Urban Classes Ground Rules + Terms & Conditions
This information is provided to you in an effort to help you and all other attendees to get the most out of your Urban Dog Training course. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions relating to the information in this document.
WHAT TO BRING TO CLASSES
1. A current vaccination certificate for your dog
2. As many family members who are willing to attend
3. A supply of food treats
4. A mat (large enough for you and your dog to lay comfortably on)
5. Poo bags to dispose of your dog's waste properly
6. Your dog's favourite toy
ACCEPTABLE COLLARS AND LEADS
Acceptable Collars
- Flat Collars (Buckle or Snap Lock variety)
- Head Collars (Black Dog Head Collar, Gentle Leader, Halti)
- No Pull Harness (Harmony Harness, Gentle Leader Harness - not a car harness)
Please do not bring your dog on a choke chain (also called check chains), electric shock collar, citronella collar, prong collar.
Acceptable Leads
- Nylon Lead 1.5 - 2m long
- Leather Lead 1.5 - 2m long
Please do not bring retractable leads or chain leads.
FEEDING DOGS BEFORE CLASS
Dog training classes can be very distracting places for dogs so it is imperative that you do not feed your dog his/her normal meal dog prior to class. This way your dog will be hungry and more inclined to pay attention to you. If you feel it necessary to give your dog some food prior to classes do not give him/her more than HALF their usual meal.
TREATS FOR CLASS
Please bring AMPLE treats cut up into very small portions - no larger than the size of your little fingernail (half that for smaller breeds). You will need at least 200-300 TINY pieces of food.
Human food treats work best, below are some suggestions:
- Hot Dogs
- Sausages
- Devon
- Luncheon Meat
- Cabana
- Chicken
- Cheese
- Steak
- Leftover Roast Meat
- Bacon Pieces
While your dog may salivate over Liver Treats, Smackos and Dry Food Biscuits at home, we guarantee you that these treats alone will not be enough to keep your dog's attention in a dog training class. Especially when all the owners around you have yummy human food on them!
HOW TO DRESS FOR CLASS
Please wear comfortable clothes to class. You may be required to get on the ground with your dog. Enclosed, non-slip footwear is essential for safety reasons. If you do not wear appropriate footwear you will not be permitted into class. You will not be offered a refund for any classes missed as a result of failure to comply with our safety requirements. However, we are more than happy to offer you a catch-up class to ensure that you do not miss out on your course content. Please ensure children attending classes with you have suitable footwear also. In warmer weather be sure to apply sunscreen and wear a hat to training to avoid sun damage.
CLASS CONSIDERATIONS
Please be considerate to other students, dogs and the instructor during class and SWITCH OFF MOBILE TELEPHONES prior to class. Do not smoke or eat during class. Please do not carry on your own conversation while the instructor is talking as this is distracting to everyone present including the instructor.
CHILDREN IN CLASS
We welcome children to our classes and encourage them to participate. We are committed to child safety around dogs and will teach your children how to safely interact with dogs. However, there are important safety considerations that must be adhered to for the benefit of your child/ren and the dogs in class:
- It is IMPOSSIBLE to supervise both a dog and a child less than seven (7) years of age in a dog training class. If you are bringing along children less than seven (7) years of age please ensure there is another adult (over 18 years old) to supervise the child/ren.
- Children under eighteen (18) years of age are not permitted to handle dogs in classes. If a child accidentally lets a dog loose in class the consequences can be disastrous. Often adults have difficulty handling a dog in class; it is simply unfair to the child or the dog to put them under undue stress.
- Please ensure your child does not approach other dogs in class until requested to do so by the trainer. Some dogs are not used to being around children and can react adversely, causing stress to the child and the dog.
- Please ensure your child/ren do not wander around unattended during class. Bites happen far more quickly than adults can react. Please keep your children seated unless instructed to do otherwise.
EXERCISE PRIOR TO CLASS
Often it can be an advantage to exercise your dog prior to class. You should not exhaust your dog but you may want to take him/her for a short walk or play a brief game of fetch. This will assist to calm your dog down a little prior to class.
