Terms & Conditions
Last updated: September 2026
These Terms & Conditions apply to services provided by Kent Canine Behaviour (“KCB”, “we”, “us” or “our”).
Please read these Terms & Conditions before booking or using our services.
By making a booking, you agree to these Terms & Conditions and any service-specific information or safety requirements provided to you.
Our priority is the welfare and safety of the dogs and people we work with. Dogs are individuals, behaviour is contextual, and no two dogs will necessarily require the same approach.
1. SERVICES COVERED
These Terms & Conditions apply to services provided by Kent Canine Behaviour, including 1:1 Behaviour Support, Comprehensive Behaviour Assessments, follow-up behaviour sessions, home visits, online consultations, Neutral Walks, Social Foundations, Social Walks, puppy services, classes and group sessions, workshops and courses, Walk & Train, dog walking, Adventure Hikes, meet and greets, events and other comparable services provided by Kent Canine Behaviour.
Different services involve different levels of supervision, interaction and responsibility.
Where additional conditions apply to a particular service, these are explained within these Terms & Conditions or at the time of booking.
2. BOOKINGS
A booking is confirmed when it has been accepted through our booking system or confirmed directly by Kent Canine Behaviour.
When making a booking, you agree to provide information that is accurate and complete to the best of your knowledge.
Prices, duration, location and what is included in a service will be displayed at the time of booking or otherwise agreed with you.
Bookings are also subject to our current Cancellation & Refund Policy.
Nothing within these Terms & Conditions affects your statutory consumer rights.
3. BEHAVIOURAL DISCLOSURE
Kent Canine Behaviour welcomes dogs with a wide range of behavioural needs, including dogs who may be reactive, fearful, anxious, overexcitable or require additional support.
Challenging behaviour does not automatically prevent a dog from using our services.
Accurate information is, however, essential for us to make appropriate decisions about safety, management and support.
You must tell Kent Canine Behaviour about any known behaviour which may reasonably be relevant to the welfare or safety of your dog, another animal or a person.
This includes reactivity, barking or lunging towards triggers, snapping, nipping, biting or attempted biting, aggression towards dogs, people or other animals, resource or space guarding, handling or touch sensitivity, predatory or chase behaviour, escape behaviour, significant fear or anxiety, known triggers and previous incidents which may reasonably affect how your dog should be managed.
Previous incidents should be disclosed even where no injury occurred.
Disclosure does not automatically exclude your dog from our services.
It enables us to understand your dog and determine appropriate support, management, distance, environment and safety measures.
You must tell us about any significant change in your dog's behaviour or circumstances before their next session.
Failure to disclose relevant information may result in a session being modified, postponed or ended where reasonably necessary for safety or welfare.
4. HEALTH & MEDICAL INFORMATION
You must tell Kent Canine Behaviour about any medical condition, injury, medication, allergy, mobility difficulty, pain concern or other health information which may reasonably affect your dog's participation.
Behaviour can be influenced by physical health and pain.
Where appropriate, we may recommend veterinary investigation before beginning or continuing behaviour work.
Kent Canine Behaviour does not diagnose or treat medical conditions, prescribe medication or replace veterinary care.
5. ILLNESS & INFECTIOUS DISEASE
Dogs should be sufficiently well to participate in the service booked.
Please do not bring a dog to a group activity if they have a known or suspected contagious illness or symptoms which may present an infection risk to other dogs.
This includes significant vomiting, diarrhoea, coughing or other symptoms reasonably suggestive of contagious disease.
If your dog has recently been diagnosed with or exposed to an infectious disease, you must contact us before attending.
Kent Canine Behaviour may postpone participation where there is a reasonable concern about infectious disease.
Owners remain responsible for making appropriate decisions regarding vaccination, parasite prevention and preventative healthcare in consultation with their veterinary professional.
6. EQUIPMENT
Dogs must use safe, secure and appropriately fitted equipment suitable for the individual dog and activity.
Depending on the dog and service, appropriate equipment may include a collar, harness, fixed-length lead, long line and/or basket-style muzzle.
Kent Canine Behaviour may ask for equipment to be changed, removed or adjusted where we reasonably consider this necessary for safety, welfare or effective handling.
Retractable leads may be restricted during group or training activities where they present a management or safety concern.
