SK9 Training World - Standard Terms & Conditions

Please read carefully before booking

  1. Home
  2. Standard Terms and Conditions

Standard Terms & Conditions

Effective date: 07 July 2026

These Terms and Conditions apply to services supplied by SK9 Training World ("SK9", "we", "us", "Trainer") to the client booking the service ("Owner", "you"). They apply to dog training, behaviour services, residential board and train, one-to-one sessions, protection training, grooming and hygiene add-ons, off-site training, consultations and associated services.

By making a booking, signing a booking form or residential agreement, or authorising SK9 to start a service, the Owner agrees to these Terms. The Owner must ensure that every person who will handle, attend sessions with, or collect the dog understands and follows the applicable requirements.

Where a signed Residential Training Agreement, booking confirmation or written programme plan contains dog-specific dates, services, payment deadlines, emergency-contact information or agreed care arrangements, it forms part of these Terms. If there is a direct conflict, the signed dog-specific agreement or written booking confirmation applies to that specific booking, except that these Terms continue to apply to all matters not expressly varied in writing.

1. Booking, Payment, Cancellation and Consumer Rights

1.1 Booking confirmation, advance payment and non-refundable booking deposit
  • A booking is confirmed only when SK9 has accepted it in writing and received the payment or deposit specified for that service.
  • For residential training, a 50% non-refundable booking deposit is required to reserve the residential place unless SK9 confirms a different arrangement in writing. The deposit reserves limited residential capacity, allows SK9 to prepare for the dog and may require SK9 to decline other enquiries.
  • The remaining programme balance is due in full no later than 72 hours before the scheduled residential admission date, unless SK9 confirms a different payment deadline in writing. No dog will be admitted until the residential balance, signed agreement, required documents and required health information have been received and accepted.
  • Any additional charges arising during the final week of a residential stay will be added to the Owner's current invoice and are payable in accordance with clause 1.6.
  • All known charges, including the agreed service balance and pre-booked add-ons, must be paid by the payment deadline stated in the booking confirmation or invoice.
  • Residential places are limited. The Owner acknowledges that SK9 may turn away other bookings once a place is reserved.
  • The Owner must complete, sign and return all required booking, health, veterinary, vaccination, insurance, ownership and residential-agreement documents within 48 hours of receiving them unless SK9 confirms a different deadline in writing. Failure to do so may result in cancellation of the booking, forfeiture of the booking deposit and recovery of reasonable direct losses and costs, subject to the Owner's statutory rights.
1.2 Deposits, cancellations, forfeiture and changes
  • The residential booking deposit is non-refundable. Where the Owner cancels, fails to provide documents, fails to present the dog for admission, provides inaccurate or incomplete information, breaches these Terms, fails to cooperate, fails to collect the dog, refuses necessary additional-care charges or otherwise causes the booking to be cancelled, suspended or terminated, the deposit is forfeited to SK9, subject to the Owner's statutory rights.
  • In addition to forfeiture of the deposit, SK9 may retain sums already paid and recover reasonable losses, costs and charges directly caused by the Owner's cancellation, breach, non-disclosure, failure to cooperate or failure to collect. This may include training already delivered, reserved capacity, preparation, administration, staff time, additional care, hygiene work, veterinary transport, emergency support, lost booking opportunity and any direct loss that cannot reasonably be avoided or replaced. Any retained sum or further charge will be proportionate and subject to the Owner's statutory rights.
  • Any request to move a booking is subject to availability and is not guaranteed. SK9 has the right to charge reasonable administrative or rebooking costs where these arise, minimum of £20.00.
  • For one-to-one sessions, assessments, home visits, consultations and video calls, the relevant fee is due in advance and is non-refundable and non-rescheduable once the appointment is booked and confirmed, except where SK9 agrees otherwise in writing.
  • If SK9 cancels because it cannot provide the booked service for internal or operational reasons, SK9 will offer a reasonable alternative date or refund sums paid for services not supplied.
1.3 Distance and off-premises bookings

Where a statutory cancellation right applies to a booking made by telephone, by email or away from SK9 premises, it is not excluded by these Terms. If the Owner expressly asks SK9 to begin services within any statutory cancellation period, the Owner agrees to pay for the services supplied up to cancellation and any reasonable costs lawfully incurred.

