Terms & Conditions

YoPaws provides dog training, coaching, education and assistance-dog related services, which may include:

• Private dog training and coaching
• Puppy and early-development education
• Behaviour guidance and support
• Owner-trainer coaching
• Group classes and programs
• Community and real-world training
• Assistance dog pathway support
• Consultations and assessments
• Workshops, seminars and educational activities
• Online education and training resources

The exact nature and scope of a service will depend on the service purchased, the individual dog and handler, and any separate service agreement or booking conditions that apply.

Dogs and people are individuals. Training, behavioural and developmental outcomes cannot be guaranteed.

YoPaws uses ethical, force-free and reward-based approaches informed by behavioural science, welfare, relationship building and practical real-world learning.

Training may include positive reinforcement, classical and operant conditioning, desensitisation, counter-conditioning, environmental management and reinforcement-based behaviour modification.

YoPaws takes a welfare-focused and LIMA-informed approach (Least Intrusive, Minimally Aversive).

We do not use or support training based on fear, intimidation, unnecessary force or pain, including the use of shock/electronic collars or prong collars within YoPaws training.

The physical, emotional and behavioural wellbeing of the dog is considered throughout training, alongside the safety, wellbeing, capacity and needs of the human involved.

A dog will not be expected to continue an exercise simply for the sake of completing it where YoPaws reasonably considers that continuing would compromise the dog’s welfare, cause unnecessary distress or create an unreasonable safety concern.

Training may be adapted, paused or discontinued according to the individual dog’s behaviour, emotional state, physical condition, environment and ability to participate.

Force-free and welfare-focused handling is expected during YoPaws services.

YoPaws may intervene, modify an activity, provide additional space, recommend an alternative activity or end participation where there are reasonable concerns regarding welfare or safety.

Participants are also expected to behave respectfully towards trainers, other participants, venue staff and members of the public.

YoPaws recognises that people learn, communicate, process information and participate differently.

We aim to provide a disability-aware and supportive learning environment and recognise that a person’s disability, physical capacity, sensory needs, communication preferences or other circumstances may affect how they participate in training.

Clients are encouraged to let us know about reasonable adjustments that may help them participate.

We will make reasonable efforts to accommodate individual needs where practicable. Adjustments may depend on the activity, venue, safety requirements, available resources and the needs of other participants.

Clients are responsible for:

• Providing accurate and relevant information about their dog’s behaviour, health and history.
• Advising YoPaws of known behavioural, medical or safety concerns that could affect participation.
• Appropriately supervising and managing their dog.
• Following reasonable safety, welfare, training and venue instructions.
• Using appropriate equipment and handling practices.
• Respecting other participants, dogs, staff, venues and members of the public.

Unless otherwise provided by law or specifically agreed, owners and handlers remain responsible for their dog while participating in YoPaws activities.

Dogs participating in YoPaws activities must be medically fit to participate and meet any health or vaccination requirements communicated for the particular service or program.

Please do not bring a dog to an in-person activity if they are unwell, displaying signs of an infectious illness or if attendance may create an unreasonable health or safety risk to other dogs or people.

YoPaws may request evidence of vaccination, veterinary advice or veterinary clearance where reasonably appropriate.

Where a dog cannot attend because of illness, the applicable cancellation, package or group-program conditions will apply.

Payment is required before services commence unless another arrangement has been agreed with YoPaws.

Payment arrangements may include:

• Casual session payments
• Full package payments
• Group program or event payments
• Approved payment plans
• Approved third-party or plan-managed arrangements

A booking is not necessarily secured until any required payment, deposit or booking process has been completed.

Where a payment plan has been approved, future services may be paused if payments become overdue.

YoPaws has limited appointment availability. To allow appointments to be offered to other clients, at least 72 hours’ notice is required to cancel or reschedule a private session.

Cancellations or requests to reschedule made with less than 72 hours’ notice may result in the full session fee being charged or the session being forfeited.

No-shows will generally result in the full session fee being charged or the session being forfeited.

YoPaws may, at its discretion, make reasonable exceptions in circumstances such as genuine emergencies, illness or other significant unforeseen circumstances. An exception is not guaranteed and will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Repeated cancellations, rescheduling or missed appointments may result in future bookings being limited, advance payment being required, or alternative booking arrangements being put in place.

If you are running late, please contact YoPaws as soon as reasonably possible.

Sessions will normally finish at the originally scheduled time so that later clients are not affected.

Arrivals more than 15 minutes late may be treated as a missed session where there is insufficient time to safely or meaningfully proceed.

Training packages are designed to support continuity and progression rather than operate as a collection of unrelated casual sessions.

• Unless otherwise specified, packages are valid for 6 months from commencement.
• Clients are encouraged to book sessions in advance.
• Appointment times remain subject to availability.
• Unused sessions after the package expiry date may be forfeited unless another arrangement has been agreed.

If a client chooses to discontinue a package early, services already provided may be reconciled against the equivalent casual service rate where this formed part of the package conditions.

Package fees are generally non-refundable once the package has commenced, subject to rights and remedies that cannot lawfully be excluded.

Places may be intentionally limited to provide an appropriate and supportive learning environment.

Please choose carefully before booking. We do not generally provide refunds, credits or individual make-up sessions for change of mind, inability to attend, late arrival or individual classes missed by a participant.

Missing one or more classes does not entitle the participant to a partial refund for the program.

Classes involve dogs and humans with different personalities, learning histories, abilities and developmental needs. Activities may therefore be adapted for individual teams.