7. MUZZLES
Muzzles are a safety and management tool and are not a judgement of a dog.
Kent Canine Behaviour may require a dog to wear an appropriately fitted basket-style muzzle where the dog's known history, behaviour, environment or planned activity indicates that this is a reasonable safety measure.
This may include dogs with a relevant history of biting, attempted biting, snapping, close-contact lunging or other behaviour presenting a foreseeable risk of injury.
A muzzle used during exercise must be appropriately fitted and allow sufficient space for the dog to pant, drink and take treats.
Restrictive fabric or grooming-style muzzles are not suitable for exercise.
Where appropriate, muzzle training may be recommended before participation in a particular activity.
8. OWNER & HANDLER RESPONSIBILITY
During owner-attended services, your dog remains under your care and responsibility.
Handlers must be physically capable of managing their dog, supervise their dog appropriately, use suitable equipment, follow reasonable safety instructions, respect the space of other dogs and participants, and act responsibly towards members of the public and other animals.
Please tell us before attending if you are concerned about your ability to safely manage your dog in the proposed environment so that we can discuss an appropriate setup.
Unless otherwise agreed, group activities require one capable handler for each dog attending.
9. GROUP ACTIVITIES
Dogs attending group activities have different needs, thresholds and levels of confidence.
Participants must follow reasonable instructions relating to distance, positioning, lead handling, interaction, greetings, long-line use, off-lead activity and safety equipment.
Do not allow your dog to approach another participating dog simply because that dog appears calm or friendly.
Some dogs may require considerably more space than others and may need to walk behind, ahead of or away from the main group.
This is completely acceptable and should be respected.
Participation is based on what the individual dog needs at that time rather than an expectation that every dog should be able to work at the same distance.
10. NEUTRAL WALKS
Neutral Walks are structured group walks designed to help dogs experience being around other dogs and people without pressure to interact.
The emphasis is on emotional regulation, calm coexistence, appropriate distance, engagement, confidence and supporting the individual dog at a level they can manage.
Dogs remain on lead unless specifically advised otherwise by Kent Canine Behaviour.
There is no expectation for dogs to greet or directly interact.
Direct greetings or interactions should not take place unless agreed by the walk leader.
The aim is not for every dog to eventually walk closely together.
Appropriate distance depends on the individual dog and may change throughout the session.
Owners working with another trainer or behaviour professional are welcome to use Neutral Walks as a supportive environment in which to practise skills they are already working on.
Neutral Walks do not replace individual behaviour assessment or support where this is required.
11. SOCIAL FOUNDATIONS
Social Foundations provides a supported environment for dogs developing the skills required to navigate social situations appropriately.
Sessions focus on areas such as emotional regulation, canine communication and body language, confidence, appropriate boundaries, disengagement, moving away, managing arousal, appropriate social interaction and helping dogs learn to make appropriate choices around other dogs.
Social Foundations is not a play group.
There is no expectation that dogs will greet, interact with or play with other dogs.
Dogs may work on lead, long line or, where specifically considered appropriate by Kent Canine Behaviour, off lead.
Appropriate proximity or interaction may be introduced where it is considered suitable for the individual dogs involved.
Kent Canine Behaviour may facilitate, interrupt or prevent interaction according to the dogs' communication, body language, emotional state, arousal and individual needs.
12. SOCIAL WALKS
Social Walks are structured, behaviour-led group walks focused on emotional regulation, appropriate social behaviour, canine communication, confidence, boundaries, disengagement and navigating a social environment.
Social Walks are not play groups.
Dogs do not attend with an expectation that they will greet, play with or directly interact with every other dog.
Appropriate social interaction may occur where it is considered suitable for the individual dogs involved.
Appropriate play may occasionally occur naturally, but play is not the purpose or expectation of Social Walks.
Dogs may walk together, explore, sniff, communicate, move away, disengage, establish appropriate boundaries or simply coexist.
These are all valid elements of canine social behaviour.
Kent Canine Behaviour may allow, interrupt or end an interaction according to the dogs and circumstances presented at that time.
Dogs may participate on lead, long line or off lead depending on their individual needs, the environment and relevant safety considerations.
