Please read them carefully before making a booking or using our services.
Nothing in these Terms affects any rights you have under applicable consumer law.
1. About us
The Hound & Estate is the trading name of Hollie Adamson, a sole trader providing dog walking, dog care visits at your home, private field sessions and related pet-care services in Cheshire and surrounding areas.
The business is operated by:
Hollie Adamson, trading as The Hound & Estate
Business / correspondence address:
Email:enquiries@thehoundandestate.co.uk
Telephone:01606 227 728
Website: thehoundandestate.co.uk
References in these Terms to “The Hound & Estate”, “we”, “us” or “our” mean Hollie Adamson, trading as The Hound & Estate.
References to “you” or “the client” mean the person purchasing or arranging services from us.
2. These Terms
These Terms apply to:
- your use of our website;
- enquiries made through our website or by other means;
- meet and greet appointments;
- dog walking;
- one-to-one walks;
- group walks;
- dog care visits at your home;
- private field or exercise sessions;
- pet visits;
- transport connected with our services; and
- other pet-care services agreed between you and us.
Our Privacy Policy applies separately to how we collect and use personal information.
Where we agree additional terms with you in writing for a particular booking, those additional terms will form part of our agreement with you.
If there is a conflict between these Terms and a specific written agreement concerning a particular service, the specific written agreement will take priority to the extent of that conflict, unless the law requires otherwise.
3. Eligibility to use our services
You must be at least 18 years old to enter into a contract with us.
By making a booking, you confirm that:
- you are at least 18;
- you are legally entitled to arrange care for the dog concerned;
- information you provide is accurate to the best of your knowledge; and
- you have authority to give us the instructions and permissions associated with the booking.
4. Enquiries do not constitute bookings
Submitting an enquiry does not automatically create a booking or contract.
An enquiry is a request for information or availability.
A contract will normally arise when:
- the relevant service, dates and price have been agreed;
- we have accepted your booking; and
- any required onboarding information, permissions or other booking requirements have been completed.
We may decline an enquiry or booking where we reasonably consider that we cannot safely or appropriately provide the requested service.
5. Meet and greet appointments
We may require an initial meet and greet before accepting a new client. We offer this at no cost.
The purpose may include:
- meeting you and your dog;
- understanding your dog’s routine;
- assessing temperament and behaviour;
- discussing care requirements;
- discussing property access;
- discussing veterinary arrangements;
- confirming emergency procedures;
- assessing compatibility with group services; and
- determining whether we can safely provide the requested service.
A meet and greet does not oblige either party to proceed with ongoing services unless expressly agreed.
6. New Client Form
Before services begin, we may require you to complete our New Client Form.
You must provide information that is complete and accurate to the best of your knowledge.
This may include information about:
- your contact details;
- your address;
- emergency contacts;
- your dog’s identity;
- breed and age;
- health;
- medication;
- veterinary practice;
- insurance;
- behaviour;
- temperament;
- recall;
- anxieties;
- interaction with other dogs;
- travel;
- feeding;
- water;
- treats;
- walking requirements;
- permissions;
- property access; and
- emergency treatment.
You must tell us promptly if relevant information changes.
7. Your responsibility to disclose relevant information
You must tell us about anything that could reasonably affect the safe provision of our services.
This includes, where relevant:
- aggression;
- biting or attempted biting;
- guarding behaviour;
- reactivity;
- nervousness;
- escape behaviour;
- poor recall;
- chasing livestock;
- behaviour around children;
- behaviour around other dogs;
- behaviour around unfamiliar people;
- separation anxiety;
- medical conditions;
- allergies;
- injuries;
- contagious illness;
- medication;
- mobility restrictions;
- previous incidents;
- legal restrictions affecting the dog; and
- anything else that could create a material safety or welfare risk.
Failure to disclose relevant information may result in services being suspended or ended where reasonably necessary for safety.
8. Health and fitness for services
You are responsible for ensuring that your dog is reasonably fit to participate in the service booked.
You should not knowingly present a dog for a service if the dog:
- is suffering from a contagious illness;
- has a condition making the activity unsuitable;
- has been advised by a veterinary professional not to undertake the activity; or
- presents an unreasonable health or safety risk.
We may modify, shorten or stop an activity if reasonably necessary for the dog’s health or welfare.
9. Vaccinations, parasites and infectious conditions
You are responsible for discussing appropriate preventative healthcare with your veterinary professional.
You must tell us if your dog:
- develops an infectious or potentially infectious condition;
- has recently been exposed to significant infectious disease; or
- has a parasite issue that could reasonably affect other animals or properties.
We may temporarily suspend services where reasonably necessary to protect other animals or clients.
10. Dog walking
We will provide agreed walking services with reasonable care and skill.
