Our Policies
Training Agreement:
With each training package you purchase from us you agree to make payments on time every month for the duration of the subscription. These payments are automatic from our website unless otherwise directed by your trainer in writing. If payment is not made on time you may loose your day/time spot for training and/or owe a late fee. If you are enrolling while there is a sale and reoccurring payments are required, the sale price will apply to ALL sessions in the series. Each handler is required to attend 75% percent or more of the scheduled sessions and 6 or more scheduled group outings through the scheduled 10 month training requirement. If those requirements are not met, the team will not be permitted to graduate. All photos and videos taken by students, staff, or board members are property of COSD to use as the Board would like.
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The following MUST be met for the dog and handler to complete and graduate our program:
1. The student and their dog must attend at least 3 outings with our program.
2. Student and their dog must not miss more than 20% of their classes (unless excused).
3. The dog must meet all pre-testing exercises at the end of training without issues.
4. The dog's temperament must be compatible with laws pertaining to Service Dog Laws.
5. The student must volunteer a minimum of 15 hours with COSD.
Refund Policy:
Many variables determine the potential success of this program including the owner's ability and effort; the dog's learning capacity, temperament, and ability to perform, the specific needs of the owner and many other unknowns. As such, the successful performance of any owner trained service dog cannot be guaranteed by COSD. No refunds, returns, or exchanges will be made on any monies sent to COSD for training, evaluation or testing purposes. Sessions unused must be used within 12 months or they will go into our Scholarship Fund. If your training was fully funded and you graduate early the remaining sessions will be donated to another student and handler team in need. Any chargebacks we receive filed by you will incur a fee of up to 25% of the total the chargeback was filed for. There may be additional lawyer, court, and filing fees that apply.
Cancelation Policy:
Private sessions cancelled with at least 24 hours notice will be rescheduled for the following week at the same day/time slot. Private sessions cancelled or missed with less than 24 hours notice will not be rescheduled or credited unless an authorized medical excuse (doctor's note, clinic receipt, etc.) is provided for you or your dog. Group classes cannot be rescheduled or made up at any time unless otherwise stated in writing.
For the safety of our other students, their dogs, and volunteers, we DO NOT work with dogs who are aggressive, protective or reactive in any way. Even if these behaviors were addressed through another trainer/behaviorist prior to enrollment. Any dog that displays dangerous behavior will be removed from the program.
Each dog will be tested and evaluated before it officially enters our program. This evaluation will determine the dog's ability to become a Service Dog with us. If an owner knowingly brings an aggressive or dangerous dog into our program they will be immediately expelled and still remain responsible for the entire 10 months of the lesson expenses. If a dog is found to have minor fixable problems related to fear or excitability the owner will be given 4 weeks through our program to make a noticeable difference in their dog within those 4 weeks. The dog will then be re-evaluated by a qualified instructor to determine the future of training with us. If the dog does not pass the evaluation to be in our program, the owner will be given the choice to sit in remaining classes without their dog OR to enroll in the puppy program to receive a puppy and training through us and use their remaining training with this puppy.
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If, while in our program, a dog growls at a person, lunges (not out of excitement - determined by a qualified trainer) at a dog or person, barks aggressively at a human or dog, or creates a dangerous environment for other dogs and handlers/students the owner/handler of the dog will be given one written warning. If the behavior happens again, the team will be asked or required to leave the program. The student/owner/handler is still responsible for the remainder of the program fees.
Grounds for immediate expulsion from the program include any of the following: a student/handler's dog bites another dog or human including anyone or their dog outside of our program. The enrolled person will still be responsible for the remainder of their program fees.
Temperament Testing & Evaluations:
Liability Waiver:
On behalf of myself, my heirs, executors, administrators and assignees: I hereby waive and release any and all rights and claims for damages which I may have against Central Ohio Service Dogs, its President, Training Director, Training Staff, board members, and any others connected with this class or event, for any and all injuries which I and/or any member of my family and/or friends, or any dog may suffer while taking part in this class or event or as a result thereof. As a student, I hereby agree to accept responsibility for and indemnify and hold harmless Central Ohio Service Dogs or any of its Board Members from any and all claims by me (the student) and/or any member of my family or any other person accompanying the student to any training session as a result of any injury or damage caused by any dog, including my own. You release any and all rights to photos and videos of you and your dog taken by COSD's volunteers and board. By agreeing to these policies you consent to photos being taken of you, your dog(s) and any family members.
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By enrolling and paying for lessons, you agree to ALL our policies, waivers, etc.
