By making a booking with My Happy Hounds (Leaps and Bounds Dog Services Ltd) you are agreeing to these terms and conditions.
ARRIVING & LEAVING:
1. Each booking is a 50 minutes session. We request that you arrive on time to get full enjoyment from your session and leave on time so you don’t affect the next booking. Please arrive no more than 5 minutes before your appointment start time. If you arrive before the hour park in the parking bays opposite the training barn. Please do not obstruct the paddock track as you will be block cars leaving the paddocks.
For everyone’s safety you, your party and your dog(s) must stay in the car until you enter your paddock car park. Close the paddock car park gate behind you. Keep your dog on a lead until you enter the paddock.
2. A maximum of 2 cars, 4 people and 4 dogs are allowed in the paddock at any one time (unless attending for a training event).
3. At the end of your session please tidy up and take away any toys/treats you brought or any rubbish/litter. Vacate the car park promptly so that the next client can start their session on time.
4. Please leave the paddock car park by 10 to the hour, to allow a 10 minute buffer period. Remove toys, treats from the field and ensure all poo is picked up and bags placed in the bins provided. Ensure all equipment is replaced back ready for the next person to enjoy.
USE OF THE PADDOCKS:
1. To minimise barking and unnecessary noise, only dogs from the same household or that are already friends can use the same field at the same time.
2. A maximum of 4 dogs allowed in each paddock at any one time. More than 4 dogs is only allowed in exceptional circumstances and must be approved in advance.
3. Try not to let your dog dig holes in the paddocks for health and safety reasons, if they do, a bucket of soil is provided for you to fill them in. If you have a dog who loves to dig please encourage them to do so in the sand pits. Inform us of any holes dug, via phone or text. please inform us of any broken equipment or defects so we can deal with them appropriately.
5. It is your responsibility to check the suitability of any equipment/activities you choose to let your dog use. Any defects let us know immediately. Use of any seating/benches /caravan and facilities are at your own risk . You must assess them for suitability for your own needs and purposes.
4. You must watch your dogs carefully at all times and ensure that you pick-up any poo and deposit in the poo bin. General rubbish please put in the separate bin provided.
5. Our poo policy is that if you see a poo please pick it up. It’s possible that you may miss your own dog’s poo and someone else may find yours and pick it up. This will help keep the paddocks clean for everyone’s enjoyment and safety.
6. Smoking is not permitted on site., including vaping.
7. We operate a cruelty free/force free policy on site and will not tolerate harsh /abusive behaviour or language towards human or animal.
8. Please use common sense and act with consideration for other visitors. We want everyone to have an enjoyable time with us.
9. Our paddocks are located in a rural area. Please bear this in mind when visiting and it is advisable to check the weather forecast before setting off.
10. we have provided full enclosed and gated paddocks which are regularly inspected. However your dog remains your responsibility and appropriate supervision is required, along with your assessment as to the suitability for your dog. You remain responsible for your dog whilst using our facilities onsite.
11. If you own an exempted dog under the DDA 1991, then please contact us prior to booking as additional requirements are necessary to ensure we, and the owner are legally compliant.
12. Anyone found to be in breach of any of the Terms and Conditions may be banned.
HEALTH & SAFETY:
1. Children are welcome however they must be accompanied and supervised by a responsible adult at all times.
2. Please don’t climb on fences, gates or equipment. It is not intended or designed to be a child's playground.
3. Human and animal first aid kits are located in the green first aid box next to the front entrance.
4. You must ensure that your dog is fully wormed and up to date with vaccinations (or titre tested) before using the paddocks. Please check your dog for ticks/grass seeds following your visit.
5. If your dog has been unwell in the last 48hrs please do not bring them to the paddock. under no circumstances should you bring your dog if it has shown signs of kennel cough, sickness or diarrhoea in the past 72 hours.
6. Please remember the paddocks are natural grass fields and as such have bumps, holes, and undulations. During wet weather the land becomes soft underfoot and is prone to flooding at times, resulting in slippery surfaces for canine and human walkers. This is the same for the parkour/activity and agility equipment. Please wear suitable foot wear to prevent injuries and avoid using ball launches for your dogs in wet conditions to prevent injuries.