SICK OR INJURED DOGS
If your dog is sick or injured please do not bring him/her to class. The safety of your dog and other dogs in the class is paramount to us. Please contact us to discuss your options. Please ensure your dog is treated for worms (especially heartworm), fleas and ticks. DO NOT bring bitches in season (in heat) to class.
ARRIVING TO CLASS
When arriving for your class please manage your dog so that he/she cannot get to other dogs who are also on a lead. Please leave ample room between your dog and other dogs when entering via gates and doorways. Not all dogs like other dogs and when restrained by a lead this can lead to disastrous consequences. In any case, allowing your dog to play with other dogs prior to class will excite your dog and make him/her less likely to pay attention to you during class. When you arrive, take your dog for a brief walk around and get him/her settled.
LATE ARRIVALS
Please ensure you arrive for each of your classes at least ten (10) minutes early and that you are ready to start on time. Late arrivals can disrupt dogs already in class once they have settled; it then takes another five (5) minutes or more of a one (1) hour lesson to settle them down again. It can also cause great stress to your dog to have the dogs already in class react to his/her arrival. Of course, we realise that sometimes being late cannot be avoided. If you are running late please DON'T PANIC, simply take the day/evening off and email us advising which class you missed. We will let you know when you can attend a catch-up class. Note that you will not be able to bring your dog since classes are restricted to enrolled dogs only. Please allow plenty of time for travelling to avoid traffic delays etc.
CATCH-UP CLASS POLICY
Although Urban Dog Training is not obliged to, we do offer catch-up classes, where possible. Catch-Up classes are attended without your dog, for health and safety reasons. We understand that sometimes missed classes cannot be avoided so we provide extensive training notes for each class so you will know what was covered. If the same class is available in another course, you are welcome to attend this class. However, a new dog in class can be disruptive to the dogs already in the class. Simply send us an email letting us know which week you couldn't attend, and we will do our best to find you a time that suits you. Classes are non-transferable.
COURSE START DATE
We require minimum numbers of six (6) enrolled (confirmed and paid) dogs in order to begin a course. A dog is not deemed enrolled until payment has been made in full. Occasionally courses may not start on the scheduled start date due to a lack of enrolments. If this happens you will be advised via SMS and/or email and your course will be postponed to the next week. We will provide as much as notification as we can but at times we hold out for as long as possible and may only advice earlier in the day (night classes) or the night before (day classes). If we still do not have the minimum numbers required by the following week, the course will be postponed weekly until the minimum enrolment numbers have been reached. We will offer alternate start dates (or times), if available, to assist you to start a course as soon as possible.
Occasionally postponements in other courses will affect our scheduling. For example, if the class prior to yours is postponed due to inclement weather, instructor illness, COVID-19 Lockdowns etc this may affect the start date of your course. You will be notified via SMS and/or email as soon as possible.
It is important that you take this into account when enrolling since refunds will not be offered in this case. We may offer to accommodate you in another course wherever possible but cannot guarantee this.
SCHEDULED CLOSURE FOR 2024
As we hold classes "after hours" such as weekends and evenings, Urban Dog Training takes a few short breaks during the year to allow our staff and volunteers to spend time with family & friends at times when they are not normally able to. These breaks are scheduled in advance as outlined below.
Please be aware that Training Classes and/or Play Group Sessions are NOT held on Public Holidays or on a Long Weekend which is created due to a Public Holiday. We have also included any dates when we are aware that classes are not able to be held due to access restrictions of our venue and/or events that we may be attending.
Saturday 21 January - Narelle Boyd's Classes Only
Saturday 27 January - Sunday 28 January (inclusive) - Australia Day Long Weekend
Saturday 16 March - Local Council Elections - Venue is a Polling Booth
Saturday 30 March - Sunday 07 April (inclusive) - Easter Break
Saturday 04 May - Monday 05 May (inclusive) - Long Weekend - Labour Day
Sunday 26 May - Attending Pups in the Park @ Wynnum
Saturday 15 June - Narelle Boyd's Classes Only
Saturday 13 July - Sunday 14 July (inclusive) - Narelle Boyd's Classes Only
Saturday 31 August - Narelle Boyd's Classes Only
Friday 26 July - Thursday 01 August (inclusive) - Mid Year Break
Saturday 05 October - Monday 07 October (inclusive) - Long Weekend - King's Birthday
The last class for 2024 will be held on Sunday 08 December before closing for the Christmas-New Year period. Urban Dog Training will resume classes for 2025 on Monday 6 January.
