terms & conditions

last updated october 2026

1. about these terms

These Terms & Conditions apply to training, coaching, courses, classes, resources and related services provided by Bear Basics Canine Academy (“Bear Basics”, “we”, “us” or “our”).

Bear Basics Canine Academy is the trading name of Bear Basics Canine Academy Ltd, trading from 24 Littlewood Crescent, Wakefield, West Yorkshire, WF15FJ. You can contact us at info@bearbasicscanineacademy.co.uk.

These terms apply when you submit an application, accept a place, make a payment, attend a session or course, access the Bear Basics Hub, or otherwise use our services. Service-specific information shown on the relevant programme page, application form, invoice, booking confirmation or written offer also forms part of the agreement. If there is a conflict, the service-specific information applies to that service.

Nothing in these terms removes or limits rights that cannot legally be excluded.

2. our services and training approach

Bear Basics provides practical owner-and-dog training. Our services may include Calm By Nature, 1:1 Gundog Training, Gundog Foundations, future group gundog classes, online coaching, the Bear Basics Hub and related resources.

Training is not veterinary, medical or legal advice, and we do not diagnose medical conditions. If your dog is unwell, in pain, has a sudden change in behaviour or needs clinical behavioural support, please seek appropriate veterinary or specialist advice. We may recommend that you pause, postpone or choose a different service where that is safer or more appropriate.

Dogs and owners learn at different rates. We do not promise a particular behavioural outcome, a fixed timescale, complete reliability in every environment, or that a dog will never chase, pull, bark, bite, react or ignore a cue. Any written service-specific guarantee applies only where it is clearly offered for that service and is in addition to your legal rights.

3. applications, suitability and accepting a place

Some services, including Gundog Foundations, require an application before a place is offered. Submitting an application does not reserve or confirm a place.

We assess applications to help protect the safety, welfare and learning experience of everyone in a small group. Please give accurate, complete and up-to-date information about your dog’s age, health, behaviour, history and ability to work near other dogs. We may ask for further information, suggest a different Bear Basics route or decline an application where we reasonably believe the service is not currently suitable.

For Gundog Foundations, dogs must be at least six months old on the first course date and must be able to work safely in a small group setting. A place is confirmed only when we have offered it and received the required full payment by the stated deadline.

4. prices, payment and payment deadlines

Prices are stated in pounds sterling and include VAT where applicable. The price, what is included and the payment deadline will be shown on the relevant page, invoice or booking confirmation.

Where payment is due after an offer of a place, the invoice must be paid in full by the stated deadline. If it is not paid by that time, we may withdraw the offer and offer the place to another suitable applicant.

Where a payment plan is expressly offered, you remain responsible for the full agreed programme fee in line with the plan. If you use a third-party payment provider, that provider’s terms also apply to your payment arrangement.

5. gundog foundations and other fixed-date courses

Gundog Foundations is a fixed-date owner-and-dog course. The specific dates, times, location area, price, inclusions and course-level eligibility requirements will be stated before payment.

Unless otherwise confirmed in writing, a Gundog Foundations place includes the scheduled owner-and-dog sessions, course handbook, stated equipment bundle, weekly homework, relevant Bear Basics Hub videos and access to the private course WhatsApp group for the course duration. The content of any equipment bundle will be confirmed in the course information. Course places are personal and cannot be transferred without our written approval.

If you need to cancel a confirmed fixed-date course place, tell us in writing as soon as possible. Unless different terms were clearly shown before you paid:

ancellation more than 14 calendar days before the first course session will receive a full refund;
cancellation 14 calendar days or fewer before the first course session is non-refundable, because the place is limited and preparation may already have begun; and
if we are able to fill the cancelled place before the course begins, we may offer a refund or credit after deducting reasonable, non-recoverable costs already incurred for the place, such as personalised course materials, equipment, payment processing or administration.

Missed individual course sessions cannot be refunded, transferred or carried forward. We do not guarantee individual catch-up sessions. You may still use the included homework and Hub resources for the stated access period.

If Bear Basics cancels a whole course before it begins, you may choose a full refund or a transfer to a future course where one is available. If we need to postpone an individual session because of weather, venue access, safety, trainer illness or circumstances outside our reasonable control, we will make reasonable efforts to arrange a replacement session. If a suitable replacement is not reasonably possible, we will discuss a proportionate remedy for the affected session.

6. calm by nature and 1:1 training

calm by nature

Calm By Nature is Bear Basics’ eight-week private coaching programme for pet-gundog owners. It is a supported programme, not a pay-as-you-go arrangement or a collection of individual sessions.

Unless different service-specific information is confirmed in writing when you enrol, Calm By Nature includes:

five private coaching sessions, delivered online or in person as agreed;
a personalised training roadmap built around the priorities agreed for you and your dog;
access to the Bear Basics Hub and the relevant Calm By Nature resources for the stated programme-access period;
weekday WhatsApp video feedback and coaching during the programme, within the support boundaries explained at onboarding;
live group support and community access where included in the current programme; and
the stated training equipment bundle for eligible UK clients, where this is included in your booking.

The current programme price, payment options, exact access period, support hours and any equipment-bundle details will be confirmed before you enrol. Your place is confirmed only when the agreed payment or payment-plan arrangement has been completed.