13. SOCIAL WALK ASSESSMENTS & ONGOING SUITABILITY
A 1:1 assessment is required before joining Social Walks unless Kent Canine Behaviour has already obtained sufficient information and assessment through another appropriate service.
An assessment represents our understanding of the dog and their behaviour at that particular time.
It cannot guarantee how a dog will behave in every future environment or situation.
Suitability for Social Walks is therefore ongoing rather than permanent.
Where a dog's needs or circumstances change, Kent Canine Behaviour may recommend Neutral Walks, Social Foundations, further assessment or 1:1 support before continuing with Social Walks.
This is intended to provide the dog with appropriate support and should not be viewed as a judgement of the dog or owner.
14. CLASSES, PUPPY SERVICES & GROUP TRAINING
Classes and group sessions are structured around the stated purpose of the individual service.
Participants must follow reasonable instructions regarding positioning, equipment, distance, interaction and activities.
Dogs are not required to participate in every exercise.
Activities may be adapted according to the needs of an individual dog or the wider group.
Where a dog is struggling to cope with the group environment, Kent Canine Behaviour may increase distance, adapt an exercise, provide an alternative activity, give the dog time away from the group or recommend a different service.
Behaviour such as barking, vocalising, reacting or needing additional space does not itself mean that a dog has failed or is unsuitable.
Where continued participation would be detrimental to the dog's welfare or present a significant safety concern, we may recommend an alternative arrangement.
15. WORKSHOPS, COURSES & EVENTS
Workshop, course and event content will be described at the time of booking.
Kent Canine Behaviour may make reasonable changes to content, running order, location or activities where necessary, provided that the overall nature and purpose of the booked service remains substantially the same.
Some courses are purchased as a complete block rather than as individual sessions.
Missed sessions within a block cannot necessarily be transferred to another course or refunded and will be dealt with in accordance with our Cancellation & Refund Policy.
Minimum or maximum participant numbers may apply to individual activities.
16. BEHAVIOUR CONSULTATIONS & ASSESSMENTS
Behaviour support is based on the information provided by the owner, observations available to Kent Canine Behaviour and the individual circumstances of the dog.
This may include consideration of the dog's behaviour, emotional state, history, environment, lifestyle, health, pain, learning history, previous experiences, genetics, breed influences and other relevant factors.
Owners are responsible for providing information that is accurate and complete to the best of their knowledge.
Recommendations may change as further information becomes available or as the dog's circumstances and behaviour change.
17. HOME VISITS
Before a home visit, you must tell Kent Canine Behaviour about known risks which may reasonably affect our safety.
This includes relevant behaviour from the dog being assessed, other animals within the property and significant environmental or access risks.
We may ask for particular management arrangements before entering, such as a dog being behind a barrier, on lead or in another area.
Kent Canine Behaviour may decline to enter or may leave a property where an undisclosed or unexpected situation presents a significant safety concern.
Where possible, we will discuss an alternative way of providing support.
18. ONLINE CONSULTATIONS
Online consultations can provide behaviour support, education and guidance without Kent Canine Behaviour being physically present with the dog.
Remote observation has limitations and we cannot necessarily observe every aspect of a dog's behaviour, environment or interactions through video.
You remain responsible for maintaining a safe environment during an online consultation.
You should never deliberately expose your dog to a trigger or unsafe situation simply to demonstrate behaviour during an online consultation.
Kent Canine Behaviour may recommend an in-person assessment, veterinary assessment or another form of support where remote consultation is insufficient.
Technical difficulties will be handled reasonably according to the circumstances.
19. IMPLEMENTING BEHAVIOUR GUIDANCE
Behaviour change generally requires implementation outside the consultation itself.
Owners are responsible for deciding whether and how to implement recommendations and for telling us where advice cannot reasonably or safely be followed.
If you are unsure about an exercise, management strategy or recommendation, please contact us rather than attempting something you believe may be unsafe.
20. PROFESSIONAL SCOPE & VETERINARY REFERRAL
Kent Canine Behaviour provides canine behaviour and training support within our professional scope.
We do not provide veterinary diagnosis, prescribe medication or replace veterinary treatment.
Where behaviour may have an underlying medical component, we may recommend veterinary assessment.
Kent Canine Behaviour may pause behaviour work where we reasonably believe veterinary investigation is required before continuing responsibly.
