Padfoot Animal Behaviour — Terms of Service

Effective date: 9 October 2026

1. Application and acceptance

These terms apply to products and services supplied by Leighton Davis Pty Ltd trading as Padfoot Animal Behaviour (“Padfoot”, “we”, “us” or “our”).

They cover group training courses, private training, behaviour assessments, follow-up consultations, Walk & Train, service packages, Life Membership, learning resources and training equipment.

By enrolling, booking or purchasing after being provided with these terms, you agree to them. Your agreement also includes the description of your purchase and any additional conditions disclosed before purchase. An individually agreed written variation takes precedence over a conflicting provision.

You must be at least 18 years old and be the dog’s owner or authorised by the owner to arrange the service and make decisions about the dog. If you make the booking, you are responsible for payment and your obligations under these terms.

Services and entitlements are personal to the registered client and enrolled dog. They cannot be transferred without our written agreement.

2. Australian Consumer Law

Our goods and services come with guarantees and rights under Australian Consumer Law that cannot be excluded.

Nothing in these terms excludes, restricts or modifies a consumer guarantee, statutory remedy or other right or liability that cannot lawfully be excluded, restricted or modified.

Every non-refundable purchase, cancellation charge, forfeiture, liability limitation and indemnity in these terms is subject to this section.

We do not provide refunds merely because you change your mind, do not use a service, or experience a change in personal circumstances, except where expressly stated in these terms.

Where a service has a minor failure that can be remedied, we are entitled to an opportunity to remedy it within a reasonable time. Your rights where there is a major failure, or a failure is not remedied as required by law, remain unaffected.

3. Booking, payment and pricing

Your purchase covers only the goods, services and inclusions described at the time of purchase.

Prices are in Australian dollars and include GST where applicable. Additional travel, delivery or other charges will be disclosed before you agree to them.

Payment must be made by the deadline specified at checkout or in your booking confirmation. Unless we agree otherwise, full payment is required before the service begins. We may release an unpaid booking after the communicated payment deadline.

A booking is confirmed when we issue confirmation following the required payment or an agreed payment arrangement. Please check the service, dates, address and other details promptly.

Payment-provider and instalment arrangements are separate agreements between you and the provider. They do not expand or reduce your rights against Padfoot.

Discounts must be redeemed according to the conditions disclosed when offered. They cannot be combined unless expressly permitted.

4. Your disclosure obligations

You must provide accurate and complete information about yourself, your dog and the circumstances relevant to our services.

Before we handle your dog or provide a service, you must disclose any known:

Bite, attack or injury history, including incidents involving people or animals.
Aggression, guarding, significant fear, anxiety or handling sensitivity.
Escape behaviour or difficulty controlling the dog.
Illness, injury, medication or veterinary restriction.
Dangerous, menacing or restricted-dog declaration, or other legal requirement affecting the dog.
Circumstance that may place a trainer, another client, an animal or a member of the public at risk.

Disclosure is required even if an incident occurred only once, did not require medical treatment, or happened in circumstances you consider unlikely to recur.

You must promptly update us if relevant information changes. Completing a questionnaire does not remove your obligation to disclose additional relevant information.

You must not deliberately expose a person or animal to a known risk to demonstrate your dog’s behaviour.

We may rely on the information you provide, while exercising the professional care required of us.

5. Suitability and service scope

Group courses and Walk & Train are not suitable for every dog. Significant aggression, fear, anxiety, distress or safety concerns may require a behaviour assessment or veterinary input before participation.

We may decline, pause or modify participation where reasonably necessary for safety, animal welfare or compliance with law. We may recommend a different service, handling arrangement or management measure.

Any additional paid service requires your agreement. A recommendation does not oblige you to purchase it.

If we cannot provide the booked service safely, we will explain the concern and discuss alternatives. The treatment of unused fees will depend on the circumstances, including whether material information was withheld, and sections 2 and 10.

6. Group courses: cancellation and missed sessions

Cancellation before commencement

For a separately purchased group course, we provide a full refund if we receive your cancellation at least 48 hours before the scheduled first session.

Cancellations received less than 48 hours before the scheduled first session are non-refundable, subject to sections 2 and 10.

A transfer requested for personal convenience is subject to our agreement and availability. It is not an automatic entitlement.