BOOKINGS:
1. A person must be aged over 18 years to make a booking. No person under the age of 18 years should be left alone in charge of their dog whilst on site or using the site facilities.
2. You may reschedule your booking up to 24 hours prior to your appointment.
3. Refunds are not given, however you can reschedule appointments, within the same paddock, to another time slot that suits at no extra cost. If you need to cancel we will endeavour to fill your cancelled slot, and if successful, we will refund your fee minus a £2 admin charge.
4. In the event of extreme weather conditions we may deem it necessary to cancel your booking. If this happens we will give as much notice as possible and offer either an alternative date and time or a full refund.
5. When attending training sessions, for human and animal safety, upon arrival please wait in your car with your dog until your trainer comes to meet you.
6. We do not allow field users to operate or release any flying object (including a drone), or permit this whilst using facilities on site.
DISCLAIMER:
Use of the field and facilities is entirely at your own risk. Leaps and Bounds Dog Services Ltd accept no liability for any losses suffered whilst on site or using the companies’ facilities. You are advised to insure your dog for all eventualities.
The dog paddocks and surrounding areas is a natural environment with hazards consistent with the countryside; uneven ground, animal mounds, burrows, tree roots. please report any hazards to us.
There is no artificial lighting so our booking slots are made after sunrise and before sunset.
You must report in writing via email any incidents, accidents or injury within 24 hours of your booking to woof@myhappyhounds.uk
We will not accept liability for the death of or any injury of any person or dog, or for damage to any property. We also accept no liability for any losses, claims, actions, damages, costs, expenses or other liability incurred whilst onsite. Your and your dog’s behaviour and actions are your sole responsibility and no claim can be made against the company. Please not the site is surrounded by rural roads and active farm and equestrian businesses.
You accept that all equipment provided is only for the use of dogs and you are responsible for your behaviour and that of your party. Please note that equipment provided is used at your discretion. We are not insured for any injuries (human or canine) sustained whilst using the equipment/partaking in activities/ or on the seating around the paddocks. Please supervise your dog at all times whilst using equipment. Ensure you have suitable health insurance to cover any injuries sustained.
In the event that you bring a friend or family member you agree that you assume full responsibility for their safety and that they abide by these terms and conditions.
The fences, gates and equipment are checked daily. However, as part of your use and enjoyment of the paddock you agree to be mindful of any holes or other damage to the gates, fences and equipment. If you become aware of any damage whatsoever please make us aware immediately so that we can alert other users and arrange to repair the damage as soon as possible.
You are liable for any damage caused inside and outside of the paddock by you, your dog(s) or any person in your party. All dogs must be covered under their own third party insurance (public liability insurance). This is usually included in your pet insurance. Please check your cover is valid.
If your dog is unwell within the paddock, please clean up any mess and inform us immediately. We cannot be held responsible for anything harmful ingested during your visit to the site. Your dog must be supervised at all times.
Professional dog walkers and trainers must contact us prior to booking to discuss requirements and can book only with our express consent.
Should you wish to bring a banned breed on site please contact us in advance to ensure all legal requirements are covered.
COMMUNICATION:
From time to time, it may be necessary for us to send emails and text messages explaining important messages and notices. This is required to enable you to book with us. The data collected is first and last name, home address, email and telephone number. By agreeing to these terms and conditions you agree to being added to our mailing list.
We’ve tried to keep the red tape to a minimum but there are a few basic rules that must be followed to keep use of the fields a safe, pleasant experience for all our clients. Breaches may result in future bookings being blocked.