Walk durations may occasionally vary because of:
- weather;
- traffic;
- collection or drop-off arrangements;
- the dog’s health or behaviour;
- unexpected incidents;
- welfare considerations; or
- circumstances reasonably outside our control.
Animal welfare will take priority over achieving an exact walking duration.
11. Group walks
Participation in group walks is subject to our reasonable assessment of suitability.
We may determine that a dog is unsuitable for a particular group where their behaviour creates an unreasonable risk to:
- themselves;
- another dog;
- another animal;
- a member of the public; or
- the person providing the service.
We may recommend an alternative service where appropriate.
12. Off-lead exercise
We will only intentionally exercise your dog off lead where:
- you have given permission;
- we reasonably consider it appropriate; and
- doing so is lawful in the location concerned.
Permission does not require us to let your dog off lead on every walk.
We may keep a dog on lead where we reasonably consider this safer or more appropriate.
13. Leads, collars and equipment
You are responsible for providing suitable equipment unless otherwise agreed.
This may include:
- collar;
- identification tag;
- lead;
- harness;
- coat;
- muzzle; or
- other appropriate equipment.
We may decline to use equipment we reasonably believe is unsafe, defective or unsuitable.
14. Identification and legal requirements
You remain responsible for ensuring your dog complies with applicable legal requirements concerning matters such as identification and microchipping.
You must tell us about any specific legal handling restriction affecting your dog.
15. Dog care visits at your home
Dog care visits at your home are daytime home visits. This is a home-visit service and does not include overnight stays.
Where we provide dog care visits at your home, you are responsible for providing appropriate information about:
- feeding;
- medication;
- toileting;
- exercise;
- household routines;
- alarms;
- access arrangements;
- emergency contacts;
- veterinary care; and
- known property or safety risks.
You must provide adequate supplies, including food and medication where applicable.
16. Property access
Where you authorise us to enter your property, you give us permission to enter to the extent reasonably necessary to provide the booked service.
You are responsible for providing workable access arrangements.
These may include:
- keys;
- access devices;
- key-safe details;
- gate instructions;
- alarm instructions; or
- another agreed means of entry.
17. Keys
If we agree to hold a key, we will take reasonable steps to keep it secure.
Where reasonably practicable, keys will not be labelled in a way that unnecessarily identifies your property.
You must tell us promptly if locks, alarm codes or access arrangements change.
When our ongoing relationship ends, keys will be returned or otherwise dealt with as agreed.
18. Other people accessing your property
You should tell us where reasonably possible if another person is expected to enter the property while we are providing a home-based service.
We are not responsible for the acts or omissions of third parties whom we do not employ, engage or control.
19. Transport
Where transport forms part of an agreed service, you authorise us to transport your dog where reasonably necessary.
We will take reasonable precautions appropriate to the journey and circumstances.
20. Weather and environmental conditions
Animal welfare takes priority during extreme or unsuitable conditions.
We may reasonably modify a service because of:
- excessive heat;
- severe cold;
- storms;
- flooding;
- snow or ice;
- dangerous road conditions;
- poor air quality;
- local warnings;
- environmental hazards; or
- another material welfare or safety concern.
A modification may include changing the walking time, shortening a walk, changing a route, reducing exercise or rescheduling where safe performance is not reasonably possible.
21. Veterinary emergencies
If we reasonably believe your dog requires urgent veterinary attention, we will try to contact you.
If we cannot reach you within a reasonable period given the urgency, we may contact:
- your emergency contact;
- your veterinary practice;
- another veterinary practice; or
- an emergency veterinary provider.
Where immediate action is reasonably necessary to protect the dog’s welfare, you authorise us to seek appropriate veterinary assistance in accordance with the permissions you have provided.
On our New Client Form you may nominate an emergency contact who can make decisions about your dog or property in your absence, including decisions about veterinary treatment. Please make sure the person you nominate knows you have chosen them.
22. Veterinary costs
Unless veterinary treatment is required because of our failure to exercise reasonable care and skill or another matter for which we are legally responsible, veterinary fees and related treatment costs remain your responsibility.
Where reasonably practicable, we will seek your approval before incurring significant non-emergency expenditure.
23. Medication
We may agree to administer medication where reasonably appropriate and sufficiently clear instructions have been supplied.
You are responsible for:
- providing the correct medication;
- providing accurate instructions;
- ensuring medication is appropriately labelled;
- informing us of known side effects or risks; and
- notifying us of changes to the medication regime.
We may decline to administer medication requiring specialist veterinary expertise.
24. Food and treats
Where feeding forms part of a service, you are responsible for providing accurate instructions and telling us about:
- allergies;
- intolerances;
- veterinary diets;
- prohibited foods; and
- relevant medical restrictions.
We will only intentionally provide treats where permission has been given or otherwise agreed.
25. Photographs and videos
We may take photographs or videos during services.