Calm By Nature requires your participation across the eight weeks. You agree to attend the five private sessions, follow the agreed training plan as reasonably possible, complete agreed check-ins and contact us if you are unsure how to proceed. A decision not to continue, a change of circumstances, lack of participation or a failure to use the available support does not automatically release you from an agreed payment commitment or create a right to a refund.

Where a Calm By Nature money-back guarantee is offered in the programme information, it applies only to the eight-week programme and only on the terms stated below. To make a guarantee request, you must have engaged with the agreed plan, attended the five private sessions unless we agreed a reasonable adjustment, completed the agreed check-ins and communicated promptly when you needed help. You must send the request to info@bearbasicscanineacademy.co.uk within 14 days of the programme end date. We will review progress against the agreed starting point, priorities and measures of progress, and aim to give a written response within 14 days. The guarantee does not apply solely because you change your mind after meaningful progress has been made. It is in addition to your legal rights.

1:1 gundog training and focused sessions

The format, investment, inclusions and cancellation terms for 1:1 Gundog Training, focused 1:1 sessions and online coaching are the terms shown for the service when you apply, book or accept a written offer.

For pre-booked 1:1 appointments, please give at least 48 hours’ notice if you need to cancel or rearrange. A cancellation or non-attendance within 48 hours may be treated as used and may not be refundable or transferable. We will consider genuine emergencies reasonably but cannot guarantee a rearrangement.

7. hub access, resources and whatsapp groups

Hub access, videos, handbooks and other resources are supplied for your personal use in connection with the booked service. They must not be copied, downloaded where downloading is not enabled, shared, sold, recorded, republished or made available to anyone else without our written permission.

Access to the Bear Basics Hub, Calm By Nature WhatsApp coaching and any private course WhatsApp group lasts only for the period stated for your service. We may remove access at the end of that period or earlier if there is serious misuse, harassment, sharing of protected content, a safety concern or a material breach of these terms.

A course WhatsApp group is optional. By choosing to join it, you understand that other group members can see your phone number, profile name and any information you choose to share. Please keep group communication respectful, relevant to the course and confidential. Do not share another participant’s personal information, images, videos or messages outside the group without their permission.

8. attendance, health, welfare and safety

You remain responsible for your dog at all times, including when a trainer is present. Follow trainer instructions, keep your dog on lead or long line unless we tell you otherwise, and do not use equipment in a way that is unsafe or contrary to our guidance.

You must tell us before a session or course if your dog is unwell, injured, in season, has been exposed to a contagious disease, has a bite history, or has any change in behaviour or medication that may affect safe participation. Do not attend with a dog who may pose a health risk to other dogs or people. We may ask you not to attend, pause participation or leave a session where this is reasonably necessary for safety or welfare.

You are responsible for ensuring your dog has appropriate preventative healthcare, including vaccination and parasite-control decisions made with your veterinary professional, and that your dog is fit to attend. If your dog has allergies or food intolerances, tell us in advance and provide suitable food where needed.

Children under 18 must be supervised by a responsible adult. Anyone accompanying you must follow these terms and trainer instructions.

9. equipment and property

You are responsible for bringing safe, correctly fitted and suitable equipment for your dog unless we have agreed otherwise. Please do not buy specialist equipment until we have advised what is appropriate for your dog.

We are responsible for taking reasonable care with equipment that we provide. You remain responsible for the safe use and fitting of equipment you bring or use with your dog, unless a legal obligation says otherwise.

You are responsible for damage caused by you or your dog to the venue, property, equipment, another participant, another dog or another person where you are legally responsible for that damage.

10. photography, video and public content

We may make training notes, photographs or video for safety, training review, progress records or course delivery where appropriate. We will seek separate permission before using identifiable photographs or video of you or your dog for public marketing, social media or website content. Declining public marketing permission will not affect your ability to take part in training.

11. liability

Dog training and group activities involve inherent risks. You are responsible for your own decisions and your dog’s behaviour, handling and welfare throughout participation.

We will take reasonable care in delivering our services. Nothing in these terms excludes or limits liability for death or personal injury caused by our negligence, fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation, or any other liability that cannot legally be excluded or limited.

Subject to the paragraph above, we are not responsible for indirect or consequential losses, or for loss arising from information you have not disclosed, failure to follow safety or training guidance, your dog’s actions, ordinary risks inherent in dog activities, or circumstances outside our reasonable control. Where legally permitted, our total liability for a claim connected with a service is limited to the amount paid for that service.

12. complaints and changes to services

If you have a concern, please contact us promptly at info@bearbasicscanineacademy.co.uk. We will aim to respond fairly and work towards a practical resolution.

We may make reasonable changes to venue, trainer, timetable, exercises or delivery format where this is necessary for safety, welfare, weather, operational reasons or circumstances outside our reasonable control. We will tell affected clients as soon as reasonably possible.

13. privacy and governing law

We handle personal information in line with our Privacy Policy, available at [insert Privacy Policy link].

These terms are governed by the law of England and Wales. Any dispute will be dealt with by the courts of England and Wales, unless mandatory consumer law provides otherwise.