1.4 Vaccination, parasite-control and admission eligibility
  • Dogs will not be admitted without the official vaccination, parasite-control, health and ownership documentation required by SK9 for the booked service.
  • Where SK9 requires vaccination, flea and tick prevention, deworming, kennel-cough protection, microchip details, insurance information, medication instructions or veterinary confirmation, the Owner must provide accurate and current evidence before admission.
  • SK9 may refuse admission, suspend or terminate a service where documents are missing, the dog is unwell, contagious, unsafe to admit, unsuitable for the booked environment, or information supplied is false, misleading or incomplete. In those circumstances, the booking deposit is forfeited and SK9 may recover reasonable costs and losses directly caused by the failure, subject to the Owner's statutory rights.
1.5 Additional charges and express agreement

Optional add-ons, extra trainer time and non-emergency expenses will be explained and confirmed with the Owner before they are provided. The Owner must expressly agree to the charge before SK9 provides the optional service. This does not prevent SK9 from taking reasonable urgent welfare action where delay would risk the dog's welfare.

1.6 Invoices, payment deadlines, refunds and forfeiture of unpaid benefits
  • Additional charges incurred during a residential stay will be notified by invoice, written summary, message or other durable written record.
  • Additional charges are added to the Owner's current invoice as they arise, rather than issued as separate invoices. Unless an earlier deadline is necessary for welfare, veterinary, transport or operational reasons, the updated invoice is due within 24 hours of issue and, in all cases, before final collection and handover.
  • If the Owner disputes a charge, the Owner must identify the specific service and reason in writing within 24 hours without delay. Undisputed sums remain payable by the stated deadline.
  • Where the Owner fails to pay by the stated deadline, SK9 has the right to suspend any non-essential element of the service, including reports, video materials, handover tuition, follow-up support, optional add-ons and programme progression. Any unused non-essential benefit is forfeited where the Owner's breach makes continued delivery impossible, unsafe or commercially unreasonable.
  • Where a refund is due, SK9 will only return it to the same payment source and account it was originally received from. For example, the same bank account name, bank name and account number used to make the original payment. SK9 will not process a refund to a different account, card or payment method. Failure by the Owner to confirm or reconfirm the original payment details within 24 hours of request may delay the refund and may result in forfeiture of any discretionary refund or credit not required by law. This clause does not remove or delay any statutory right to a refund.

2. Service Scope, Owner Responsibilities and Suitability

2.1 Service scope

SK9 provides training and behaviour services within the booked scope. The agreed service, duration, number of dogs, number of handlers and included elements are those confirmed in the booking confirmation, residential agreement or written programme plan. No service guarantees a particular behavioural outcome, title, qualification, certificate, legal status or level of performance.

2.2 Owner information and disclosure

The Owner must provide complete, accurate and current information before booking and throughout the service. This includes the dog's identity, ownership, microchip details, vaccination status, insurance, behaviour history, bite or aggression history, medical history, medication, allergies, diet, season dates, parasite control, grooming needs, skin or coat condition, mobility concerns, veterinary instructions and all information reasonably relevant to welfare or safe training.

False, incomplete, misleading or withheld information may result in refusal of admission, suspension or termination of the service. The Owner remains liable for reasonable costs and losses directly caused by inaccurate or undisclosed information, subject to the Owner's statutory rights.

2.3 Owner cooperation and home follow-through
  • The Owner is responsible for attending compulsory owner or handler sessions, following the training plan and maintaining appropriate handling and management after the service.
  • The Owner must ensure that any nominated handler is physically and practically capable of handling the dog safely and follows SK9 direction.
  • Progress varies between dogs and depends on dog health, history, temperament, environment, consistency and correct follow-through by the Owner and household.
2.4 Conduct, breach and forfeiture

SK9 operates a zero-tolerance approach to abusive, threatening, discriminatory, aggressive or inappropriate conduct towards staff, contractors or other clients. SK9 may suspend or terminate a service where such conduct occurs. Where termination results from Owner conduct or breach, any deposit is forfeited and SK9 may retain payment for services already supplied and recover reasonable further loss, cost or charge directly caused by the breach, subject to the Owner's statutory rights.

