Key Facts:  Life Skills Foundation Course

Overview:  Our Life Skills Foundations classes are designed to give your dog the best possible grounding in everyday skills. Six self-contained sessions run on a rolling weekly rotation, so you can join at any point — there is no fixed start date and no need to attend in a set order. Classes are open to dogs of all ages, from newly vaccinated puppies to adolescents and adult dogs who need foundation work. Sessions are kept small (maximum six dogs) and use modern, reward-based training methods throughout. All bookings are subject to a screening questionnaire to ensure the class is right for you and your dog.

When:  Sessions run weekly, each lasting approximately 60 minutes. There are no fixed course start dates — new dogs can join at any session in the rotation. Days, times, and any scheduled breaks will be advertised in advance.

Where:  At a community venue in the Staffordshire area (confirmed on booking).

Who can attend:

• Your dog must be fully vaccinated (you may be asked to show your vaccination card at any session).
• Your dog must be up to date with flea and worm treatment.
• Your dog must not be in season and must not be ill.
• The person handling the dog must be at least 18 years old and must be the legal owner or primary caregiver.
• A maximum of two people per dog may attend. Any children attending must be at least 8 years of age.
• Children aged 8–17 must be accompanied and supervised by a responsible adult at all times. They must not approach other dogs or disrupt the learning environment. The instructor reserves the right to ask that disruptive children do not attend future sessions.

What you need to do to prepare:

□    Complete the screening questionnaire (provided at booking) at least one week prior to your first booked session;

□    Ensure your dog is fully vaccinated, flea-treated, and wormed;

□    Read the welcome pack sent to you on booking (this includes important initial dog training information you need to learn before you attend);

□    Bring your dog in a well-fitting harness and/or flat collar with a standard fixed-length lead (not a flexi lead);

□    Bring plenty of small, high-value treats;

□    Ensure you have provided a current mobile telephone number so we can contact you if needed;

□    Read the safety and equipment information below.

What we will do:

• Each session covers a pair of foundation life skills. The six sessions run on a rolling rotation, so you can join at any point and pick up the remaining skills as the cycle comes round.
• You will receive a dog training manual and homework handouts each week to practise at home between sessions.
• Before your first session, you will receive a welcome pack, explaining our training approach, the hierarchy of rewards, and how dogs learn. A short introductory video may also be included.
• If your dog is not settling into the group environment after two sessions, we will discuss this with you. At the instructor’s discretion, you may be transitioned to one-to-one training sessions or a behaviour consultation instead, with the remaining balance of your course fee credited toward the cost of those sessions.

A note on off-lead play

There is no off-lead play during sessions. With dogs of mixed ages and sizes working together, off-lead play creates welfare risks that we are not prepared to take. Each dog works within their own pod space throughout the session, unless specifically directed otherwise by your dog training instructor.

Equipment:

Permitted: Well-fitting harnesses and/or flat collars. Muzzles are welcome and encouraged if your dog needs one (must be well-fitting and the basket-style muzzle ewith adequate panting room).

Not permitted: Choke chains, check chains, prong collars, shock collars, anti-bark collars, electronic training collars, citronella collars, slip leads, or any other device the instructor reasonably considers aversive. Flexi (retractable) leads are not permitted to avoid injury to others. Head collars are not permitted to avoid injury and distraction during training — if you feel your dog requires a head collar, please discuss this with your instructor beforehand. If you currently use any of the above, please let us know and we can help you transition to appropriate alternatives. We reserve the right to refuse entry if you arrive with prohibited equipment and decline to use an alternative; no refund will be offered.

Training methods:  Second Nature Behaviour uses only modern, evidence-based, reward-based and ethical training techniques. The use of physical force, shouting, rough handling, intimidation, or any other form of punishment-based training is strictly prohibited. Any participant using such methods will be asked to stop immediately and may be asked to leave the class without refund.

Safety for you and your pet:  Please note that if the following precautions are not followed, we reserve the right to ask you to leave the class and retain the fees.

• Keep your dog on a lead at all times unless directed otherwise by the instructor.
• Please keep your dog at least 2 metres (approximately 6 feet) away from other dogs at all times unless instructed otherwise. The other dogs may be nervous or over-excited and need space.
• Follow the instructor’s directions at all times. The instructor reserves the right to ask any participant to leave the class if, in their reasonable judgement, continuing would compromise the safety or welfare of any person, dog, or the learning environment.
• Any information regarding your pet’s health and/or existing medical conditions or treatment must be disclosed prior to any session. Where relevant, any health issues regarding you, the handler, should also be disclosed.
• Any information regarding behaviour issues in relation to your pet MUST be freely disclosed — for example, fear, anxiety, reactivity, aggression, or your pet’s previous behaviour history. Failure to do so could cause serious harm to your pet, you, the instructor, or other participants.
• If your pet is in season or showing signs of ill health (such as vomiting, diarrhoea, coughing, lethargy), please do not attend. Contact us and we will discuss options with you.
• You are responsible for cleaning up after your dog should they toilet during the class.
• Second Nature Behaviour does not endorse the use of physical punitive correction. For more information, please see our Animal Welfare Policy at www.secondnature.bio/animal-welfare-policy.pdf
• In emergency situations for your animal, please call your normal practice vet straightaway.

