Terms and Conditions | North West Trails

The terms and conditions are in effect as soon as you sign up for any service offered or merchandise bought from North West Trails.

Signing-up

You can sign up through our website and pay upfront for services via online booking. You may email for a service if you wish to pay in cash. No telephone or spoken sign-ups are possible.

The sign-up means you are bound to these terms and conditions.

After signing up you will receive a confirmation via email.

The payee/client is agreeing to communication via e-mail and phone and therefore storing the e-mail address and phone number with North West Trails.

The sign-up is – unless informed through writing – for one team consisting of one person and one dog. Family members and friends are welcome as spectators, but they must sign up either online (chose Session Spectator option) or by email. Their name and relation to dog owner's/ handler's must be provided to North West Trails.

The extend of the performance and content of North West Trails Instructor's session will be as advertised for the specific workshop/course on the website.

North West Trails Instructor is allowed to refuse the participation to anyone without having to give a reason.

Payment

With signing-up for any services provided by North West Trails, payment is expected immediately, otherwise agreed by Instructor through email for cash payment at the beginning of the session. If not done so, North West Trails reserves the right to refuse participation in the service you have signed up for.

Fees and prices are subject to change without notice. Price at time of booking applies.

All services/courses/workshops must be prepaid. No admittance will be allowed unless the course fee has been paid in full. If you wish to pay in cash, please email info@northwesttrails.ie

Participants

It´s “first come first serve”. North West Trails reserves the right to cancel or postpone any event/service.

The number of participants is limited unless listed differently.

Family sessions:

Children age of 12 and over are welcome as spectators when accompanied and supervised at all times by a parent/guardian. Maximum of one child per adult and one child per session.

Children aged 16 and over are welcome to participate as dog handlers, as long as they are accompanied by an adult.

Instructor of North West Trails has the right to deny participation is he/she deems that child's behavior is upsetting/disturbing to the dogs and other participants. Our sessions are very inclusive and a lot of the time we deal with reactive and nervous dogs. We kindly ask that every parent/guardian of a child participating is mindful of all other participants and their dog's needs.

Cancellation policy - sessions/courses

The cancellation fee is 100% if cancelled less than 12 hours before event start, unless the space can be otherwise assigned. Cancellation is free if cancelled or rescheduled more than 12 hours before even start.

Exchange and refund policy - merchandise

If you bought merchandise from North West Trails, we are happy to offer a refund or exchange on any product purchased, provided it is returned in perfect condition (unwashed, unworn and no damage) together with a valid receipt within 60 calendar days of purchase. Items that have been purchased can be exchanged. In all cases, the postage for a return or an exchange is to be paid by the person/s who have bought the merchandise.

Mantrailing Participation rules

Any participant is required to have a harness and a long lead on their dog while trailing. You will not be allowed to participate if you want to put the long lead on a collar and refuse to put a harness on your dog.

For your dog's safety, we must insist on Mantrailing with well fitted harness and long line attached to the harness.

For dog handler's safety, you must wear suitable clothing and footwear. Fitflop/sandals are strictly prohibited, North West Trails Instructor reserves the right to decline your participation without participant's adequate footwear.

Behaviour in and around the training areas

You have to follow the guidelines of the trainers of North West Trails. Dogs must be on lead at all time, unless the trainer gives consent that you can walk your dog off-lead in the area.

Please note to always be friendly with pedestrians and traffic participants. You are required to wear a high vis vest or similar, especially when working your dog in areas with a lot of traffic. North West Trails does not take any responsibility for interference with the law or injuries while participating in the event/service.

Your dogs are to be left in the car or securely closed in while we are working other dogs. It is the dog owner’s responsibility to make sure that the car has enough air circulation/flow and water is provided for the dogs’ health and safety.

Health of the dogs

Only healthy and fully vaccinated dogs are allowed to participate in any event/service that North West Trails is offering. The participant insures that the dog is free of diseases and fully vaccinated. If a bitch comes or is in season, the event/service organizer has to be informed. If a dog falls ill shortly before or during the event/service, North West Trails and/or the trainer/organizer is to be informed immediately to discuss further action and prevent a possible disease from spreading. All dogs accepted require to be de-wormed and de-flead regularly.

Liability and Insurance

The participation in any events/services offered by North West Trails is on your own risk, which means the insurance lies with the participant/s themselves. We therefore make you aware, that you have to be insured to be able to participate in any events/services. The participant is fully reliable for any damages/harm done by either themselves, their dogs or the people that came with them. North West Trails and the organiser/s and trainer/s, instructor/s do not take ANY responsibility for ANY damage/harm done to a person/s or a thing/s (e.g. buildings, cars, dogs, personal belongings etc.). You must be able to prove that your dog is insured if requested to do so. The participant takes the full responsibility for their dog/s, even if acting upon instruction of a trainer/s or organiser/s.

You are fully responsible for your own and your dog's actions. North West Trails cannot be asked to take over any costs for damage or harm done to you or your dog/s.

North West Trails does not take any responsibility in case of injury or death of your dog/s, other animals or yourself or third parties.