2.5 Socialisation, tools and equipment
  • Dogs will be socialised, exposed to other dogs, people or environments only where SK9 considers this appropriate for welfare, safety and the agreed training objective.
  • If the Owner does not want the dog to socialise or be exposed to a specific environment, this must be disclosed before booking. SK9 has the right to decline the booking where that restriction prevents safe or effective delivery.
  • Service prices do not include collars, leads, muzzles, training aids, food, accessories or veterinary items unless expressly stated in writing. SK9 does not endorse any specific supplier of these items.
2.6 Location of service delivery

Unless otherwise agreed in writing, the Owner is responsible for bringing the dog to SK9 Training World's premises for the booked service. Where the Owner requests that the trainer travel to the Owner's home instead, the Owner is responsible for covering all taxi or rideshare (e.g. Uber) fares for the trainer's round trip to and from the Owner's home. Public transport is not used for this purpose.

3. Residential Training, Care and Handover

3.1 Normal residential care

Normal residential care is included only to the extent reasonably necessary for the booked residential programme. It does not include unlimited grooming, intensive cleaning, nursing, medical boarding, isolation, recovery care, specialist diet preparation, repeated medication administration, veterinary attendance or work materially outside the agreed training scope.

3.2 Additional trainer time, off-site work and add-ons

Where the Owner requests or agrees to services outside the booked scope, the current Prices page applies. This may include additional obedience training, extra trainer time, off-site obedience, behaviour or controlled-environment training, nutrition preparation, grooming, hygiene support and additional handover attendees.

For ordinary off-site obedience, behaviour or controlled-environment training, the current published trainer-time rate applies, together with reasonable pre-agreed expenses such as travel, parking, venue entry, dog-entry charges and required venue purchases. Specialist protection-related work is charged at the applicable published protection rate.

3.3 Residential handover attendance

Unless the booking confirmation states otherwise, residential handover includes one dog and one principal owner or handler for a maximum of two hours. Additional participating attendees require prior approval and are charged at the applicable published rate. SK9 has the right to refuse attendance by unapproved persons where this affects safety, welfare, confidentiality, available space or training delivery.

3.4 Dogs in season

SK9 does not accept female dogs in season for residential training or any service where their presence creates a welfare, hygiene, behavioural or operational risk. The Owner must monitor and disclose season dates and notify SK9 immediately if the dog comes into season or is reasonably suspected to be coming into season.

If a dog comes into season during residential training, SK9 may suspend or terminate the placement where this is reasonably necessary. The Owner must arrange prompt collection when requested. Where the Owner did not disclose relevant season information, delays collection or causes the interruption, the booking deposit is forfeited and SK9 may retain payment for services already supplied and recover reasonable direct costs and losses caused by the interruption, subject to the Owner's statutory rights.

3.5 Grooming, hygiene, shedding and cleaning

Routine care does not include materially increased grooming, deshedding, brushing, combing, hygiene treatment, parasite treatment, sanitising, repeated environmental cleaning or extra staff time caused by shedding, coat condition, skin irritation, matting risk, hygiene concerns, owner-requested grooming support or another condition outside normal residential care.

Where this work is needed, SK9 may provide it where safe and appropriate, but the Owner is responsible for the applicable published charges and reasonable direct costs. This may include daily coat maintenance, deshedding treatment, intensive cleaning, additional trainer time, consumables and any veterinary-directed hygiene measures.

4. Additional Welfare, Medication and Veterinary Care

4.1 Additional-care principle

SK9 will take reasonable steps to protect a dog's welfare while the dog is in SK9 care. Where a dog requires additional welfare, medical-support, hygiene, grooming, cleaning, medication, monitoring, isolation, transport or veterinary-related support beyond normal residential care and training, that work is chargeable to the Owner.

4.2 Payment authority for additional welfare and emergency costs

For residential training, the Owner must provide a valid payment method and authorise SK9 to invoice reasonable additional welfare, hygiene, grooming, medication, veterinary-transport, veterinary-attendance, emergency-care, consumables and related direct costs incurred for the dog during the stay. Any emergency spending limit recorded in the residential agreement does not prevent SK9 from arranging urgent welfare action above that limit where a veterinary professional advises that delay would risk the dog's welfare. The Owner remains liable for all reasonable resulting costs.