Where a case falls outside our professional scope, we may recommend referral to or collaboration with another appropriately qualified professional.
21. DOG WALKING & WALK & TRAIN
When a dog is left in the care of Kent Canine Behaviour for Dog Walking, Walk & Train or another owner-absent service, you authorise us to handle and exercise your dog for the purpose of providing the agreed service.
You must provide accurate and up-to-date information about your dog's behaviour, health, medication where relevant, triggers, equipment, handling requirements, escape risks, interactions with dogs, people or other animals and anything else reasonably relevant to their safe care.
You must inform us if any of this information changes.
22. COLLECTION & HOME ACCESS
Where collection or return from your home has been agreed, you authorise Kent Canine Behaviour to access the agreed area of the property for that purpose.
You are responsible for ensuring that access arrangements are accurate, the dog can be collected safely, relevant doors and gates are secure, other household animals are appropriately managed and any necessary alarm or access information has been provided.
Keys, access codes and other access information will be handled using reasonable security measures and in accordance with our Privacy Policy.
Kent Canine Behaviour will not enter areas of your property which are not reasonably necessary for providing the agreed service.
23. TRANSPORT
Where transport forms part of a booked service, you authorise Kent Canine Behaviour to transport your dog.
Reasonable precautions will be taken to transport dogs securely and appropriately.
Dogs may be transported using suitable restraints, crates or other appropriate arrangements depending on the individual dog, vehicle and circumstances.
You must tell us in advance if your dog experiences significant travel anxiety, travel sickness or known behavioural difficulties associated with vehicles.
24. WALK & TRAIN
Walk & Train provides individual behaviour and training support while your dog is handled by Kent Canine Behaviour without the owner necessarily being present.
Sessions are tailored to the individual dog and agreed objectives.
Work may include engagement, confidence, emotional regulation, lead skills, recall, reactivity support, environmental exposure, appropriate social skills and other agreed real-world behaviour or training work.
The planned activity may be changed where the environment, the dog's emotional state or another circumstance means that the original activity is not appropriate on that day.
No specific behavioural outcome is guaranteed.
25. OFF-LEAD PERMISSION
A dog will only be intentionally exercised off lead during an owner-absent service where appropriate permission has been provided and Kent Canine Behaviour considers it reasonably appropriate to do so.
Even where permission has been provided, Kent Canine Behaviour may choose to use a lead or long line instead.
Decisions may take into account recall, behaviour, emotional state, the environment, proximity to roads, livestock or wildlife, other dogs, members of the public, legal restrictions and any other relevant safety factor.
Permission to exercise a dog off lead does not require Kent Canine Behaviour to do so.
26. RETURNING YOUR DOG
Where your dog is returned home while you are absent, Kent Canine Behaviour will follow the agreed return arrangements and take reasonable steps to leave your dog safely and securely in the agreed area.
You are responsible for informing us of any changes to access arrangements or household circumstances.
Dogs may return wet or muddy following outdoor activities.
We will take reasonable steps to make the dog comfortable but cannot guarantee that a dog, their equipment or your home will remain completely clean following outdoor exercise.
27. RIGHT TO MODIFY PARTICIPATION
Dogs can respond differently depending on their health, environment, emotional state and circumstances.
Kent Canine Behaviour may make reasonable changes to how a dog participates where necessary for safety or welfare.
This may include increasing distance, changing position within a group, adapting an exercise, changing lead arrangements, requiring appropriate safety equipment, preventing or ending an interaction, returning a dog to lead, providing time away from a group, changing a planned route, pausing participation or ending participation where reasonably necessary.
Where appropriate, an alternative service or setup may be recommended.
Changing or ending participation does not necessarily mean that a dog is permanently unsuitable for the service.
28. CHILDREN & ADDITIONAL ATTENDEES
Please tell Kent Canine Behaviour before bringing additional people to a session where their attendance has not already been agreed.
Dogs participating in group activities should be handled by a responsible adult unless otherwise agreed in advance.
Children and young people must remain appropriately supervised by their accompanying adult.
Because some dogs attending our services may be fearful, reactive or uncomfortable around unfamiliar people or children, Kent Canine Behaviour may advise that children or additional attendees do not attend a particular session where reasonably necessary for safety or welfare.