The medically validated deferral policy in section 7 applies separately.

Cancellation after commencement

A course commences when its first scheduled session begins, whether or not you attend.

Once the course has commenced, we do not provide refunds for voluntary withdrawal, change of mind, non-attendance or changes in your personal circumstances, subject to sections 2 and 10.

Enrolment reserves a place for the complete course. Missed sessions do not create an entitlement to a refund, credit, restart, replacement class or private appointment.

Any discretionary make-up arrangement is subject to availability and our written agreement. Providing an exception on one occasion does not create an entitlement on another.

These attendance and cancellation conditions also apply to course bookings redeemed through packages, subject to the relevant package terms.

7. Medically validated course deferral

If your dog is unwell or injured before the course begins, and a veterinarian confirms that attendance is medically inappropriate, we will defer commencement without a deferral fee.

Notify us as soon as reasonably possible, preferably before the first session. If an acute condition prevents advance notice, contact us promptly afterwards.

You must provide a veterinary certificate or written veterinary confirmation identifying the dog and confirming that the condition prevented attendance at commencement. We may reasonably request an expected recovery date or confirmation of fitness to return.

Your course entitlement will be transferred to a suitable later course with an available place once your dog is fit to attend. We will agree an appropriate commencement date where recovery is prolonged.

Deferral preserves your course entitlement. It does not create a cash refund entitlement or allow transfer to another dog or person without our agreement.

This policy also applies to an included Foundation course purchased through a package or Life Membership.

If your dog becomes unwell after commencement, do not bring them to class. Contact us to discuss available arrangements. There is no automatic entitlement to restart, replacement sessions or a refund, subject to section 2.

8. Appointments: cancellation, rescheduling and non-attendance

This section applies to private training, behaviour assessments, follow-up consultations and Walk & Train appointments, including appointments redeemed through a package.

With at least 24 hours’ notice before the scheduled start, you may reschedule without a cancellation charge or cancel for a refund of the appointment fee. For an appointment included in a package, the entitlement remains available for rebooking rather than generating a separate cash refund.

Appointments cancelled less than 24 hours before their scheduled start are non-refundable, subject to sections 2 and 10.

A rescheduling request received within that period is treated as cancellation of the original appointment. A replacement requires a new booking and payment unless we agree otherwise.

The same policy applies if you:

Do not attend or are unavailable for a telephone appointment.
Fail to provide agreed access to the dog or premises.
Provide an incorrect address that prevents delivery.
Present an unsafe situation that prevents the appointment proceeding because of your material failure to disclose information or follow agreed safety arrangements.

For a prepaid package, a late-cancelled or missed appointment uses one session entitlement, subject to section 10. We will not also impose a separate cancellation fee for that session.

Illness or other personal circumstances do not automatically waive the appointment cancellation policy. Any exception must be agreed with us.

If you are late, the appointment ordinarily finishes at the scheduled time. We are not obliged to extend it.

9. Service packages

Packages include only the goods and services described at purchase. Follow the supplied redemption instructions when booking included services.

Course and appointment cancellation conditions apply to the relevant components.

Any expiry date or additional redemption condition must be disclosed before purchase. We will not retrospectively introduce an expiry date for an existing entitlement.

Packages are not refundable for change of mind or personal circumstances, subject to sections 2 and 10. Unused entitlements remain available under the agreed package conditions.

If a refund is required by law, we may account for goods and services already supplied and any lawful cancellation charge. Component values will be those disclosed at purchase or, if not specified, a reasonable proportionate allocation of the package price.

We will not impose an undisclosed fee or recover the same amount twice.

Life Membership is governed by section 11.

10. Cancellation charges and retained fees

Our cancellation conditions protect course places, appointment time and resources reserved for clients.

Any amount retained because of cancellation, withdrawal or non-attendance must be lawful and reasonably necessary to protect our legitimate interests.

Where relevant, we will account for services already supplied, reasonable preparation and administration costs, lost booking revenue, costs avoided and replacement bookings.

We will reduce a charge or refund an excess where retaining the full amount would exceed our reasonable net loss or otherwise be unlawful. We will not recover the same loss twice.

This section applies to cancellation charges, withheld unused package fees and forfeited session entitlements. It does not create a general change-of-mind refund entitlement or restrict a statutory remedy.