The Owner agrees that failure to respond, refusal to approve a necessary charge, being abroad, being unavailable, failure to provide payment authorisation or failure to provide an emergency contact does not make the additional care or emergency welfare action free of charge.

4.3 Examples of chargeable additional care

Examples include medication administration, skin irritation, itching, allergy flare-ups, excessive shedding, intensive brushing or combing, parasite treatment, wound monitoring, dietary preparation, vomiting, diarrhoea, infection-control measures, recovery restrictions, increased supervision, veterinary transport, veterinary attendance, isolation, additional environmental cleaning, consumables and additional staffing. The list is not exhaustive.

4.4 Veterinary responsibility and emergency authority

The Owner remains responsible for all veterinary consultation fees, examination fees, diagnostics, medication, treatment, emergency treatment, hospitalisation, follow-up, transport, parking, mileage and related expenses. The Owner must provide current veterinary and emergency-contact details and must respond promptly to requests for instructions or payment.

Where SK9 reasonably believes veterinary advice or treatment is needed, SK9 will make reasonable efforts to contact the Owner or emergency contact. If the Owner is unavailable, abroad, fails to respond, refuses or delays a decision, fails to provide payment authorisation, or cannot be contacted in a reasonable time, SK9 has the right to obtain veterinary advice or arrange urgent treatment where reasonably necessary to protect welfare. Urgent welfare action will not be delayed solely because contact or payment authorisation has not been obtained. The Owner remains liable for the resulting reasonable costs.

4.5 Care outside safe scope or capacity

SK9 has the right to continue or arrange reasonable care where safe and appropriate, and has the right to require the Owner to arrange collection, veterinary admission or other suitable support if the dog's needs fall outside SK9 competence, capacity, insurance cover, premises capability, staffing level, veterinary direction or the agreed service scope. This does not make the additional care free of charge.

4.6 Failure to cooperate

Failure by the Owner to respond, approve a non-emergency charge, provide veterinary instructions, provide an emergency contact, arrange collection or pay an invoice does not remove the Owner's responsibility for reasonable costs incurred. SK9 has the right to suspend non-essential training elements, amend the programme, require collection or terminate the placement where continued provision is not safe, appropriate or commercially workable.

5. Collection, Unpaid Charges and Continued Stay

5.1 Payment before final handover

All outstanding residential balances and approved additional charges must be paid in full before the scheduled final handover. SK9 has the right to suspend non-essential handover tuition, written reports, video materials, follow-up support and optional programme elements until the account is settled. Nothing in this clause removes SK9's duty to take reasonable welfare steps while the dog remains in its care.

5.2 Failure to collect

Where the Owner is required to collect the dog, or fails to collect by the agreed collection date and time, SK9 may continue reasonable welfare care only where continued accommodation is safe, lawful, within capacity and appropriate for the dog's welfare. Continued accommodation is not free of charge.

From expiry of the written collection deadline, the published Emergency Extended Residential Training charge applies at £175.00 per calendar day on weekdays and £225.00 per calendar day on weekends and Bank Holidays, in addition to all applicable additional-care, grooming, hygiene, medication, veterinary, transport, mileage, cleaning, isolation, staffing and welfare-support charges.

5.3 Direct loss caused by failure to collect or cooperate

Where the Owner's failure to collect, respond, approve necessary care or cooperate causes SK9 to cancel, delay, move or refund another confirmed booking, the Owner may be liable for reasonable direct losses actually incurred and evidenced by SK9. This may include an actual refund issued to an affected client, lost booking revenue that could not reasonably be replaced, additional staffing, emergency boarding, transport, cleaning and administration costs. Any charge will be proportionate and subject to the Owner's statutory rights.

5.4 Unpaid sums, forfeiture and debt recovery

Failure to pay does not make additional welfare, grooming, hygiene, medication, veterinary-support, transport, cleaning, trainer-time or continued-care services free of charge. Where non-payment is a breach of these Terms, any booking deposit remains forfeited and SK9 may recover unpaid sums through written demand, mediation, debt-recovery procedures or court proceedings. Interest, court fees and reasonable recovery costs may be claimed where legally recoverable.

