Terms and Conditions

Terms and Conditions for Dog Training Services provided by Scottie Academy

These Terms and Conditions (“Agreement”) govern the relationship between the dog owner (“Client”) and Kathleen Tepperies (“Trainer”) for dog training services provided in the United Kingdom. By signing this Agreement, by way of ticking the box on the registration form, the Client agrees to be bound by the following:

  1. Services Provided

The Trainer agrees to provide professional dog training services geared at potential media work in the future, which may include online or in-person group lessons, behaviour modification, or any other services related to dog training as outlined in the agreement. Completion of all three course levels offering through the Academic Year March to December may result in dogs bring selected for media work but no expressed guarantee of such assignments can be provided by the Trainer or Scottie Club UK.

  1. Payment Terms
  • The Client agrees to pay the full service fee in advance or as agreed upon at the time of booking.
  • Accepted methods of payment include e.g., bank transfer, debit/credit card that are accepted by our payment platform, PayPal.
  • The Trainer reserves the right to withhold services if payment has not been received in full at least 10 days to commencement of the course.
  1. No Refund Policy
  • Once the payment has been made, this agreement is further binding upon the dog trainer and no refunds will be given unless the Client or the dog is unable to attend due to illness, as described below.
  • Illness or Medical Emergency Refunds: If the Client or their dog is unable to attend training due to illness, injury, or medical emergency, a refund or credit for future sessions may be considered, provided the Client submits a valid medical certificate (e.g., a note from a doctor or veterinarian) confirming the illness or injury. Such requests must be made in writing, and the Trainer reserves the right to evaluate the request on a case-by-case basis.
  • Any refund would only pertain to lessons the dog and its owner were unable to attend, not to a full refund of the sum paid for the entire course.
  • Refunds will not be issued for cancellations based on personal reasons or failure to attend a scheduled session unless illness or medical emergency applies.
  1. Rescheduling Policy
  • As all the courses are group tuition, there is no option for individual Clients to reschedule a session. If the trainer requires to reschedule, a notice will be served to all Clients, at least 24 hours in advance.
  1. Safety Rules

The Client agrees to comply with the following safety rules. Although these pertain mostly to in-person training they apply for online tuition when relevant:

  • Health Requirements: The Client is responsible for ensuring that their dog is in good health, has up-to-date vaccinations, and is free of contagious diseases before attending any training sessions.
  • Leash and Control: The Client agrees to maintain control of their dog at all times during training sessions. Dogs must be kept on a leash or harness unless otherwise instructed by the Trainer, and dogs must not exhibit aggressive or dangerous behaviour.
  • Behavioural Disclosure: The Client must disclose any known behavioural issues, including aggression, fear, or anxiety, that could affect the safety of the dog, other dogs, the Trainer, or any other people in attendance. If a dog poses a threat to the safety of others, the Trainer reserves the right to suspend or discontinue the session.
  • Trainer’s Discretion: The Trainer reserves the right to stop a training session at any time if the Trainer believes that continuing the session would jeopardise the safety of the dog, the Client, the Trainer, or any other persons or animals present.
  • Dogs with Aggression: If a dog shows signs of aggression towards other animals or humans during a session, the Trainer reserves the right to stop the session and may decline to continue training with that dog.
  • Liability: The Trainer is not liable for any injury, loss, or damage sustained by the Client, their dog, or any third parties during training sessions. The Client acknowledges that they are fully responsible for their dog’s actions and any resulting damages.
  1. Dog Welfare

The Client agrees that the welfare of the dog is of primary importance. The Trainer will take all reasonable measures to ensure the safety and well-being of the dog during training sessions. However, if the Trainer believes that the dog is unable to safely continue with training, or if the dog’s behaviour presents a significant risk, the Trainer reserves the right to discontinue the training without a refund, except as specified under the illness policy above.

  1. Photography and Media Consent

Online courses are solely recorded by the trainer and Clients are asked to turn on their webcams. In-person courses are solely filmed by the Trainer. The Client consents to the Trainer using photographs and videos taken during training sessions for marketing, promotional, and educational purposes. The Client may request that their dog not be included in media if the owner or other humans can be identified, and the Trainer will make reasonable efforts to accommodate this request. Dogs successfully completing Expert level (“Star”) course will receive a Diploma to mark  the achievement and their photos will be placed in a gallery on Scottie.Academy website.

Clients are prohibited from recording the courses under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) which this website and the Scottie Academy courses respect and to which they comply.

  1. Confidentiality

The Trainer agrees to keep all personal information about the Client and their dog confidential, except when required by law. The Client’s personal details will not be shared with third parties without the Client’s prior consent.

  1. Intellectual Property

All materials, methods, training programmes, and content provided by the Trainer, whether in physical or electronic form, are the intellectual property of the Trainer. The Client agrees not to reproduce, share, or distribute any training materials without prior written consent from the Trainer.

  1. Amendment of Terms

The Trainer reserves the right to modify or update these Terms and Conditions at any time. Any changes will be communicated to the Client in writing, and the Client’s continued use of the Trainer’s services after such modifications constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms.

  1. Role of Scottie Club UK, Complaints procedure

Scottie Club UK promotes the Scottie Academy (www.Scottie.Academy) for the benefit and exclusive use of its Membership. Scottie Club UK derives no financial gain from Scottie.Academy. Scottie Club UK is run by volunteers and is not party to this legal agreement, which is between Client and Trainer.

However, should Clients, the Members of Scottie Club UK, have concerns about how the course is operating, they should bring their concerns to the Trainer in the first instance verbally, if this can be resolved. If it cannot be resolved, the Client is invited to submit a written complaint via email to academy@scottieclub.uk This will be received by both the Trainer and Scottie Club UK. Scottie Club UK will only intervene if the complaint persists and requires adjudication. This adjudication does not affect the Client’s statutory rights.

Pikush Media Scholarship: This is a bursary award to one dog each academic year. The Scholarship’s benefactor is the Matlock family and the decision which gifted Scottish Terrier dog should receive the Scholarship is determined by the trainer. The trainer will review all dogs’ performance with a view to deciding which dog will benefit from the bursary. The decision of the trainer is final and neither the trainer nor Scottie Club UK will enter into any negotiation on the decision.

  1. Governing Law

This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of England and Wales. Any disputes arising from this Agreement shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.

By clicking on the box below, the Client acknowledges and accepts the Terms and Conditions outlined in this agreement. Upon verification of membership of Scottie Club UK, the Client will be required to make full payment for the course no later than 10 days prior to course commencement date, and when payment has been received the above agreement will come into force and become binding on the Trainer as well as the Client.

Terms and Conditions last updated 6 January 2025