Operational

Policies

Maintaining Safety

Review fear-free, safety, emergency response, and behavior change non-guarantee statements.

  • Village Canine is 100% Fear-Free, meaning training methodologies prioritize the physical and emotional safety of animals and humans. All training methods are ethical and humane, following guidelines from the American Veterinary Society for Animal Behavior.

    Village Canine does not condone training methodologies involving the application of pain, intimidation, fear, force, coercion, or the application of aversive training tools to change behavior.

  • Village Canine evaluates and ensures physical safety at all times. Animals and humans will not be knowingly exposed to unsafe situations, and extra steps are taken as necessary to ensure animal and human safety.

    While we take great care to ensure physical safety, it is understood that emergencies can occur unpredictably at any time.

  • Village Canine takes great care to approach training, behavior modification, and the scope of care to ensure emotional safety and prevent behavioral fallout throughout the relationship between Village Canine, the client, and the animal receiving treatment or training.

    Behavior modification plans will progress as determined by the learner, and training criteria will be regularly assessed and may be adjusted as determined by Village Canine to maintain the animals’ short-term and long-term emotional & behavioral health.

  • In the event of a veterinary emergency, your dog may be transported to your primary care veterinarian or to a local emergency vet:
    Columbia Pike Animal Hospital (24-hour)
    Regional Veterinary Referral Center (24-hour)
    Animal Urgent Care of Arlington

  • It is the responsibility of Village Canine and the client to work together to ensure a safe learning environment.

    Village Canine will never guarantee that behavior will be changed, or at what rate the training plan will progress.

    The effectiveness of the training or behavior modification plan is determined by individual, client application of the plan(s), and environmental factors.

Scheduling

& Payment

Review policies regarding scheduling, confirmation, cancellation, and payment processing.

  • Appointments for behavior consultation, training, enrichment, and vacation care can be scheduled via: https://villagecanine.as.me/

    Real-time availability can be found via the scheduling portal linked above. Please contact us if you need accommodations outside of the posted availability.

  • Scheduling for behavior consultation, training, enrichment, or social behavior assessments can be scheduled up to 30 days in advance and will require a credit card on file for the appointment to be confirmed.

    Payment will be processed by Village Canine after the appointment. Payment receipts will be sent automatically via email.

  • Scheduling for Vacation Care can be scheduled up to 30 days in advance and will require a credit card on file and a 50% non-refundable deposit for the appointment to be confirmed.

    Final payment, along with any additional charges, will be processed by Village Canine the day before the reservation’s end date. Payment receipts will be sent automatically via email.

  • Training & Behavior appointments cancelled, rescheduled, or changed within 24 hours of the scheduled appointment will incur the full cost of the service.

    Vacation Care reservations cancelled, rescheduled, or changed within 7 days of the start of the reservation will incur the full charge of the reservation. Reservations cancelled more than 7 days in advance will not incur additional charges, but the deposit will be forfeited.

  • Village Canine is authorized to process credit card payments linked to appointments to complete payment for services provided.

Release of Liability

Review client responsibilities and assumption of risk.

  • Village Canine is a Limited Liability Company and is fully insured as a service-based organization.

    While Village Canine is very intentional to do no harm, it is the responsibility of the client to assess whether the benefits of working with Village Canine outweigh the risks that come with working with any pet care professional.

    It is understood that working with any trainer, behavior consultant, or pet care professional comes with risk. By scheduling and participating in services provided by Village Canine, the client assumes all liability, financial and otherwise, for themselves and their pet.

  • Village Canine may take photos and videos of your dog during training, behavior modification, or vacation care sessions. It is understood that Village Canine has client permission to utilize photos of their pets for social media, website, blog, and/or advertising. However, in all cases, sensitive information will not be made public.

  • It is understood that by working with Village Canine the client has equal responsibility to the success of the training and/or behavior modification plan, and active participation from the client is expected throughout.

    Following the provided instructions, completing homework, and communicating with Village Canine is essential to maintain a consistent and predictable learning environment for your pet throughout the training plan.

  • It is mutually understood that some services may require Village Canine to access the client’s home without the owner present. In those circumstances, Village Canine will provide a lockbox for secure storage of keys to enter the property with consent, and in absence of, the client. Alternatively, a door code can be used instead, when appropriate.

    In the event of door/lock malfunction, Village Canine may contact a locksmith to gain access to the property at the client’s expense.