Participants must follow reasonable instructions relating to dog handling, spacing, safety, welfare and use of the training environment.

YoPaws may modify a dog’s participation or an activity where reasonably necessary for the welfare or safety of the dog, handler, trainer, other participants or members of the public.

Nothing in this section limits rights or remedies that cannot lawfully be excluded under Australian Consumer Law.

Training will generally proceed where conditions are considered suitable and safe.

Outdoor, community and real-world components are subject to weather, environmental conditions and safety considerations.

An activity may be modified, moved indoors, postponed, shortened or replaced with another appropriate training activity where conditions are unsuitable.

A change to an outdoor or real-world component because of weather or safety considerations does not automatically constitute cancellation of the class or overall program.

Occasionally YoPaws may need to change a class, appointment or activity because of circumstances such as trainer illness, venue availability, weather, safety concerns, organiser or venue requirements or circumstances outside our reasonable control.

This may include changes to the date, time, location, format, trainer or planned activity.

Where a service cannot reasonably proceed as planned, YoPaws may reschedule the affected service or make another reasonable arrangement.

Participants will be notified as soon as reasonably practicable.

Where YoPaws cancels a paid service and cannot provide the service, an appropriate replacement or a reasonable rescheduled service, applicable consumer rights will apply.

Workshops, seminars, community activities, excursions, familiarisation sessions and special training experiences may have additional conditions specific to the activity.

These may include venue requirements, participant eligibility, safety requirements, weather arrangements, booking deadlines or cancellation conditions.

Any additional conditions clearly displayed on the relevant booking, event or product page form part of the conditions applying to that booking.

Unless otherwise stated, participant no-shows and change-of-mind cancellations are generally non-refundable and non-transferable, subject to rights that cannot lawfully be excluded.

Assistance dog development is an individual process involving both the dog and handler.

Participation in puppy training, general dog training, community training, coaching or education does not itself assess, certify or guarantee that a dog will be suitable for assistance dog work.

Where a client wishes to explore an assistance dog pathway, further consultation, assessment, training and/or other requirements may be recommended.

YoPaws cannot guarantee assistance dog suitability, Public Access Test outcomes, public access readiness, accreditation, certification or that a particular dog will ultimately be suitable for assistance dog work.

Recommendations may change as the dog develops or as further information becomes available. The welfare of the dog and handler remains fundamental when considering whether an assistance dog pathway should continue.

YoPaws cannot guarantee a particular training, behavioural, developmental or assistance-dog outcome.

Progress may be influenced by many factors outside YoPaws’ control, including:

• Genetics and temperament
• Physical and medical health
• Previous learning history
• Development and maturity
• Environment and lifestyle
• Practice between sessions
• Handler capacity and consistency
• Unexpected life or environmental changes

Recommendations are based on the information and observations reasonably available at the time and may change as the dog, handler or circumstances change.

YoPaws may occasionally take photographs or video during training sessions, classes, events and community activities.

Wherever reasonably practicable, YoPaws aims to focus promotional photography and media on dogs rather than identifiable people.

Participants will be given an opportunity to let YoPaws know if they do not wish photography or recording to take place. Permission may be provided verbally or in writing for a particular session, activity or event.

Participants may withdraw permission for future photography or recording at any time by notifying YoPaws. This will apply from the time the request is received.

Participants may also request removal of previously published material. A request does not automatically require immediate or retrospective removal of material that was created or published while permission was in place.

YoPaws will consider removal requests reasonably, including the nature of the material, where and how it has been used, whether an identifiable person is shown, any genuine privacy, safety or welfare concerns and whether removal is reasonably practicable.

Where YoPaws agrees that previously published material should be removed, a reasonable period may be required to locate, update or remove the material across relevant platforms.

Where YoPaws considers that continued use creates a genuine privacy, safety or welfare concern, reasonable steps will be taken to address the material as soon as reasonably practicable.

Removal of previously published material is otherwise at YoPaws’ reasonable discretion, subject to applicable law.

YoPaws cannot guarantee the removal of copies that have already been shared, downloaded, reproduced, cached or otherwise retained by third parties outside YoPaws’ control.

Where a separate YoPaws Media Licence or Release has been agreed, the terms of that agreement will also apply.

Unless otherwise stated, private sessions conducted on ACT or Australian public holidays may incur a 20% surcharge.

For package clients, the surcharge applies only to services actually scheduled on a public holiday rather than to the entire package.

Working with dogs and participating in animal training activities carries inherent risks.

Clients remain responsible for appropriately supervising and managing their dog and for following reasonable safety, welfare and training instructions.

To the extent permitted by law, YoPaws is not responsible for loss, damage or injury caused by circumstances outside its reasonable control or by a participant’s failure to follow reasonable safety or handling instructions.

YoPaws may collect and maintain information reasonably necessary for service delivery, communication, safety, administration and record keeping.

This may include information about the client, handler, dog, training history, goals, behaviour and other information relevant to providing the service.

Information will not be disclosed except where reasonably required for service delivery, authorised by the client, required or permitted by law, or otherwise managed in accordance with applicable privacy obligations.

YoPaws may update these Terms & Conditions from time to time to reflect changes to services, policies, business practices or legal requirements.

The terms applicable to a particular booking or purchase will be determined in accordance with applicable law and the conditions provided at the relevant time.

If something in these terms is unclear, or you need to discuss circumstances affecting your booking, please contact YoPaws.

YoPaws
Canberra, ACT
Email: hello@yopaws.com.au
Website: yopaws.com.au