11. Life Membership

Duration

Life Membership continues for the lifetime of the enrolled dog or for as long as Padfoot is able to offer Life Membership classes, whichever ends sooner.

It is attached to the enrolled dog and registered member household. It does not continue for a replacement dog and cannot be transferred to another dog or household without our written agreement.

Life Membership is not a promise that Padfoot will operate indefinitely.

Our ability to offer membership classes may end because of permanent business closure, the permanent cessation of the group training service, or a genuine operational, legal, health or venue constraint that prevents us continuing classes after reasonable consideration of practicable alternatives.

An ordinary temporary interruption or reasonable timetable change does not, by itself, end membership. We will not arbitrarily terminate the service to avoid existing obligations.

Inclusions and attendance

Membership includes one appropriate group class per week under the member timetable, subject to notified breaks and temporary interruptions.

Foundation must be completed before progression to higher-level member classes. Where Foundation has not already been completed, it is included as described at purchase. Any graduate discount applies according to its disclosed conditions.

Member classes are separate from Foundation course cohorts. Individual member sessions do not require booking.

Membership does not include private training, behaviour assessments, Walk & Train, equipment or additional services unless expressly stated at purchase.

Refunds and ending membership

Life Membership is non-refundable for change of mind or personal circumstances, including non-attendance, relocation, rehoming, illness or death of the enrolled dog.

No refund, credit or reimbursement is provided for individual member classes you do not attend.

When membership ends under the duration provision above, there is no contractual entitlement to a refund solely because it has ended. Any refund, compensation or other remedy required by Australian Consumer Law or another applicable law remains available.

If we cease offering membership classes, we will notify members as early as reasonably practicable and explain any applicable arrangements or statutory remedies.

This duration provision applies to memberships purchased on or after the effective date. Existing memberships retain the terms applicable when purchased unless a lawful variation is agreed.

12. Health, handling and participation rules

Do not present a dog that is unwell, potentially infectious or medically unfit to participate.

Follow your veterinarian’s advice about vaccination, parasite control and readiness for group attendance. Group courses are for suitable dogs aged at least 12 weeks.

Unless your dog has been expressly handed into our care, you remain responsible for supervising and controlling them throughout attendance, including arrival, departure and time around the venue.

You must:

Keep your dog on lead unless a trainer expressly directs otherwise.
Maintain appropriate distance from other dogs and people.
Prevent unapproved greetings, approaches or contact.
Use suitable, serviceable equipment and follow handling instructions.
Follow any agreed muzzle or additional management requirement.
Supervise accompanying children and prevent unsafe interactions.
Promptly report an incident, injury, escape or emerging safety concern.

Wear suitable footwear and clothing. Do not attend under the influence of alcohol or drugs that impair safe participation.

Abusive, threatening, discriminatory or deliberately disruptive conduct is not permitted.

13. Suspension and termination

We may immediately pause or end participation where reasonably necessary to address an imminent safety or welfare risk.

We may suspend or terminate a booking, package or membership for:

A serious or repeated breach of safety instructions.
Materially false, misleading or withheld information about relevant risks.
Threatening or abusive conduct.
Non-payment after a communicated payment deadline.
Unlawful conduct affecting the service.
A material breach that is not remedied within a reasonable period after notice, where capable of remedy.

Where practicable, we will explain the concern and allow an opportunity to address it. Immediate action may be necessary for a serious incident or imminent risk.

Suspension or termination does not automatically require a refund where it results from your breach. Any amount retained must comply with sections 2 and 10.

We may decline future bookings on reasonable safety, welfare or operational grounds, subject to applicable law.

14. Behaviour assessments and training outcomes

Our services provide training, assessment and management advice within the scope described at purchase.

You must complete requested questionnaires and provide relevant information in time for the appointment. If you do not, we may proceed using the available information or discuss rescheduling under section 8.

Advice is based on the information available and, where applicable, observations during the consultation. Telephone assessments have limitations and may require additional direct observation or veterinary input.

Outcomes depend on your dog’s health, history, environment and consistent implementation. We do not guarantee a cure, elimination of risk, particular performance standard or completion timeframe unless expressly agreed.

A written plan or completion of training does not certify that a dog is safe in every circumstance. Continue appropriate supervision and risk management.

