General Terms and Conditions (GTC) for Course Registration at FAMCANE GmbH Dog School

1. Services

FAMCANE GmbH Dog School offers professional dog training, including group lessons, individual coaching, mantrailing, advanced courses, special offers (e.g. intensive programs, special training, training holidays). The available offers are published on the website www.hundeschule-famcane.ch. The dog school reserves the right to change the training offer. The current version published on the website is binding.

The place of services includes the cantons of Zurich, Zug, Schwyz, Lucerne, as well as other locations specified on the website.

The duration of a lesson is generally 50 minutes, unless otherwise stated in the course description or individually agreed upon. Courses are conducted in German unless otherwise specified in the course description or agreed upon in advance.

FAMCANE GmbH Dog School provides each customer and their dog with advice and guidance based on the latest training methods and findings in cynology. However, success in terms of the desired goals and a specific timeframe for achieving results cannot be guaranteed.

2. Registration

All services are subject to availability and must be booked in advance (registration). The number of places per course is limited. Registrations are considered in the order in which they are received. FAMCANE GmbH reserves the right to refuse registrations or registered persons without stating reasons.

Registrations for training at FAMCANE GmbH Dog School are binding. The customer is therefore obliged to pay the course fee. Non-payment of the course fee does not count as a cancellation. By entering into the contract, the participant accepts the GTC, which thus become part of the contract. The participant is obliged to register for all lessons via WhatsApp or email.

Missed lessons cannot be made up or refunded. Course fees for missed lessons cannot be transferred to other courses. If the participant misses too many lessons and does not meet the required number of hours, the participant may, after consultation, make up the hours with a private lesson at the applicable rate.

3. Cancellation, Deregistration, and Conducting of courses

Cancellations of group lessons, mantrailing, and individual coaching must be made in writing at least 24 hours in advance, or in urgent cases by telephone. For late cancellations, the full training costs will be charged or deducted from the subscription.

If cancellation of an advanced course or special training (e.g. intensive programs, training holidays) occurs less than 14 days before the start, 50% of the course fee is owed in addition to the processing fee. If cancellation occurs less than 7 days before the start, or in case of absence or course termination, the full course fee is owed in addition to the processing fee (regardless of the reasons). Refunds or transfers are excluded.

If a participant arrives late to class, the lesson ends at the originally agreed time unless otherwise agreed. Any additional training time will be invoiced separately.

FAMCANE GmbH Dog School is entitled to appoint qualified substitute trainers. A change of course instructor does not entitle the participant to withdraw from the contract or to demand a refund.

The school reserves the right not to hold group lessons, advanced courses, special training, or mantrailing if the minimum number of participants required for the respective offer is not reached. Participants will be informed in advance, and already paid course fees will be fully refunded.

The dog school may exclude disruptive persons or those acting contrary to animal welfare from further training. Training costs remain fully owed and will not be refunded in the case of prepayment.

Training generally takes place in all weather conditions, except under extreme circumstances.

If a course, group lesson, individual coaching, advanced course, special training, or multi-day program must be cancelled due to force majeure (e.g. extreme weather, official orders, trainer illness or accident, pandemics), the dog school will inform participants immediately. In this case, a replacement date will be offered. If the course is cancelled, the course fee will be refunded.

4. Training Costs

Training costs are based on the published rates or individually agreed. For training at a location requested by the customer, additional travel costs will be charged according to the published rates. All prices are in Swiss francs (CHF), including VAT (where applicable).

Payment modalities and default

Individual group lessons, mantrailing, and individual coaching: must be paid in cash or via accepted payment methods before the lesson begins.

Subscriptions: must be paid in full in cash, via Twint, or bank transfer before the first lesson. Subscriptions are valid for 12 months from the date of issue. Unused lessons expire after this period. Transfer or extension is excluded, except in explicitly approved exceptional cases. Refunds (in whole or part) are excluded. For valid reasons (e.g. prolonged illness or accident of dog or owner, pregnancy, officially mandated training break), the school may, upon written request, approve an extension or suspension. Decision is at the discretion of the school.

Modular courses: must be paid in full before the first lesson.

Special offers (e.g. intensive programs, special training, training holidays): require a deposit as specified in the offer description. The full fee must be paid on time according to the conditions defined there. Without timely and complete payment, there is no entitlement to participation.

In case of payment default, reminder fees of CHF 20 per reminder and default interest of 5% p.a. apply. For outstanding payments, the dog school may deny participation in further courses until the balance is settled.

5. Participation Requirements

Participants must be at least 18 years old, unless the course description explicitly allows under-18 participation.

Dogs must be registered according to applicable regulations.

Participation is intended for one dog per customer, unless otherwise expressly agreed.