North West Trails takes all reasonable precautions within the structure of our training sessions/workshops/courses to avoid injury resulting from dog bites. However, North West Trails accepts no responsibility for damage or injury resulting from dog bites occurring to clients or their dogs while attending training sessions/seminars/courses/workshops. The Control of Dogs Act 1986 section 21 - "Liability of owner for damage by Dog" applies within our classes/seminars/workshops/trainings/introduction courses and on our premises or public premises (rented from a third party or owned).

All instances of accident or injury must be reported to the dog trainer/instructor at the time they occurred.

The following items are NOT PERMITTED at any training session/course/seminar/workshop under any circumstances: Electric shock collars, including citronella; any other device that causes discomfort, pain or fear to the dog; Prong or pinch collars; Any equipment that the trainer deems unacceptable.

Equipment and clothing

With every event/service you will need good, comfortable shoes (hiking boots) and you need to be dressed appropriately for any weather conditions. The participant is responsible to inspect the quality and functionality of the harness, long lead and collar of the dog/s.

For Mantrailing session you will be required to bring the following:

Dog on flat collar and short lead

Well fitted harness and long line (7-10 meters)

Water and water bowl for your dog(s)

High value treats in small tupperware containers (at least 6 portions - 2 portion per trail)

Your own car set up comfortably for your dog to spend down time in between trails, we work one dog at a time, alternating dogs as agreed at beginning of each session.

Length of the event/service

The trainer/organiser will determine the length of the event/seminar based on the progress of each participant and their dogs as well as the number of participants and the physical and psychological capability of each dog. The trainer will act in the best interest of the dog and can therefore order a rest for a dog or put a halt on further training sessions. If the participant is late for the event/service, it is their own fault and the trainer/organiser will not stop/pause the event/service because of this. The participant is not eligible to make up for any missed hours/days or get a reduction of cost because of such.

Cancellation of a contract or postponing of an event/service by North West Trails

North West Trails reserves the right to withdraw from a contract without having to obey a timeline/date, especially when a participant does not obey the contract and/or breaks any animal right laws/guidelines. This also applies if the participant puts others and/or their dog/s in danger, or if you and/or your dog is not sufficiently insured.
Events/services generally take place in every weather.
In case of a change of date, place or time, North West Trails Instructor will inform the participant.
North West Trails reserves the right to postpone or cancel an event/service.
If the trainer/instructor falls ill or cannot hold the event/service for other reasons, North West Trails will postpone the event or another head instructor will hold the event.
If the event/service takes place with a smaller group, North West Trails reserves the right to shorten the time/length of the event/service accordingly.
North West Trails will not refund any costs that are caused by a third party (e.g. flights, hotels, etc.).

No guarantee of success

North West Trails Instructors will not guarantee any success during or after any event/service.

All the copyright is reserved by North West Trails. This includes material, videos, pictures, texts, merchandise design. Information in any form, provided during an event/service, in its original form or modified, can only be used/published with written consent from North West Trails. Voice recordings and videos of any event/service have to be permitted by North West Trails.

Non-Competition clause

Any individual participating in introduction courses, seminars, workshops, trainings or any other services that are offered by North West Trails, agrees not to conduct/hold/offer such or similar, to the general public or another business or third parties within the Republic of Ireland. This includes Mantrailing introduction courses, Mantrailing seminars, Mantrailing workshops, Mantrailing trainings within two consecutive years after the event. This can only be changed, if the individual undertakes the Mantrailing Global Instructor Course or is an existing Mantrailing Global Certified Instructor.

Pictures and videos

North West Trails reserves the right to take pictures and videos during an event/service. Every participant herewith agrees for these to be published on the website, social media or written form. Participants are not allowed to take pictures, videos, etc. without the consent of the other participants and North West Trails. Participants are NOT allowed to publish any pictures, videos, voice recordings, text, information gained in any way.

If you do not want to be filmed or photographed (or your dog), you need to let your Instructor or the organizers know in writing. The owner allows and consents for their dog to be photographed, videotaped, and/or used in any media or advertising by North West Trails without prior approval. All such photographs and videos etc. are the property of North West Trails .

General

These Terms and Conditions have been authored to assist our clients in getting the most they can from training with North West Trails.

Our terms and conditions may change over time. The terms and conditions apply at time of booking. Revised terms and conditions apply to subsequent bookings.

North West Trails and its Instructors have no liability in respect of the content of other websites that are linked to or from. These provisions (terms, conditions, disclaimers and exclusions) shall be construed in accordance with the laws of Republic of Ireland. If any of these provisions are deemed or found to be unlawful, void or for any reason unenforceable then the provision or provisions so found shall be deemed severable and shall not affect the validity and enforceability of the remaining provisions. Any and all disputes arising will be subject to the exclusive derestriction of the courts of Republic of Ireland.

By booking a course/seminar/workshop or attending our training sessions or any other services with North West Trails, you agree to be bound by these terms and conditions.

Krisztina Takacs

North West Trails - Rappacastle, Ballina, Co Mayo

January 2025