Our services do not replace veterinary diagnosis, treatment or emergency assistance. Changes in behaviour, pain or suspected illness should be discussed with a veterinarian.

These provisions do not exclude an applicable consumer guarantee.

15. Walk & Train and dogs in our care

Walk & Train provides trainer-led practice of agreed skills. It is not boarding or an emergency service.

Provide safe access, secure handover and return arrangements, an emergency contact and relevant veterinary details. Be available for the initial handover unless we agree otherwise.

Disclose collection hazards, including unsecured animals, defective gates and unsafe access.

We will exercise reasonable care when handling your dog. Where transport is agreed, we will use appropriate restraint.

You authorise us to obtain reasonably necessary urgent veterinary assistance if your dog becomes ill or injured in our care. We will make reasonable efforts to contact you first where doing so will not compromise welfare.

You are responsible for reasonable veterinary costs associated with your dog’s condition, except to the extent Padfoot is legally responsible.

If collection or return arrangements fail, we may arrange reasonably necessary temporary care after attempting to contact you. You are responsible for reasonable additional costs attributable to your failure to comply with the agreed arrangements, except to the extent caused by us.

We will follow applicable law when dealing with an uncollected animal.

16. Dog-related injury, damage and indemnity

Your responsibilities

You must take reasonable steps to prevent your dog injuring a person or animal, escaping, or damaging property.

You are responsible for the acts and omissions of people you authorise to handle your dog or attend on your behalf, to the extent reasonably within your control.

Indemnity

To the extent permitted by law, you indemnify Padfoot against reasonable losses, liabilities, damages, expenses and third-party claims arising from injury, death or property damage caused by your dog, to the extent attributable to:

Your negligent, reckless or unlawful act or omission.
Your breach of these terms or reasonable safety instructions.
Your failure to disclose a known or reasonably apparent material risk.
Your failure to exercise reasonable control or supervision while the dog remains in your charge.
Corresponding conduct by a person you authorise to handle the dog or attend on your behalf.

This indemnity includes reasonable amounts Padfoot is legally required to pay to an injured person or property owner, reasonably incurred medical or veterinary expenses, property repair costs and reasonable legal costs of responding to or defending a covered claim.

It applies to incidents involving trainers, staff, contractors, other clients, accompanying people, members of the public and other animals, including during arrival and departure.

Limits and claim handling

The indemnity does not apply to the extent a loss is caused or contributed to by the negligence, unlawful conduct or breach of contract of Padfoot or a person for whom Padfoot is legally responsible.

It does not make you automatically responsible for every incident solely because your dog was involved.

We will notify you promptly of a claim for which we seek indemnification, provide reasonable information and take reasonable steps to mitigate loss. You must reasonably cooperate with the investigation and lawful defence of the claim.

We will not agree to a settlement that imposes liability on you without your written consent, which must not be unreasonably withheld, unless the amount is independently determined by a court or tribunal.

This indemnity survives completion or termination of the service for incidents occurring during the agreement.

17. Changes, postponements and cancellations by Padfoot

We may make reasonable changes to trainers, timetables, class groupings or venues while maintaining the substance of the service purchased.

We may postpone delivery because of unsafe weather, staff illness, venue closure, government restrictions or another circumstance preventing safe or lawful delivery.

We will give notice as promptly as reasonably practicable and offer appropriate replacement arrangements. You must keep your contact details current and check communicated updates before attending.

For member updates, check Padfoot EdZone. If you cannot access Facebook, contact us to arrange another means of receiving updates.

If we cannot supply a paid service within a reasonable time, or propose a materially different substitute, we will provide any refund or other remedy required by law. We will not treat a materially different service as accepted merely because we offered it.

Life Membership duration is addressed in section 11.

18. Equipment and other goods

Prices and delivery charges are disclosed before purchase. If an item is unavailable, we will offer an agreed alternative or refund.

We do not offer change-of-mind refunds for goods.

An incorrect-size exchange may be requested within 14 days of purchase if the goods are unused, undamaged and returned with proof of purchase. You pay reasonable return and replacement postage for a change-of-mind exchange.

These conditions do not restrict remedies for defective goods or other consumer-guarantee failures.

Inspect equipment before every use, including rope integrity, fittings and knots. Use it only as instructed and stop using damaged or unsuitable equipment.

