Dog Training and Behavior Disclaimer
Every dog is an individual
Training and behavior outcomes vary.
Factors that can affect progress include:
- Health
- Pain or physical comfort
- Age
- Genetics
- Development
- Learning history
- Prior experiences
- Emotional state
- Environment
- Household routines
- Management
- Practice opportunities
- Guardian participation
- Events outside the trainer's control
Relax, Rover. does not guarantee a particular behavior, result, or timeline.
Training is collaborative
Recommendations are based on the information and observations available at the time.
Clients are responsible for:
- Providing accurate and complete information
- Disclosing relevant bite, escape, health, and behavior history
- Following safety and management instructions
- Supervising their dog appropriately
- Using recommended equipment correctly
- Practicing agreed steps when appropriate
- Informing Erika about significant changes
- Seeking veterinary care when needed
- Following applicable laws and property rules
Behavior involves risk
Dog behavior can be unpredictable.
Training and management may reduce risk, but they cannot eliminate every possibility of:
- Injury
- Bites
- Falls
- Escape
- Property damage
- Conflict with another animal or person
- Recurrence of unwanted behavior
Guardians remain responsible for day-to-day supervision, handling, management, and safety decisions outside professional sessions.
Force-free methods
Relax, Rover. uses modern, humane, force-free methods and does not rely on pain, fear, intimidation, or coercion.
Force-free training does not mean an absence of structure or safety precautions.
Recommendations may include:
- Leashes
- Barriers
- Distance
- Environmental changes
- Prevention
- Supervision
- Carefully selected equipment
- Changes to routines
- Temporary avoidance of situations a dog cannot safely manage
These measures are intended to support safety, welfare, and learning.
Not veterinary care
Dog training and behavior consulting do not replace veterinary evaluation, diagnosis, or treatment.
Behavior may be affected by:
- Pain
- Illness
- Injury
- Medication
- Sensory changes
- Mobility
- Sleep
- Digestion
- Neurological factors
- Other health concerns
Erika may recommend veterinary consultation before or during training.
Emergency and urgent behavior concerns
The website, email, and inquiry form are not emergency services.
When a dog or person is in immediate danger, contact the appropriate emergency, medical, veterinary, or animal-control resource.
Do not wait for an email response when urgent care or immediate safety intervention is needed.
Educational website content
Website and blog content is general education.
It is not:
- An individualized behavior plan
- A substitute for a professional assessment
- A veterinary diagnosis
- Emergency advice
- A guarantee that a particular method is safe or appropriate for every dog
Referrals and collaboration
Relax, Rover. may recommend collaboration with or referral to:
- A veterinarian
- A veterinary behaviorist
- Another trainer or behavior consultant
- A rehabilitation professional
- A groomer
- A pet sitter or boarding professional
- Another qualified provider
A referral does not guarantee another professional's availability, suitability, services, or results.
Questions
Questions about this disclaimer may be sent to: erika@relaxrover.com