Risk Assessment ;
Email version of our risk assessment available upon request to woof@myhappyhounds.uk
| Risk Assessment | ||||||
| Location/Dept: My Happy Hounds | Date Assessed: 15/07/2024 | Assessed by: AG/HG | ||||
| Task/ Activity: Use of training barn/paddocks | Review Date: 15/07/2025 | Reference Number: MHH01 | ||||
| Hazard / Outcome | Persons at risk | Controls in place | Severity (1-5) | Likelihood (1-5) | Risk/ Priority | Additional controls required |
| Slips, trips and falls leading to minor or major injury | Field users Maintenance staff | Weekly grounds maintenance grass and cutting (seasonal March to October). Daily visual inspection by staff to check areas for fall hazards/ holes / mounds Defect reporting system in place. Users requested to report any problems via email/text/phone. Defects will be dealt with within 24 hours. If defects cannot be rectified, use of field will be suspended until it can be made safe. All users informed of risk of field becoming slippery and muddy and advised to wear suitable footwear. Field is not hired outside of daylight hours. Ground is naturally uneven as to be expected in countryside – users advised of natural hazards. | 3 | 2 | 6 | |
| Car Collisions at entrance or car parks | Field users Maintenance staff | Signs in car park where to wait and park Regular maintenance of parking areas. Cctv at entrance and car parks. Users requested to drive into paddocks/ no pedestrians allowed on paddock track Users requested to drive not walk to paddocks whilst on site | 3 | 1 | 3 | |
| Dog faeces in field – leading to slip hazards/ potential illness | Field users Maintenance staff | Dog waste bins installed, waste contract in place. Waste bag dispensers in place. Users advised that Ts&Cs state that they must pick up all dog waste. Field users asked to report dog poo left behind. Daily field checks and poo bins emptied. poo collected and bins emptied daily. | 3 | 2 | 6 | |
| Escaped dogs – potential for injury to people in area | Members of the public Employees Service users | Perimeter of all paddocks secured with 1.8m high deer fencing, and chicken wire fencing. Gates installed to segregate parking area and dog exercise areas. Daily visual inspections of fencing and gates. Defect reporting. Users advised that dogs must be supervised at all times and kept on lead in paddock car parks. Users advised that dogs must be discouraged from digging. | 3 | 1 | 3 | |
| Use of dog agility equipment/parkour/play equipment – falls from equipment leading to injury | Field users | Users advised that agility/parkour/play equipment is for dog use only, people must not use it, and do so at their own risk. Regular maintenance checks of equipment. Defect reporting system in place. | 3 | 1 | 3 | |
| Inclement or extreme weather – exposure to elements leading to illness; increased chance of slips and falls | Field users | Emergency plans in place to close site in emergency or red weather warning. Field shelters and touring caravan provided for temporary shelter from rain. Notification to hirer via if weather warning in place. | 3 | 1 | 3 | |
| Inappropriate care / supervision of dogs | Dogs | Access to water for dogs at dog wash point. Dogs are not to be left in vehicles or unsupervised in the paddocks. Users advised that all mess caused by unwell dog must be cleaned up and reported. Users not permitted to bring dogs which have been/are unwell. | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| Use of choke chains, prong collars and electronic devices, or harsh handling, are not permitted on site. Force free methods and equipment only. SignS | ||||||
| Dangerous dogs – threat or injury | Field users Service users | Banned breeds allowed subject to Exempted terms and conditions are met in advance of attending.Area is securely fenced and gated. | 5 | 1 | 5 | |
| Use of equipment in paddocks/training barn | Field users | Used at users own risk. Equipment/seating/gazebos /caravan and facilities within caravan are checked daily and defects repaired/removed if defective. Users to report defects if seen. | 3 | 2 | 6 |
Risk/Priority Indicator Key
| Severity (Consequence) 1. Negligible (delay only) 2. Slight (minor injury / damage / interruption) 3. Moderate (lost time injury, illness, damage, lost business) 4. High (major injury / damage, lost time business interruption, disablement) 5. Very High (fatality / business closure) | RISK / PRIORITY INICATOR MATRIX | |
| Likelihood 1. Improbable / very unlikely 2. Unlikely 3. Even chance / may happen 4. Likely 5. Almost certain / imminent | ||
| Summary Suggested Timeframe 12-25 High As soon as possible 6-11 Medium Within next 3-6 months 1-5 Low Whenever viable to do so |
