Terms and Conditions

These Terms and Conditions apply to all services provided by Tracey Jones-Hughes trading as Shaping Dogs. By booking any service, including fitness training, therapeutic exercise, home visits, behaviour modification, or dog training (individual sessions, group classes or workshops), you confirm that you have read, understood, and agree to these terms.

1. General Information

Shaping Dogs provides services to support canine health, behaviour, and wellbeing using kind, evidence-based techniques. Services are designed to complement veterinary care where appropriate and to promote positive, ethical training and handling practices.

2. Scope of Services

All fitness and therapeutic exercise sessions are non-diagnostic and intended to support strength, mobility, body awareness, and general wellbeing. These services do not replace veterinary care, diagnosis, or treatment.

Behaviour modification services are designed to address fear, anxiety, reactivity, and other behavioural challenges through structured, force-free strategies and owner coaching. Training and behaviour plans are tailored to the individual dog and implemented in line with current best practice.

Dog training services focus on teaching owners to train their dogs using kind, ethical methods, with an emphasis on positive reinforcement and building a strong working relationship between dog and owner.

3. Veterinary Care & Medical Responsibility

Where a dog has a diagnosed medical condition (including but not limited to arthritis, orthopaedic conditions or previous injury), the owner confirms that:

The dog is under current veterinary care.
The veterinary surgeon is aware of the condition.
The dog is stable and suitable for gentle strengthening and mobility work.

Shaping Dogs reserves the right to request written veterinary confirmation where appropriate.

If at any time signs of active injury, undiagnosed lameness, deterioration or medical concern are observed, services may be paused and veterinary review recommended.

4. Owner Responsibilities

You are responsible for:

Ensuring your dog is fit and healthy to participate in any service.
Disclosing all relevant medical and behavioural history.
Following aftercare advice, home exercises, or training homework provided.
Ensuring your dog is clean, dry, and comfortable for home visits and hands-on sessions.
Providing a suitable, safe space for home visits, training, or exercise sessions.
Ensuring your dog is wearing suitable equipment for training (no aversive tools such as prong collars, choke chains, or electric collars).

Owners must disclose any aggression, fear issues, or other behavioural concerns before booking.

The owner acknowledges that:

Progress depends on consistent and appropriate implementation of recommended exercises.
Exercises must be carried out safely and within the dog’s tolerance.
The owner is responsible for monitoring their dog during and after exercise sessions at home.
Any concerns or changes in condition must be reported promptly.

Shaping Dogs cannot guarantee specific outcomes.

5. Training and Behaviour Services

Shaping Dogs is committed to providing you with the best possible training and behaviour support experience using only kind, ethical methods. However, the success of any programme depends on your commitment, consistency, and cooperation. For this reason, no guarantees can be made regarding the exact results of training or behaviour modification, even with the instructor’s best efforts.

Shaping Dogs reserves the right to refuse or discontinue services at any time if there are concerns about:

The safety or welfare of the dog.
Aggression or behaviour issues that have not been fully disclosed.
The use of aversive tools or methods contrary to Shaping Dogs’ ethics and policies.

6. Sessions & Supervision

Dogs must remain under the owner’s control at all times unless otherwise agreed.

Shaping Dogs reserves the right to pause or terminate a session if:

The dog shows signs of distress or discomfort.
The environment becomes unsafe.
The owner does not follow safety instructions.

7. Home Visit Requirements

For home visits, please ensure:

Your dog is safely secured upon arrival (if needed).
There is sufficient space for exercises, behaviour observations, or training.
Other pets are managed appropriately to avoid disruption.
There is convenient parking nearby.

If your dog displays aggressive or unsafe behaviour during a session, Shaping Dogs reserves the right to end the session early for safety reasons. In such cases, the full session fee may still apply.

8. Code of Practice

Shaping Dogs always acts in the best interests of the dog and their owner, with animal welfare and safeguarding at the heart of our practice.

We only work using positive training and behaviour techniques, and we will not work with clients who wish to use or continue using aversive methods or equipment, including but not limited to: shock collars, prong collars, choke chains, slip leads used as correction, anti-bark devices, physical punishment, fear, or intimidation

9. Payment, Refunds, and Cancellations

Payment is required in advance unless otherwise agreed.
Cancellations with less than 48 hours’ notice may incur a full charge.
Missed appointments, group classes, or workshops are non-refundable unless there is a serious illness or bereavement.
If Shaping Dogs cancels a session due to unforeseen circumstances, the session will be rescheduled or credited.

Payment confirms acceptance of these Terms & Conditions.

10. Risk Acknowledgement

Attending any training session, group class, home visit, or hands-on service involves some risk of injury to yourself, your family, guests, or your dog. While Shaping Dogs takes every precaution to ensure safety, dogs are living beings and behaviour can be unpredictable. By booking, you acknowledge this inherent risk.

Participation in mobility and strengthening sessions involves physical activity.

While all reasonable care is taken to ensure safety, the owner accepts that:

Physical exercise carries inherent risk.
The dog participates at the owner’s discretion.
The owner is responsible for disclosing all relevant medical and behavioural history.

Shaping Dogs accepts no liability for injury arising from undisclosed medical or behavioural conditions.

11. Photography and Case Studies

With your consent, Shaping Dogs may take photographs or videos during sessions for educational, promotional, or case study purposes. You can opt out of this at any time.

12. Limitations of Liability

Shaping Dogs exercises reasonable skill and care in all services provided. However, Shaping Dogs cannot be held liable for:

Injury, illness, or behavioural incidents arising during or after sessions, unless directly caused by negligence.
Damage caused by your dog to property, people, or other animals.

You remain responsible for your dog’s health, behaviour, and safety at all times.

13. Data Protection

All personal data provided (including medical or behavioural history) is handled in accordance with GDPR. Information is stored securely and used solely for the purpose of providing services. Data will not be shared with third parties without consent.

14. Governing Law

These terms are governed by the laws of England and Wales. Any disputes shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.

By booking any service, you confirm that you have read, understood, and agree to these Terms and Conditions.

Shaping Dogs

18 Greenhill Road, Plymouth. PL9 9FD

Email Address: hello@shapingdogs.com

Effective from February 2025