Use of identifiable photographs or videos for marketing purposes will be subject to the permissions you have given us.
Further information is contained in our Privacy Policy.
26. Prices
The price of a service will be:
- the price displayed or communicated when the booking is made; or
- another price expressly agreed between you and us.
Where a price is not fixed in advance, we will only charge a reasonable price as required by applicable consumer law.
27. Changes to prices
We may change our prices from time to time.
A price change will not normally retrospectively alter an already accepted booking unless:
- you expressly agree; or
- the original booking clearly and fairly provides for the variation.
For ongoing services, we will give reasonable notice of material price changes.
28. Payment
Payment arrangements will be communicated when services are booked or invoiced.
You agree to pay valid invoices by the payment date stated on the invoice or otherwise agreed.
If you believe an invoice is incorrect, please contact us promptly.
We may reasonably suspend future services where undisputed overdue amounts remain unpaid following reminders.
29. Client cancellations
Please tell us as soon as reasonably possible if you need to cancel a booking.
Any cancellation charge outside your statutory cancellation rights will be fair and proportionate.
We may take account of:
- how much notice was given;
- whether the reserved time could reasonably be offered to another client;
- work already carried out;
- costs already incurred;
- costs avoided because the service will not take place; and
- services already provided.
We will not impose a disproportionate penalty simply because you cancel.
30. Our right to cancel or alter services
We may need to cancel, reschedule or modify a service because of circumstances including:
- illness;
- emergency;
- severe weather;
- unsafe conditions;
- vehicle breakdown;
- access problems;
- a dog’s illness or behaviour;
- animal-welfare concerns; or
- another event outside our reasonable control.
Where we cancel a service and no alternative is agreed, you will not be charged for the service we do not provide.
If you have already paid, the relevant amount will normally be refunded or credited.
31. Statutory cooling-off rights
In some circumstances, a consumer entering into a contract at a distance or away from our usual business premises has a statutory right to cancel.
Where applicable, the normal cancellation period for a service contract is 14 days beginning on the day after the contract is entered into.
You can notify us that you wish to cancel by making a clear statement to:
Email:enquiries@thehoundandestate.co.uk
Post:
You may also use the Model Cancellation Form at the end of these Terms.
32. Services requested during the 14-day period
You may sometimes wish a service to begin before the statutory cancellation period has ended.
Where required, we will ask you to expressly request that we begin providing the service during that period.
If you subsequently cancel after services have begun, you may be required to pay a proportionate amount for services already provided where permitted by law.
If a service has been fully performed following the legally required request and acknowledgement, the statutory cancellation right for that service may end.
33. Consumer rights
As a consumer, you have legal rights in relation to services.
Services supplied by us must be performed with reasonable care and skill.
Where applicable, consumer law may provide remedies including:
- repeat performance; and
- an appropriate price reduction.
Nothing in these Terms excludes or restricts rights that the law does not permit us to exclude or restrict.
34. Our standard of care
We will provide services with reasonable care and skill.
Pet care involves animals whose behaviour cannot always be predicted or controlled.
The existence of an accident, illness, injury, escape attempt or other incident does not by itself mean that reasonable care and skill were not exercised.
35. Your responsibility for your dog
You remain the owner or person responsible for your dog while using our services.
You are responsible for losses or damage caused by your dog where you are legally responsible for them.
This does not make you responsible for loss or damage caused by our negligence or breach of contract.
36. Liability that we do not exclude
Nothing in these Terms excludes or limits liability where doing so would be unlawful.
In particular, nothing excludes or limits liability for:
- death or personal injury caused by negligence where liability cannot lawfully be excluded;
- fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation;
- breach of statutory rights that cannot lawfully be excluded;
- failure to perform consumer services with reasonable care and skill where liability cannot lawfully be excluded; or
- any other liability that applicable law does not permit us to exclude.
37. Foreseeable loss
If we breach these Terms, we are responsible for loss or damage that is a foreseeable consequence of our breach or failure to exercise reasonable care and skill.
We are not responsible for losses that could not reasonably have been foreseen, except where the law provides otherwise.
38. Business losses
Our services are primarily supplied for private and domestic use.
If you use our services for a business purpose, we will not ordinarily be responsible for purely commercial losses such as loss of profit or business opportunity, to the extent that excluding such loss is lawful and reasonable.
39. Insurance
We maintain such business insurance as we consider appropriate for our operations and as may be required by law or contractual arrangements.
The existence of insurance does not alter either party’s legal rights or responsibilities.
40. Safety and refusal of service
We may immediately suspend or stop a service if we reasonably believe continuing would create an unacceptable risk to:
- your dog;
- another animal;
- us;
- a member of the public;
- your property; or
- another person’s property.
Where reasonably possible, we will explain the reason and discuss alternatives.
41. Ending ongoing services
You may tell us that you wish to stop future ongoing services at any time.