Suitability and screening:  Because the Life Skills Foundations class is open to dogs of all ages, the screening questionnaire is a vital part of the booking process. It covers areas including reactivity (to dogs, people, or noises), resource guarding, bite history, fear or anxiety severity, recent life changes, your primary goals, and any prior class experience.

Our classes are not suitable for dogs with significant behaviour problems such as severe reactivity on walks, separation anxiety, or fearful behaviour around people or other dogs. If you need support with your dog or puppy’s behaviour concerns, please book a behaviour consultation with us instead. If you’re unsure whether our classes are right for you, please get in touch.

If screening identifies concerns that go beyond foundation skills training, we will discuss this with you and may recommend a one-to-one training session or a behaviour consultation instead. Occasionally, we may also find during the sessions that a class environment does not suit a particular dog or handler. In such cases, a full discussion will be undertaken with you, and again alternative arrangements will be offered.  Any unused pre-paid credit will be applied toward the cost of this alternative support.

Our priority is always the welfare and progress of your dog.

Recording and photography:  By attending, you consent to Second Nature Behaviour taking photos, videos, or audio recordings during training sessions for use on our company website, social media, and for the creation of demonstration videos, tutorials, or other educational material. If you do not wish to be photographed or recorded, please inform the instructor before the class begins and reasonable steps will be taken to accommodate your request. Participants must not photograph, record, or film other participants, their dogs, or the instructor without express permission.

How to get the best results:  Dogs learn best with short, frequent practice sessions at home between classes. Please work through your homework handouts each week. Consistency is key — everyone in the household should follow the same approach. Be patient; every dog develops at their own pace. If you are struggling with anything between classes, please get in touch and we will help.

Cost and payment terms:  All fees quoted include VAT.

Basic fee for the 6-week course: £150, payable in full at the time of booking. Pre-paid session credits are valid for 6 months from the date of purchase.If payment has not been received via the booking system or bank transfer, your place will not be held. The price advertised at the time of booking will apply.

Other costs: You may need to incur expenses such as leads, harnesses, treat pouches, or other training equipment. Second Nature Behaviour Ltd does not receive any benefits or commission by recommending particular equipment.

Refunds and cancellations:

We keep to a tight timetable so as to arrange our resources for the day. Regrettably, we only provide refunds in exceptional circumstances, which unfortunately excludes you or your dog being ill, or no longer being in your possession. The full fee of our dog training course is due even if you choose not to go ahead with all aspects of the service or disagree with our advice. If you do not fully disclose all information we request of you or if you do not comply with our terms outlined above, we reserve the right to cancel our service to you and retain the full course fee.

Your 14-day cooling-off right:  As this is a distance contract, you have 14 calendar days from the date of booking to cancel for a full refund by emailing info@secondnature.bio. If the course begins within the cooling-off period and you have requested that services commence, you will pay for any classes already delivered. If the full course has been delivered within the cooling-off period, your cancellation rights are lost. Refunds will be processed within 14 days of receiving your cancellation notice.

Cancellation of the entire course by you:  If you cancel with at least 14 days’ notice before the start of the course, you may transfer your place to a future course (subject to availability) or receive a credit note. No cash refund will be issued outside of the cooling-off period. If you fail to attend without giving at least 14 days’ notice, the full fee is retained. No refund, transfer, or credit will be offered. 

Cancellation of a booked session by you:  If you cancel a booked class/session with at least a week’s notice, you may rebook for a future session (subject to availability) or, if you have pre-paid, retain the credit for use within the validity period (6 months from the date of booking).  If you fail to attend without giving adequate notice, the session fee is retained. No refund, transfer, or credit will be offered for a no-show.

Cancellation by us:  If a class cannot go ahead due to circumstances outside the instructor’s control (including but not limited to illness, extreme weather, flooding, vehicle breakdown, traffic incidents, road closures, or other unforeseen events), you will be contacted as soon as reasonably possible. Alternative arrangements may include running the class online or postponing to a different date. If the rescheduled date or alternative format is not suitable for you, a credit note or transfer to a future course will be offered. If Second Nature Behaviour cancels and is unable to offer any reasonable alternative, a full refund will be issued. Please ensure you have provided a current mobile telephone number so that any cancellations can be communicated promptly.

Transition to one-to-one:  If, at the instructor’s discretion, your dog is transitioned from the group class to one-to-one training sessions or a behaviour consultation, the remaining balance of your course fee will be credited toward the cost of those sessions. No refund will be made for classes already attended.