Group Class Policies

*COVID-19 GATHERING REQUIREMENTS

Following recommendations of the CDC, all participants in our in-person classes will be required to wear masks AT ALL TIMES when on The Canine Connection property and maintain at least 6' of distance between them and all other persons not in their own family groups. Participants will be expected to sanitize hands prior to entering the building at our sanitizing station and upon leaving. Class participants will be limited to those registered for class (two persons per dog maximum), with no additional guests permitted. Due to potential disruptions to seating arrangements, those arriving late to class may not be admitted.

No person who is ill or is in close contact with anyone who is ill should attend a class session (videos of class exercises are available to help people follow along if they can not attend class). Any person with obvious symptoms of being ill (e.g. coughing, sniffling) will not be admitted to class. Video of class sessions will be available to view so those absent can make a session up online. We appreciate your understanding as we try to do our part to keep our community safe during this difficult time.

Refunds

Refunds are issued prior to class if, and only if, we can fill your place in class, and have ample time (minimum of three business days) to do so. Should we be able to issue you a refund for these reasons, a 10% processing fee is charged. If you paid by check, 10 or more days must have passed since your check was deposited before a refund will be issued. 

We regret that we are unable to refund any portion of the class fees once class has commenced with our first session. If something unexpected makes it impossible for you to continue with class once you have started class with the first session, we will do our best to accommodate you in an upcoming class, space permitting (usually not ascertained until after that class begins). Usually, spaces are not available for many months, if at all. For these reasons, please think seriously about your schedule and commitment to training, and your dog’s suitability for group classes, before enrolling in our classes. If you are not sure if your dog is a suitable candidate for a group class, please contact us before you register for class so we can schedule an evaluation.

Make-Up Sessions

We realize that unexpected events can occasionally cause people to miss a lesson. We are usually able to get people caught up on missed material at the next class. If you would like to schedule a separate make-up session, these are charged at the hourly rate for private lessons.

Children

We encourage family members who will be participating in training your dog to attend class. However, for the safety of dogs and people we do not typically permit children under the age of twelve (12) to attend training classes without special consideration of your situation and the nature of the class. We have found that the attention span of young children can be shorter than that of puppies and dogs, and we want their parents to be able to fully concentrate on the class.

If you would like your child to attend class and participate in your dog’s training, please call us to discuss your situation. Children can be good trainers but they do require special consideration in a class situation.

All minors (under 18) must be accompanied by a parent, legal guardian, or have written permission from a parent or guardian to attend with another adult who will serve as the minor’s guardian during class.

Multiple Dogs

For reasons of safety, we do not allow a single handler to bring multiple dogs to class. If you have multiple dogs, please ensure that you have multiple handlers – one for each dog.

Training Method

Our training method is based on the principles of positive reinforcement. Therefore, we do not permit the use of choke, prong (pinch), or electronic collars in class. We reserve the right to dismiss any participant from class, without refunding any portion of the class fee, if they persist in treating their dogs in ways that might cause physical or psychological harm.

Vaccinations and Flea Control

Vaccinations MUST have been administered by a licensed veterinarian or at a veterinary office.  Documentation of vaccinations is required to hold your dog's spot in class. For dogs 4 months and older: Your dog must be current on rabies, DHPP (distemper-parvo), bordetella, and canine flu vaccinations to participate in class. Your dog must also have documentation of a clear fecal test. For dogs under 4 months old: Your puppy must have received two DHPP (distemper-parvo), bordetella, and the first of canine flu vaccination before your dog participates in class. Your puppy must also have documentation of a clear fecal test. For all dogs: We require that your dogs vaccinations be administered at a veterinary office. We require all dogs to be flea free and on an effective flea control.