You remain responsible for selecting equipment suitable for your dog where you have not sought and relied on our advice. This does not exclude liability for defective goods or negligent advice.

19. Privacy and permission to use images and recordings

We handle personal information in accordance with our Privacy Policy and applicable law.

By enrolling, booking or purchasing a service after this permission has been clearly brought to your attention, you give Padfoot permission to photograph, film or record you and your dog during service delivery, and to use that material for training, educational and promotional purposes, unless you separately give us specific written instructions not to do so.

Permitted uses include Padfoot’s website, social media, digital advertising, printed promotional materials and learning resources. Online material may be publicly accessible and shared by others.

Permission includes reasonable editing, cropping and reproduction. You are not entitled to payment for authorised use.

You may opt out when enrolling or at any later time by sending written instructions through our published contact channels. You may specify that you do not permit recording, promotional use, or particular uses. Opting out does not affect access to the service.

We will record and honour your instructions. Please also alert the trainer before a session if an opt-out may not yet have been communicated to them.

A purchaser cannot consent for another adult unless authorised to do so. Identifiable accompanying adults must receive the notice and agree to the permission themselves. Identifiable material featuring a child requires consent from an authorised parent or guardian.

We will not publish your contact details, confidential case information or full name without additional permission. We will not knowingly use material in a misleading, defamatory or humiliating way.

Withdrawal of permission applies to future recording and use. We will stop new uses and take reasonable steps to remove relevant material from channels we control. We cannot guarantee recovery of printed material already distributed or copies independently shared by third parties.

We will obtain any additional consent required by law for a particular recording or use. This clause does not authorise recording private conversations unrelated to the service.

20. Learning materials and intellectual property

Padfoot retains intellectual property rights in its course resources, training materials, written plans and recordings, except for rights owned by others.

You receive permission to use supplied materials for your own dog’s training and care.

You may share an individual behaviour plan with household carers, your veterinarian and professionals involved in the dog’s care. You must not sell, publicly distribute, commercially reproduce or use our materials to deliver competing services without written permission.

You must obtain permission before recording trainers or other clients, or publishing identifiable material featuring them.

21. Risk and limitation of liability

Dogs can behave unpredictably. Participation involves risks such as bites, scratches, falls, collisions, escape and injury to animals or people.

You must take reasonable care, comply with safety instructions and assess your own ability to participate. Inform us of relevant participation needs or limitations.

Acknowledging these risks does not waive a right that cannot lawfully be waived.

To the extent permitted by law, Padfoot is not responsible for loss to the extent caused by your negligence, unlawful conduct, material non-disclosure, failure to follow reasonable instructions, or use of advice or equipment contrary to its communicated purpose.

We do not assume responsibility for services supplied by independent veterinarians or other providers merely because we recommend them. This does not exclude responsibility for our own negligent recommendation or other legal obligations.

Nothing in this section excludes liability for Padfoot’s negligence, breach of a consumer guarantee or another liability that cannot lawfully be excluded.

22. Contact, notices and complaints

Use the contact details published on our website, message 0490 118 881 on WhatsApp, or use the cancellation facility identified in your booking confirmation.

Cancellation notice is measured when it reaches the designated contact channel or is successfully recorded by the booking system, rather than when we read it. Keep evidence of submission.

Dates and cancellation deadlines use Sunshine Coast time: Australian Eastern Standard Time, UTC+10.

For complaints, provide your name, purchase details, the concern and the outcome sought. We will acknowledge the complaint promptly and seek a reasonable resolution.

Nothing prevents you approaching Queensland’s Office of Fair Trading or pursuing an available legal remedy.

23. General provisions

These terms and the agreed purchase details form the agreement for the relevant purchase. They do not exclude liability for misleading representations or other statutory obligations.

Updated website terms apply to future purchases. They do not retrospectively remove existing contractual rights unless a lawful variation is agreed.

A discretionary concession, delayed enforcement or failure to enforce a provision on one occasion does not waive our right to apply it subsequently.

If a provision is unenforceable, it is severed to the extent necessary and the remaining provisions continue where legally possible.

Queensland law and applicable Commonwealth law govern the agreement. The parties submit to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of Queensland courts and tribunals, without restricting any jurisdiction or remedy available under mandatory law.