Please ensure that you consider these dates when nominating your course dates in the event that any postponements that may occur will need to have the above dates accounted for.
BAD WEATHER & TRAINER ILLNESS POLICY OR OTHER UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES
It is sometimes impossible to hold classes in inclement weather. We will advise you via SMS when classes are required to be rescheduled prior to class on the day. PLEASE ENSURE THAT YOU HAVE PROVIDED US WITH YOUR MOBILE TELEPHONE NUMBER.
Please check your SMS messages BEFORE scheduled class times during bad weather. Note that bad weather can include heat, thunderstorms, rain and strong winds.
Occasionally trainers become ill and are unable to teach classes. You will be notified via SMS and/or email at least one (1) hour prior to the scheduled class.
If classes are rescheduled due to inclement weather, trainer illness or any other unforeseen circumstances, your course will run for an extra week (or more if required - since we cannot control the weather) on the same day at the same time. It is important that you take this into account when enrolling since refunds and course transfers will not be offered in this case.
Where feasible, we will use undercover areas located within our venue, however this is only available for weekend classes. We do not have a wet weather option for mid-week classes.
COURSE WITHDRAWALS / REFUNDS / TRANSFERS
Provided you give us seven (7) days notice, in writing, prior to the course commencement, we will happily refund your payment in full or transfer you to an alternative course date. Your course fees will be forfeited if you do not provide us with seven (7) days notice. Refunds (or course transfers) will not be offered if you withdraw from the course after it has commenced. Partial refunds will not be offered for classes you are unable to attend, however, we are happy to offer make-up classes in another available class without your dog.
URBAN CLINICS
If you are enrolling in one of the Urban Clinics please be aware that late arrivals will not be offered a refund or a session transfer. It is imperative that you arrive well in advance of your session. All other terms and conditions outlined above/below still apply.
NEXT STEPS!
When submitting your enrolment, you will receive an automatically generated email reconfirming the details of your enrolment. Sometimes these emails like to hide in junk folders! If you do not receive this email please let us know as we also receive a copy, so we are happy to forward this to you. If your enrolment relates to a paid course, please be aware that your place is not confirmed until such time as you have made payment. Places are allocated in order of receipt of payment so we recommend that you make payment as soon as possible to secure your place and avoid disappointment. Details of how to make payment are within the enrolment email or please refer to the How to Pay tab located on the top right hand side of our website.
LIABILITY DISCLAIMER
Client acknowledges that obedience training/behaviour modification may be an activity in which damage or injury to dog(s) and/or persons may occur. Client will assume full financial/moral responsibility for the actions of their dog(s). Client further acknowledges that dog(s) may be exposed to a variety of environmental conditions which include, but are not limited to, vehicular traffic, interaction with people and other animals, exposure to adverse weather, and exposure to areas with crowds and all types of traffic.
I/We Client agree that I, my/our heirs, assignees and legal representatives will not make claim against, sue, or attach the property of the consultant, her family, acquaintances, or any other person acting on her behalf (herein referred to as ‘Her Agents'), for injury or damage done to or by dogs(s) resulting from action or negligence, however caused, by Consultant or Her Agents. I/We Client forever release Consultant and/or Her Agents from any and all liability and demands which I/We Client, and my/our heirs, assignees and legal representatives may have or may hereafter have for injury or damage to or by dog(s), and assume all risks thereof.
Client and Consultant hereby agree to mediate and/or arbitrate any misunderstandings that may arise pursuant to the terms contained herein. In any action or proceeding arising out of the agreement, the prevailing party shall be entitled to reimbursement of costs and legal fees.
This contract for Training Services supersedes all other agreements, written or oral, previously made between Client and Consultant.