Children must not approach, touch or interact with another participant's dog without the owner's permission.
29. BITCHES IN SEASON
Please tell Kent Canine Behaviour if your dog is in season or you believe she may be coming into season.
Whether participation is appropriate will depend upon the service, environment and dogs attending.
We may recommend postponing or changing a group booking where attendance could cause significant stress, distraction or management difficulties.
30. PUBLIC SPACES & ENVIRONMENTAL RISKS
Many Kent Canine Behaviour services take place in public outdoor environments which are not under our exclusive control.
Dogs and handlers may encounter third-party dogs, members of the public, children, cyclists, runners, horses, livestock, wildlife, vehicles, water, vegetation, uneven or slippery terrain, mud, changing weather and other environmental hazards.
Kent Canine Behaviour will take reasonable precautions to manage foreseeable risks associated with the organised activity but cannot control the actions of third parties, wildlife or unexpected external events.
Participants should wear suitable footwear and clothing for the environment and conditions.
31. DOG WASTE & COUNTRYSIDE RESPONSIBILITY
Owners attending with their dogs must clean up after them and dispose of waste responsibly.
Where a dog is directly in the care of Kent Canine Behaviour, we will do so.
Dogs must not knowingly be permitted to chase or harass livestock or wildlife.
Participants must comply with applicable access restrictions, signage and countryside rules.
32. DOGS SUBJECT TO LEGAL RESTRICTIONS
Owners must tell Kent Canine Behaviour if their dog is subject to any legal restriction, exemption, court order or specific legal requirement affecting how the dog may be kept, handled, transported or exercised.
The owner remains responsible for ensuring that all legal requirements applying to their dog are complied with.
Participation will only be possible where the service can be provided consistently with those requirements and any relevant safety or insurance conditions.
Kent Canine Behaviour may request relevant information before confirming whether a particular service is suitable.
33. NO GUARANTEE OF BEHAVIOUR OR OUTCOME
Dogs are sentient animals and behaviour cannot be predicted or guaranteed with absolute certainty.
No assessment, previous behaviour, training session or successful interaction guarantees how a dog will respond in every future situation.
Behaviour may change because of health, pain, emotional state, stress, environment, proximity, arousal, learning, unfamiliar people or dogs and changes in circumstances.
Kent Canine Behaviour does not guarantee a particular behavioural outcome or that reactive, aggressive or other unwanted behaviour will never occur.
34. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF RISK
Working with dogs and participating in outdoor activities involves inherent risks which cannot be completely eliminated.
These may include dog-to-dog incidents, bites or scratches, collisions, slips, trips or falls, interactions with third-party dogs or members of the public, encounters with wildlife or livestock, environmental hazards and unexpected changes in canine behaviour.
Kent Canine Behaviour will take reasonable precautions and manage foreseeable risks associated with the services we provide.
Acknowledging inherent risk does not remove any legal duty owed by Kent Canine Behaviour.
35. RESPONSIBILITY & LIABILITY
During owner-attended activities, owners remain responsible for supervising and handling their dog.
Owners are responsible for loss, injury or damage caused by their dog to the extent that they are legally responsible.
When a dog is directly in our care, Kent Canine Behaviour will exercise reasonable care and skill in providing the service.
Kent Canine Behaviour is not responsible for loss arising solely from circumstances genuinely outside our reasonable control.
Nothing within these Terms & Conditions excludes or restricts liability where doing so would be unlawful, including liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence.
Nothing within these Terms & Conditions affects your statutory rights.
36. VETERINARY EMERGENCIES
Where an owner is present, they remain responsible for decisions concerning veterinary treatment unless circumstances make this impractical.
Where a dog is directly in our care and becomes ill or injured, Kent Canine Behaviour will make reasonable attempts to contact the owner or nominated emergency contact.
Where urgent treatment is reasonably necessary and the owner cannot be reached in time, you authorise Kent Canine Behaviour to seek appropriate veterinary attention in the dog's interests.
The owner remains responsible for veterinary costs unless those costs arise from something for which Kent Canine Behaviour is legally responsible.
Owners are responsible for keeping emergency contact and veterinary information accurate and up to date.
37. WEATHER & ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS
Outdoor services may need to be modified because of extreme heat, storms, ice, snow, flooding, high winds, unsafe ground, access restrictions or other environmental conditions.
