The Cotswold Dog Hub

Policies, Procedures, Terms & Conditions.

Training Philosophy

I use training methods that are grounded in scientific research, learning theory, and years of hands-on experience working with a variety of breeds and temperaments. The dogs and humans welfare is my upmost concern. Ethics, positivity and as force-free as possible are extremely important to me.

I do not use aversive, punitive, or oppressive methods in sessions or plans.

As your dog’s guardian, you remain responsible for your dog’s behaviour and conduct at all times, particularly in public spaces.

Professional Standards

As an certified IMDT Trainer, I adhere to the IMDT Code of Ethics, ensuring all my work meets the highest standards of welfare and professionalism.
🔗 View the IMDT Code of Ethics

Session Bookings

1-2-1 individual work follows a structure and plan as laid out at initial consultation. Consistency is key in building on skills and I am here as an instructor and guide to help you implement change with your dog.

Payment Terms

  • Payment must be made via BACS upon receipt of your invoice to confirm your booking.
  • Refunds cannot be issued once a Training has begun, except in exceptional circumstances.
  • Depending on location additional travel costs may apply. Any extra charges will be explained at the time of booking.

Cancellations & Missed Sessions

  • Please provide at least 48 hours’ notice by phone or email if you need to cancel or reschedule a session. Less than 48 hours’ notice will result in the full session fee being charged.
  • If a client fails to attend a 1-2-1 session, class, or workshop, no refund will be given.
  • If a client is more than 20 minutes late for a 1-2-1 session and has not contacted Emma, The Cotswold Dog Hub, the session will be cancelled and no refund issued.
  • No refunds will be provided for unused sessions within a fixed package or workshop.

Weather Policy

In the event of extreme weather conditions (e.g. heatwaves, heavy rain, snow), sessions will automatically switch to Microsoft Teams to ensure the safety and continuity of training.

Confidentiality

I take confidentiality extremely seriously.
All discussions, personal details, and case notes are treated as strictly private and confidential.

Insurance

Emma Thompson holds full Public Liability and Professional Indemnity Insurance.
Details are available upon request.

Copyright & AI Use Policy

All written, photographic, and video content on this website is the intellectual property of Emma Thompson, The Cotswold Dog Hub, unless otherwise stated.
This includes blogs, training materials, session content, and client case studies.

You are welcome to:

  • Share website links publicly with credit to The Cotswold Dog Hub.
  • Download free resources for your own personal, non-commercial use.

You may not:

  • Reproduce, distribute, or use Maher & Hound materials in your own training or promotional content without prior written consent.
  • Use this content for AI training, data mining, or automated scraping.

We have implemented technical measures (via robots.txt and metadata) to block automated crawlers used by AI models such as OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, and others from collecting or using our content for training purposes.
If you operate an AI service and wish to use any of The Cotswold Dog Hubs content, you must obtain written permission first.

The Cotswold Dog Hub supports the ethical use of AI when it enhances learning and welfare, but not in ways that exploit copyrighted materials or confidential information without consent.