We may also end an ongoing service relationship on reasonable notice.
We may suspend or terminate more quickly where there is a serious reason, including:
- significant safety risk;
- aggressive or dangerous behaviour not disclosed to us;
- repeated failure to provide safe access;
- serious or repeated non-payment;
- abusive, threatening or unlawful behaviour;
- material dishonesty concerning information relevant to safe care; or
- serious breach of these Terms.
42. Events outside our reasonable control
We are not responsible for delay or failure caused by circumstances outside our reasonable control where reasonable steps have been taken to manage the situation.
Such circumstances may include:
- severe weather;
- flooding;
- road closure;
- widespread transport disruption;
- major utility failure;
- government restrictions;
- emergency veterinary situations;
- serious illness;
- fire;
- natural disaster; or
- another exceptional event beyond our reasonable control.
43. Complaints
If you are unhappy with a service, please contact us as soon as reasonably possible.
Hollie Adamson
The Hound & Estate
Email:enquiries@thehoundandestate.co.uk
Telephone:01606 227 728
We aim to deal with complaints fairly and reasonably.
44. Privacy
Our handling of personal information is governed by our Privacy Policy.
Our Privacy Policy explains:
- what information we collect;
- why we collect it;
- our lawful bases;
- who information may be shared with;
- how long it is retained; and
- your data protection rights.
Our website uses cookies and similar technologies. Optional marketing cookies, including the Meta Pixel, are only used if you accept them. You can change your choice at any time using Cookie Settings. Our Cookie Policy and section 23 of our Privacy Policy explain this in more detail.
45. Website availability
We aim to keep our website available and accurate but do not guarantee that it will always be:
- uninterrupted;
- error-free;
- compatible with every device; or
- continuously available.
We may suspend or change parts of the website for maintenance, security, technical or business reasons.
46. Information on our website
We take reasonable care over information published on our website.
General website information is not intended to replace:
- veterinary advice;
- professional animal-behaviour advice;
- legal advice; or
- advice from another suitably qualified professional.
47. Intellectual property
Unless otherwise stated, website content is owned by or licensed to The Hound & Estate.
This may include:
- text;
- branding;
- photographs;
- graphics;
- logos;
- layout;
- design; and
- original written content.
You may use the website for personal, non-commercial use.
You may not reproduce or commercially exploit substantial parts of our content without permission unless permitted by law.
48. Acceptable use of the website
You must not knowingly:
- misuse the website;
- attempt unauthorised access;
- introduce malicious software;
- interfere with website operation;
- submit fraudulent information;
- abuse website forms;
- impersonate another person;
- use the website for unlawful activity; or
- infringe another person’s rights.
49. Links to third-party websites
Our website may contain links to third-party websites or services.
A link does not necessarily mean we endorse or control that third party.
Third-party websites operate under their own terms and privacy practices.
50. Changes to these Terms
We may amend these Terms from time to time.
The latest version will be published on our website with an updated revision date.
Changes will not normally retrospectively alter an existing confirmed booking unless:
- required by law;
- they do not materially disadvantage you; or
- you expressly agree.
For ongoing services, we will give reasonable notice of material changes where appropriate.
51. If part of these Terms is invalid
If a court or other competent authority decides that a provision is unlawful or unenforceable, the remaining provisions will continue to apply where legally possible.
52. No waiver
If either party delays enforcing a right under these Terms, this does not necessarily mean that the right has been waived.
53. Transfer of rights
You may not transfer your rights or obligations under our service agreement to another person without our agreement where our consent is reasonably required.
We will not transfer our obligations in a way that reduces your consumer protections without taking appropriate steps required by law.
54. Third-party rights
Unless expressly stated otherwise, these Terms govern the relationship between you and The Hound & Estate.
A person who is not a party to the agreement will not normally have a right to enforce these Terms.
55. Governing law
These Terms and any contract between you and The Hound & Estate are governed by the laws of England and Wales.
If you are a consumer resident elsewhere in the United Kingdom, you retain any mandatory protections given to you by the law applying where you live.
Nothing prevents you from using a court or dispute-resolution procedure that you are legally entitled to use.
56. Contact details
Questions about these Terms should be directed to:
The Hound & Estate
Hollie Adamson, Sole Trader
Email:enquiries@thehoundandestate.co.uk
Telephone:01606 227 728
Website: thehoundandestate.co.uk
Model Cancellation Form
Complete and send this form only if you wish to exercise a statutory right to cancel and that right applies to your contract.
To:
Email: enquiries@thehoundandestate.co.uk
I hereby give notice that I cancel my contract for the following service:
Service: ___________________________________
Date the service was ordered/agreed: ___________________________________
Client name: ___________________________________
Client address: ___________________________________
Signature (only if submitted on paper): ___________________________________
Date: ___________________________________