The following rules and procedures apply to all dogs and handlers (both certified or in training)

ATTIRE:

• All handlers are to wear comfortable clothing and shoes that allow you to sit or crawl on the floor if necessary.
• Please do not wear hanging earrings or extraneous jewelry.
• Leave all valuables at home or in the trunk of your car.
• NO perfume or essential oils are permitted in our facility.
• Dress in layers in the cold weather.
• All handlers are to wear DogAbility shirt or sweatshirt with your name and dogs name on it – please order your shirt from the DOGABILITY WEARABLES link found on LOG IN area of our website.

ARRIVAL TIMES:

• Please arrive ½ hour before GROUP sessions and at 15 minutes before PRIVATE sessions to allow your dog to acclimate.
• Please let us know if you will be late. Contact numbers will be shared with you.
• If an emergency arises and you are unable to attend a session in which you have committed, please inform us ASAP to allow time to schedule another team — or to cancel the session.

PARKING:

• Handlers are to park along the southern end of the parking lot facing towards Old Country Road.
• Participants will be asked to park on the north side facing the church

POTTY BREAK:

• Walk your dog before arriving indoors. Use outdoor poop buckets for waste.
• Please walk your dogs in the area near parked cars on the tree/ grass area near Old Country Road.
• Take your dog out for a break as needed during sessions.
• YOU MUST BRING BAGS AND CLEAN UP AFTER YOUR DOG.  (Metal Poop Pail is located near the potty area.

DOG BEHAVIOR & SAFETY:

• Red Bandanas are occasionally placed on new dogs or if we need to identify that the dog has some interactive issues such as being overly friendly, excitable, timid or possibly aggressive towards other dogs.
• Any dog that has had any confrontation with another dog will be asked to leave and be kept separated from other dogs until one of our trainers reassesses the dog
• Dogs must remain under the control of their handlers at all times and never leave your dog unattended.
• Be aware of your dog’s surroundings at all times in order to avoid conflicts with other dogs.
• Avoid all face to face greetings of dogs, ask the Lead Team how to greet properly or NOT AT ALL.
• For the safety of our participants, your dog’s collar and/or harness should have no metal parts other than the metal ring for leash attachment.

TREATS:

• Each handler is responsible for providing treats for their own dog.
• Do not share your dog’s treats with another dog without that owner’s permission.
  Do not allow participants to run or lure dogs with treats in their hands.                                                                                               Only allow treats to be offered while supervised in a stationary position.

COMMITMENT:

• Attend 1 session each month – more if you’d like.
• Please notify us during the prior month of your intended date for the following month so that we can schedule sessions
• If you must cancel a scheduled session, please schedule a make-up date in order to maintain enough sessions
• We understand that unforeseen situations occur. Please let us know if for some reason you will be unavailable for an extended time so that we can put you on the INACTIVE list. Once you are able to return, you will be reinstated as an ACTIVE team.

SESSION SIGN UP:

• Please look ahead on the calendar for sessions showing a GREEN DOT, which tells you we still need one or more teams for that session.
  Please email us with your choices a month ahead
• It is expected that you remain in contact with the session scheduler and reply to all emails and/or texts.
• If we have not heard from you previous to the middle of a month, you will receive an email reminder to find and sign up for sessions for the following month. Reply to this email ASAP as sessions are assigned on a first-come first-served basis.
• If a newly-scheduled session arises and we think that your dog would be a good candidate to attend, we will email or text you with a request. Please reply ASAP with either a YES or NO upon to all calendar invitations.
• Email or text us immediately (within 48 hours) if you are unable to attend a session you committed to so your dog can possibly be replaced.

PHOTOS:

• Please do not use your phone to take photos during a session.
• No photos are to be taken of any participants without written permission from the parent or guardian.
• You may always check with Vicki to see if she has written approval to share any photos with you.
• At no time is it permissible to use or post any photos of participants on the Internet.