human or dog, a handler being verbally or physically abusive towards their dog or other dogs/humans, the handler not following our policy guidelines, a handler or dog coming to class ill, a dog being excessively disruptive during class etc.

Dog Behaviour:
If you have a dog that displays any of the below behaviours, please contact us before signing up for classes, as we need to ensure you are placed in a class that is a good fit for you and your dog.

• Leash reactivity (barking/pulling/lunging on leash towards other dogs and people)
• Aggression towards other dogs or people
• Anxiety/Fear towards other dogs or people
• Consistent/excessive barking

Barking:
We understand, dogs may bark when excited or when playing (in puppy class), which is not as much of a concern. So for clarity: We consider excessive barking to be barking that is consistent in nature and is not able to be easily stopped with some food, OR barking that is stopped with some food but it happens repeatedly over the course of the class session.

If your dog is barking/lunging on leash towards other dogs and you are not able to easily re-direct them with food, you will need to do training on that issue first through a Private Lesson.

Mild Reactivity:
We are able to accommodate mildly reactive dogs in our group classes, but only if they have worked with a trainer (us or another positive reinforcement based trainer) on these reactivity issues so the dog and handler know how to effectively manage these behaviours in a group class environment. Your dog should be comfortable in a class with brand new dogs that are moving around and working on the training floor at the same time as them approximately 6-10 feet away.

Dog Equipment:
We are Positive Reinforcement Trainers, and we do not allow punitive dog equipment such as prong collars, pinch collars, martingale collars or e-collars/shock collars to be on any dog at any time while in our training facility (Whether turned on, or not).
We respect that owners may use the equipment of their choice outside of our facility. However, we require that such equipment be completely removed from their dogs before entering our facility, and is not to replace it until they have exited our facility. We also require that such equipment be completely removed from their dogs before we arrive for a scheduled lesson.

We want all dogs and handlers to have a Fun and Positive experience every time they’re in our facility! If you are interested in more information on positive equipment alternatives, please do not hesitate to contact us!
Flexi-leashes/extending leashes are not appropriate leashes for a class environment. Please be sure to swap to a standard solid 6’ leash for class/private training sessions.

Medical Issues/Circumstances:
If your dog is ill or injured, please keep them at home and do not bring them to the facility until they are cleared by the vet. You are still welcome and encouraged to attend group classes yourself to watch and practise in class without your dog. We cannot issue refunds for missed classes/bookings due to dog or handler illness or injury. However, we may review situations on a case-by-case basis if we are provided with a note from your vet.

We cannot issue refunds for missed classes due to dogs in heat, or any foreseen medical issue such as a scheduled surgery.

Kennel Cough / Bordetalla:
If your dog has kennel cough (even suspected – since it is highly contagious we have to act on the safe side) please keep your dog at home until:

• Your dog has not coughed in 7 days; or
• They are cleared and deemed no longer contagious by a vet

While your dog is recovering, we welcome and encourage you to attend group classes yourself to watch and practise in class without your dog. No refunds are able to be issued for classes missed due to illness, including bordetella.

Females in Heat:
Females in heat are welcome in our facility as long as they are not in standing heat or actively bleeding a lot. If they are in standing heat or actively bleeding a lot, please leave them at home. However, the handler is still welcome to come to class to learn the material to practice at home with their dog! Females in heat MUST wear panties at all times in the building. And we request zero contact between dogs during this time.

If your dog has not worn panties before, PLEASE work with them at home first so that the dog is comfortable wearing them! You don’t want to come all the way to class to find out that your dog doesn’t want to wear them or spend all your class time trying to get your dog to leave the panties alone instead of working on the class material!

Class Prerequisites (Only applicable to Leash Skills, Recall & Trick Class):
Dogs must have completed a set of positive reinforcement based group dog classes (anywhere) prior to registering for these classes. A “Group Class” is a class where all the dogs are working out on the floor at the same time, around each other. Classes that are one dog at a time (i.e. Nosework, Tracking etc) do not apply. Dogs must have an established marker word and release word. Additionally for Recall Class, dogs must be comfortable to relax in a crate in  a distracting environment.

My dog has good obedience already, do I still need the pre-req?
While we can appreciate people who have done a good job training their dog at home, participating in a group class is a different skill for your dog and has nothing to do with how many behaviours or tricks your dog can. The prerequisite is required for all dogs, and is in place so that you can get the most out of our training programs!

Agreement to Hold Harmless Waiver and Assumption of Risk
I understand that attendance at a dog obedience training class is not without risk to myself, members of  my family or guests who may attend, or my dog, because of some of the dogs to which I will be exposed may  be difficult to control and may be the cause of injury even when handled with the greatest amount of care.

I hereby waive and release Canine Connection Dog Training, hereinafter referred to as the “Training  Organization”, its’ employees, contractors, members and agents from any and all liability of any nature, for  injury or damage which I or my dog may suffer, including specifically, but without limitation, any injury or  damage resulting from the action of any dog, and I expressly assume the risk of such damage or injury while  attending any training session, or any other function, of the Training Organization, or while on the training  grounds or the surrounding area thereto.

In consideration of and as inducement to the acceptance of my application for training membership by  this Training Organization, I hereby agree to indemnify and hold harmless this Training Organization, it’s  employees, officers, members and agents from any and all claims, by any member of my family or any other  person accompanying me to any training session or function of the Training Organization or while on the  grounds or the surrounding area thereto as a result of any action, by any dog, including my own. 

I give Canine Connection Dog Training permission to publish in print, electronic or video format the likeness of images of you and/or your dog. You release all claims against Canine Connection Dog Training with respect to privacy rights, publicity rights, copyright ownership and publication, including any claim for compensation related to use of the materials.