Health
Only dogs with a valid vaccination certificate, required vaccinations, and free of disease and parasites may participate. Puppies must have age-appropriate vaccinations. The vaccination certificate must be emailed to the school before the first lesson without request. Bitches in heat may participate if agreed with the school.

Duty to inform
Owners must inform the school at all times—before the first lesson and throughout training—about any illnesses, behavioral issues, excessive aggression, or anxiety in their dog.

The trainer is legally obliged to report excessive aggression, serious injuries, or signs of abuse to the competent cantonal authorities.

Participants must have sufficient liability insurance. The school may request proof of valid liability insurance at any time.

In the case of biting incidents or other safety-related events, the school reserves the right to impose special requirements (e.g. leash or muzzle obligation) or to exclude the dog from the course.

Language
Courses are conducted in German. To understand and implement the content, good knowledge of German is essential. Some courses are offered in English; this will be explicitly stated in the course description.

6. Leash Requirement and Behavior During Training

A leash is required before and during lessons. Dogs may only be released on explicit instruction from the trainer. The handler assumes responsibility and must inform in advance about any problems the dog may have when off-leash.

On leash, sufficient distance from other dog-human teams must always be maintained. No contact is allowed between dogs while leashed.

Dog waste must be picked up and disposed of properly at all times.

Dogs must be sufficiently socialized and under control to participate safely in group courses. If not, or if there are training deficits (e.g. serious issues that cannot be addressed in group lessons), the school may recommend private lessons. If the participant refuses, they may be excluded from training.

Participants must arrive at the course location on time.

Companions are welcome if they do not disturb the course. Children may attend only when accompanied by an adult supervisor who does not actively participate. The school reserves the right to exclude disruptive participants or companions.

The school is committed to creating a respectful and safe learning environment for humans and dogs. No methods that intimidate, shock, or cause pain to dogs will be used. The use of choke, prong, or electric collars, spray bottles, or comparable aversive tools is prohibited.

All participants commit to respectful behavior; discriminatory or aggressive conduct may result in exclusion without refund.

7. Data Protection and Copyright

FAMCANE GmbH Dog School is entitled to collect, store, and process the customer’s personal data required for the business relationship. Personal data collected during registration and course execution (name, address, contact details, course bookings, payment info, dog data incl. health data such as vaccination status) are processed exclusively for contract fulfillment, invoicing, course organization, and communication. Data are handled with care in compliance with Swiss data protection law.

Health data (e.g. vaccination certificates) may only be submitted via the school’s secure transmission channels and will be deleted after course completion or expiry of statutory retention periods.

Disclosure to third parties occurs only if necessary for contract fulfillment (e.g. payment providers) or if legally required. Use of WhatsApp involves data transfer abroad; consent is implied through voluntary use of this channel.

Data subjects have rights of access, correction, deletion, restriction of processing, and data portability within legal limits. Requests must be sent to info@famcane.ch.

Participants agree that photos and videos taken during lessons may be used free of charge for the website, social media, and other digital channels. Rights to the images rest with FAMCANE GmbH. On request, recognizable persons will be anonymized.

Participants may not create or publish photo, video, or audio recordings during courses.

Documents and images provided by the school in connection with an offer are protected by copyright and may not be copied or otherwise used without permission, not even for private purposes.

8. Liability

Participation in all courses and training is at one’s own risk. During training, dog owners bear full responsibility for themselves, their dog, and any companions. They must have accident and liability insurance. Within Swiss law, FAMCANE GmbH Dog School, including its auxiliaries, excludes any liability for personal injury, property damage, or financial losses. This applies in particular to accidents of any kind, whether caused by the handler, companions, the participant’s own dog, or other dogs, as well as noise disturbances, escapes, or accidents involving the dog.

The school is liable for intentional or grossly negligent conduct on its part. Any further liability, especially for slight negligence, is excluded.

The school is not liable for theft or loss of items.

9. Final Provisions

These GTC may be changed at any time. The new version enters into force upon publication on the website and supersedes previous provisions. Exceptions may be made individually, which take precedence over these GTC.

If individual provisions of these GTC are invalid, the validity of the remaining provisions remains unaffected.

For the contractual relationship between FAMCANE GmbH Dog School and participants, the GTC valid at the time of registration (e.g. for group lessons, individual coaching, advanced courses, or special offers) or subscription purchase apply. Place of jurisdiction is agreed as Baar. Swiss law applies in all cases.

By registering for a dog course, the customer acknowledges that they have read, understood, and accepted the GTC.

Baar, September 29, 2025

Please note this document is a translation of the original Terms and Conditions in German. In case of discrepancies or inconsistencies, the German version shall prevail and be considered the legally binding document.