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Terms & Conditions

Dog Walking, Dog Sitting & Dog Training

Please read these Terms and Conditions carefully before booking any service with Thinking Dogs. By making a booking, you acknowledge that you have read, understood and fully accept these terms.

These terms cover all services provided by Thinking Dogs, including:

  • Dog Walking

  • Dog Sitting

  • Dog Training

  • Puppy Training

Where specific service rules apply, they are set out in the relevant section below.

1.  Services Provided

Thinking Dog provides the following services in North London, including Muswell Hill, Hornsey and surrounding areas:

  • Dog walking: Individual or group walks, as agreed.

  • Dog sitting: In-home visits or overnight stays, as agreed.

  • Dog training: One-to-one training, puppy training and behavioural consultations.

The specific service, session or visit length, location, frequency and fees will be confirmed at the time of booking.

2.  Booking & Confirmation

  • A booking is confirmed when you receive confirmation from us (by email, text or other message).

  • Some services may require a preliminary consultation, assessment or meet-and-greet before services begin (especially for training and sitting).

  • You must provide accurate contact details and information about your dog, including:

    • Name, breed, age and temperament

    • Medical conditions, medications and special needs

    • Behavioural issues (e.g. aggression, anxiety, fear)

    • Vet contact details

    • Emergency contact details

3.  Fees & Payment

  • Fees for each service are as confirmed at the time of booking.

  • Payment terms:

    • Full payment is required unless otherwise agreed in writing.

    • Payment may be required at the time of booking, before the service starts, or as agreed (e.g. deposit plus balance).

  • We accept payment by bank transfer or cash.

  • If you fail to pay as agreed, we may suspend or cancel services and may charge reasonable costs for chasing unpaid fees.

4.  Cancellations & Changes

Your cancellations:

  • You may cancel or request to change a booking by contacting us at thinkingdogs@yahoo.co.uk or 07356 226 855.

  • Cancellation notice required:

    • At least [e.g. 48 hours] before the scheduled service: no charge.

    • Less than [e.g. 48 hours] before the scheduled service: we may charge [e.g. 50% or 100%] of the fee.

Our cancellations:

  • If we need to cancel or reschedule a service for reasons within our control, we will offer you:

    • A replacement service, or

    • A refund as appropriate.

Late arrivals:

  • If you are late for a training session or meet-and-greet:

    • We may still start at the scheduled time.

    • The session duration will not be extended, and you will still be charged the full fee.

5.  Refunds

  • Refunds are only given where:

    • We cancel a service and cannot offer a suitable replacement.

    • There is a specific refund arrangement agreed in writing (e.g. for a package of sessions or visits).

  • Deposits or non-refundable elements (if applicable) will be clearly stated at the time of booking.

6.  Your Responsibilities as Dog Owner

You agree to:

  • Ensure your dog is fit for the service and does not have untreated medical conditions that could affect safety.

  • Provide appropriate equipment (e.g. collar, harness, lead, muzzle if required, bedding, food, toys).

  • Keep your dog under control and in a safe condition during walks, visits or training.

  • Inform us of any aggressive behaviour, health issues, medications or special needs.

  • Follow training advice and instructions given by us as reasonably required.

  • Ensure your dog is up to date with vaccinations and parasite control where relevant.

If your dog is not under control, is aggressive without warning, or is unsafe for the service, we may stop the service and charge the full fee.

7.  Dog Walking - Specific Terms

  • Walk type (individual or group), duration, route and grouping will be confirmed at booking.

  • We will aim to keep your dog safe and comfortable, but:

    • We cannot control other dogs, people, wildlife or environmental conditions.

    • Minor risks such as stubbing a paw, picking up mud, or brief exposure to other dogs cannot always be avoided.

  • If your dog shows signs of illness, injury or distress during a walk, we will:

    • Stop the walk if necessary.

    • Contact you and, if appropriate, your vet or emergency services.

    • You agree to cooperate and cover reasonable costs where appropriate.

  • Group walks:

    • Not all dogs may be suitable for group walks. We may recommend individual walks if needed.

    • You accept that there are inherent risks in any dog-to-dog interaction.

8.  Dog Sitting - Specific Terms

Services may include:

  • In-home visits (e.g. feeding, walking, play, medication).

  • Overnight stays (as agreed).

You agree to:

  • Provide a safe, clean and suitable environment for your dog.

  • Provide all necessary food, water, bedding, equipment and medications.

  • Allow reasonable access to your home as agreed.

  • Inform us of any security issues, keys, alarms or special access instructions.

If you need to change the sit dates or times, the cancellation rules in section 4 apply.

In the event of an emergency (e.g. your dog’s health, fire, break-in), we will:

  • Contact you and, if necessary, your vet or emergency services.

  • Take reasonable steps to protect your dog and property.

  • You agree to cover reasonable costs incurred in an emergency.

9.  Dog Training - Specific Terms

Training services may include:

  • One-to-one training sessions

  • Puppy training sessions

  • Behavioural consultations

General advice:

  • Training advice given in person, by email, or in our blog or website content is for general information only.

  • It is not a substitute for a personalised assessment unless specifically agreed as part of a booked service.

No guarantee of results:

  • Training outcomes depend on many factors, including:

    • Your dog’s history, age, health and temperament.

    • Your consistency in applying training methods.

    • Environmental factors.

  • We do not guarantee specific behavioural results unless such results are agreed separately in writing as part of a specific service package.

10.  Health, Safety & Welfare

  • We follow safe and responsible practices and aim to use positive reinforcement methods where appropriate.

  • We are not responsible for any pre-existing medical conditions, behavioural issues or injuries that arise from your dog’s own health or history, unless caused by our negligence.

  • If an emergency occurs involving your dog’s health or welfare, we may contact you, your vet or emergency services. You agree to cooperate and cover reasonable costs where appropriate.

11.  Liability & Insurance

  • Thinking Dogs holds public liability insurance and professional indemnity insurance (details available on request).

  • To the extent permitted by law, we are not liable for:Any loss, injury, damage or other consequence arising from:

  • Your dog’s behaviour, health or history.

  • Your use of general advice (including blog or website content) without a personalised assessment.

  • Any indirect or consequential loss.

  • Any act, omission or circumstance beyond our reasonable control.

  • This does not exclude or limit any rights you may have under UK law, including rights relating to negligence, death, personal injury or fraud.

12.  Confidentiality & Data Protection

  • We will treat your personal information in accordance with our Privacy Notice, which is available on this website.

  • We may keep records of walks, visits, sessions, notes and progress for professional purposes.

  • We will not share your personal information with third parties unless required by law, for safety reasons, or with your consent.

13. Photos, Videos & Social Media

  • Unless you give explicit consent, we will not use photos or videos of your dog or you for promotional purposes.

  • If you agree, we may use photos, videos or testimonials for our website, social media or marketing. You may withdraw consent at any time.

14.  Changes to These Terms

  • We may update these Terms and Conditions from time to time. The version in force at the time of your booking will apply. Any changes will be posted on this page.

15.  Governing Law

  • These terms are governed by the laws of England and Wales. Any disputes will be subject to the jurisdiction of England and Wales.

16.  Contact Detail

If you have any questions about these Terms and Conditions, please contact Thinking Dogs:​

​​📞    07356 226 855

📧   thinkingdogs@yahoo.co.uk

Last updated:  June 2026

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