Kent Canine Behaviour may change the location, route, duration or structure of an activity where reasonably necessary for safety or welfare.
Where a service cannot safely proceed, it may be postponed or cancelled in accordance with our Cancellation & Refund Policy.
38. CANCELLATIONS, TRANSFERS & REFUNDS
Kent Canine Behaviour operates a standard 48-hour cancellation and rescheduling policy unless different terms are clearly stated when booking a particular course, workshop or event.
Bookings are subject to the Kent Canine Behaviour Cancellation & Refund Policy in force at the time of booking.
The Cancellation & Refund Policy explains the arrangements for late cancellations, no-shows, transfers, courses, workshops, credits, refunds and cancellations made by Kent Canine Behaviour.
Nothing within these Terms & Conditions or our Cancellation & Refund Policy affects statutory cancellation or refund rights which apply to your booking.
39. PHOTOGRAPHY & VIDEO
Photography and video may take place during walks, classes, workshops, events and other Kent Canine Behaviour activities.
Images may be used for educational purposes, documenting our activities, our website, social media and promotion of Kent Canine Behaviour.
We recognise that some clients may not wish themselves or their dog to appear in published material.
Please tell us if you do not wish yourself or your dog to be identifiable in photographs or video published by Kent Canine Behaviour.
We will take reasonable steps to record and respect photography preferences.
Further information about how identifiable photographs and video are handled is contained within our Privacy Policy.
Kent Canine Behaviour cannot control photographs or recordings independently taken by members of the public.
Participants are expected to respect the privacy and reasonable requests of other participants.
40. EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS & INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
Behaviour plans, written guidance, worksheets, handouts, course materials, videos, presentations and other original educational material provided by Kent Canine Behaviour are for the client's personal use unless otherwise stated.
These materials must not be reproduced, sold, published, distributed, used to provide commercial services or presented as another person's work without permission from Kent Canine Behaviour.
Clients may retain and use materials provided to them for their own dog and household.
41. RESPECTFUL & SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT
Kent Canine Behaviour aims to provide a supportive and non-judgemental environment for dogs and their owners.
Dogs attending our services may bark, lunge, vocalise, need additional space or display other behaviours while navigating their environment.
Participants must respect the needs and space of other dogs.
Abusive, threatening, discriminatory or harassing behaviour towards another participant, a member of the public or Kent Canine Behaviour will not be accepted.
Deliberately unsafe behaviour or repeated refusal to follow reasonable safety instructions may result in participation being ended.
Advice or opinions independently offered by another participant do not constitute professional advice from Kent Canine Behaviour.
42. PERSONAL PROPERTY
Participants remain responsible for their own belongings during sessions.
Kent Canine Behaviour will not be responsible for loss or damage to personal belongings where that loss or damage was not caused by our failure to exercise reasonable care.
43. THIRD-PARTY VENUES
Where a service takes place at a third-party venue, participants must comply with reasonable venue rules and restrictions.
Kent Canine Behaviour is not responsible for the acts or omissions of an independent venue provider except where we are legally responsible for them.
If circumstances outside our reasonable control make a venue unavailable, Kent Canine Behaviour may reasonably relocate, postpone or cancel the service.
44. DATA PROTECTION & PRIVACY
Kent Canine Behaviour collects and processes personal information in connection with bookings, client communication, service provision and operation of the business.
How we collect, use, store and share personal information and the rights available to you are explained in our Privacy Policy.
45. CHANGES TO THESE TERMS
Kent Canine Behaviour may update these Terms & Conditions where reasonably necessary to reflect changes in our services, safety practices, business operations or applicable law.
The Terms & Conditions applying to a booking will normally be those provided or made available when that booking was made.
Where a material change affects an existing booking, we will take reasonable steps to bring the change to the client's attention.
46. COMPLAINTS
If you are unhappy with a service, please contact Kent Canine Behaviour as soon as reasonably possible so that we have an opportunity to understand and address your concern.
We will aim to deal with concerns professionally, fairly and reasonably.
47. GOVERNING LAW
These Terms & Conditions are governed by the laws of England and Wales.
Nothing within these Terms & Conditions removes any statutory rights you have as a consumer.