5.5 No automatic ownership transfer

SK9 will not transfer ownership, rehome, surrender, sell, dispose of or permanently transfer a dog solely because charges are unpaid without first obtaining legal advice and following the lawful process applicable at that time. The Owner remains responsible for the dog and all reasonable costs while it remains in SK9 care.

6. Protection Dog Training

6.1 Assessment-led entry

Protection dog training is available only to dogs and handlers who complete SK9's Protection Suitability & Handler Assessment and receive a suitable written outcome. SK9 has the right to decline, defer, require foundation obedience or behaviour work first, or stop an assessment or programme where welfare, safety, legal-responsibility, household, handling or suitability concerns arise.

6.2 No certificates, titles or unlawful use

SK9 does not issue IGP titles, Schutzhund titles, protection licences, legal certificates or guarantees. SK9 does not provide uncontrolled aggression training, intimidation training, retaliatory training or training for unlawful activity. Protection programmes require compulsory owner or handler involvement and may include ongoing maintenance requirements.

7. Media, Recording and Data

7.1 Training records and session recording

SK9 may create photographs, videos, written notes and other records of the dog and training sessions, whether on-site or off-site, for training documentation, safety, quality control, staff development, dispute resolution and legal purposes. These records may be retained securely for as long as reasonably necessary. Continuing with a booked service confirms the Owner's acceptance of this essential documentation and safety recording; it is not conditional on the separate marketing consent described below.

7.2 Use of Dog Training Media for Marketing

SK9 may use photographs, video, written training updates and other media showing the dog only for website, social media, promotional, educational and marketing purposes, provided that SK9 reasonably removes, obscures or avoids publishing identifiable personal information about the Owner, household members, visitors, children, address, telephone number, email address or other private information.

8. Liability, Force Majeure and Legal Rights

8.1 Standard of care and inherent risk

SK9 will perform services with reasonable care and skill. Dogs are living animals and training, travel, exercise, social exposure and residential care carry inherent risks, including illness, injury, stress, behavioural regression, escape attempts, property damage or incidents caused by undisclosed history, owner-provided equipment, third parties or circumstances outside SK9 reasonable control.

8.2 Liability limits, negligence and gross negligence

To the fullest extent permitted by law, SK9 is not liable for losses that were not reasonably foreseeable, or losses caused by inaccurate or withheld Owner information, failure to follow the training plan, Owner or third-party acts or omissions, the dog's pre-existing condition, veterinary advice or treatment, or circumstances outside SK9's reasonable control. Nothing in these Terms excludes SK9's responsibility to perform services with reasonable care and skill. SK9 shall not be liable for illness, injury, loss, damage, delay or failure except to the extent directly caused by SK9's negligence, gross negligence, wilful misconduct or breach of a legal duty that cannot lawfully be excluded or limited.

Nothing in these Terms excludes or limits liability that cannot lawfully be excluded or limited, including liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence, fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation, or the Owner’s statutory consumer rights.

8.3 Force majeure

SK9 is not responsible for delay or inability to perform caused by events outside reasonable control, including severe weather, road closures, illness, emergency veterinary requirements, utility or technical failures, government restrictions, public-health events, accidents or emergencies. SK9 will take reasonable steps to minimise disruption and discuss a reasonable alternative where possible.

8.4 Complaints and dispute resolution

The Owner should raise concerns promptly in writing, with supporting information where available, so SK9 has a fair opportunity to investigate and resolve the issue. If a dispute cannot be resolved informally, the parties may consider mediation before formal proceedings.

8.5 Governing law

These Terms are governed by the laws of England and Wales. Any dispute will be subject to the jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales, subject to any mandatory legal rights that apply.

9. Final Acknowledgement

By proceeding with a booking, payment, signed agreement or commencement of service, the Owner confirms that they have read, understood and accepted these Terms and Conditions, including the non-refundable booking-deposit, forfeiture, payment, documentation, additional-care, veterinary-cost, collection, debt-recovery and liability provisions, together with the Owner's responsibility for accurate disclosure and compliance with the agreed training plan.

Nothing in these Terms excludes or restricts any statutory right or remedy that cannot lawfully be excluded or restricted.