​Welcome to It's A Dog's Life St Helens.

These Terms & Conditions apply to all services provided by It's A Dog's Life St Helens, including but not limited to Private Hire, Puppy & Junior Socials, Breed Meets, Workshops, The Dog Wash and Specialist Grooming Support.  By making a booking or attending any of our services, you confirm that you have read, understood and agree to these Terms & Conditions. 

Should you have any questions before booking, please don't hesitate to contact us.

 

General Terms

Age Requirements

Bookings may only be made by persons aged 18 years or over.

All dogs and children attending It's A Dog's Life St Helens must be accompanied and supervised at all times by a responsible adult aged 18 years or over.

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Owner Responsibility

The behaviour, safety and welfare of your dog remains your responsibility at all times whilst using our facilities or attending any of our services.

Owners remain responsible for any loss, injury or damage caused by themselves or their dog(s), in the same way they would in any public place.

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Appropriate Conduct

We are committed to providing a safe, welcoming and enjoyable environment for everyone.

Smoking, vaping, alcohol and illegal drugs are not permitted anywhere inside the premises.

A designated smoking area is provided outside the building.

Aggressive, abusive or threatening behaviour towards staff, volunteers or other customers will not be tolerated.

 

Welfare First

The welfare of every dog attending It's A Dog's Life St Helens will always take priority.

We reserve the right to refuse or end any service where we believe continuing would compromise the safety or welfare of a dog, customer, member of staff or member of the public.

No dog will ever be physically forced through any activity or grooming procedure simply to complete a booking.

 

Photography & Social Media

From time to time we may take photographs or videos during appointments or events for use on our website and social media channels.

If you would prefer your dog not to appear in photographs or videos, please let us know before your appointment.

 

Changes to these Terms

These Terms & Conditions may be updated from time to time.

The latest version will always be available on our website and will apply to all future bookings.

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Private Hire

Booking Information

Private Hire sessions provide exclusive use of the indoor play facility for you and your dog(s).

Bookings are available in either 25-minute or 55-minute sessions and include time for arrival and departure. Please ensure you arrive and leave within your allocated booking time to allow us to prepare the facility for the next customer. Only the people and dogs included within your booking are permitted to enter the facility unless agreed in advance by It's A Dog's Life St Helens.

Private Hire sessions accommodate up to 6 dogs. If you wish to bring more than 6 dogs, please contact us before booking.

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Payment

Full payment is required at the time of booking.

Your booking is not confirmed until payment has been received.

 

Cancellations & Rescheduling

Bookings cancelled or rescheduled more than 48 hours before the appointment may be transferred or refunded at the discretion of It's A Dog's Life St Helens.  Unfortunately, bookings cancelled or rescheduled within 48 hours of the appointment are non-refundable, as it is unlikely that the appointment can be reallocated at short notice.

If we need to cancel your booking due to unforeseen circumstances, you will be offered an alternative appointment or a full refund.

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Arrival & Departure

Please remain with your dog(s) in your vehicle until the previous customer has safely left the building.

Dogs must remain on a lead whilst entering and leaving the premises.

Please do not enter the facility before your allocated booking time unless invited to do so by a member of staff.

To help prevent dogs meeting unexpectedly, we kindly ask that customers leave promptly at the end of their session.

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During Your Session

Owners remain responsible for supervising their dog(s) at all times.  Dogs must not be left unattended anywhere within the premises.  Please use the equipment responsibly and in accordance with its intended purpose.

Should any equipment become damaged or you notice anything that may present a safety risk, please notify a member of staff immediately.

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Leaving the Facility

Please leave the facility clean and tidy for the next customer.

All dog waste must be picked up immediately and disposed of in the bins provided.

Please ensure all personal belongings are taken with you before leaving.

Any damage caused to the building, equipment or fixtures as a result of negligence or misuse may be chargeable.

 

Late Arrivals

If you arrive late, your session will still finish at the original booked time.

Unfortunately, we cannot extend appointments if doing so would affect subsequent bookings.

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Puppy Socials, Junior Socials & Breed Meets

Puppy Socials, Junior Socials & Breed Meets

Our social sessions are designed to provide a safe, enjoyable and well-managed environment for dogs and their owners. While every effort is made to ensure sessions are suitable for all attendees, owners remain responsible for their dog's behaviour and welfare throughout.

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Participation

• All dogs must be accompanied by a responsible adult aged 18 years or over.

• Owners are responsible for supervising their dog at all times.

• Dogs must be fit, healthy and suitable to attend a group environment.

• We reserve the right to refuse entry or ask any owner and dog to leave if we believe their attendance may compromise the safety or welfare of others.

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Suitable Dogs

Puppy and Junior Socials are designed for dogs within the advertised age ranges.

Breed Meets and other social sessions are intended for dogs that are comfortable interacting with other dogs in a shared environment.

If your dog has shown nervous, reactive or aggressive behaviour towards other dogs or people, please contact us before booking so we can discuss whether the session is appropriate or recommend a more suitable alternative.

 

During the Session

• Dogs may be off lead during social sessions unless otherwise instructed.

• Owners must remain attentive and be prepared to regain control of their dog if requested.

• Leads should be readily available throughout the session.

• Owners must clean up after their dogs immediately.

 

Safety & Welfare

Our sessions are carefully supervised; however, dog play naturally involves excitement and interaction.

Owners acknowledge that normal play may occasionally result in minor bumps or scratches and accept these inherent risks.

Should any dog's behaviour become inappropriate or unsafe, we reserve the right to remove that dog from the activity without refund if necessary to protect the welfare of others.

 

​Training Courses & Workshops

Training Courses & Workshops

Training courses, workshops and educational sessions are designed to provide practical guidance and support for both dogs and their owners. While every effort is made to help you achieve your individual goals, outcomes will vary depending on each dog, owner and the consistency of training outside of sessions.

 

Attendance

• Dogs must be accompanied by a responsible adult aged 18 years or over.

• Owners remain responsible for their dog's behaviour, welfare and actions throughout the session.

• Dogs must remain under their owner's control at all times.

• Depending on the activity, dogs may be required to remain on lead for all or part of the session.

 

Registration

Owners are responsible for providing accurate information regarding their dog's health, behaviour and previous training experience when booking.

Failure to disclose relevant information may affect your dog's suitability for the session.

 

Training Methods

It's A Dog's Life St Helens is committed to using kind, ethical and welfare-focused training methods.

The use of aversive equipment or training methods, including but not limited to prong collars, electronic collars or any equipment designed to cause fear, pain or discomfort, is not permitted during any training session or workshop.

 

Group Management

To ensure the safety and welfare of everyone attending, we reserve the right to:

• Adapt exercises or activities.

• Adjust group sizes or pairings.

• Request additional management measures.

• Ask an owner and dog to leave if their behaviour presents a risk to themselves or others.

Where appropriate, alternative training options may be recommended.

 

Training Outcomes

Every dog learns at a different pace. Attendance at any course or workshop does not guarantee specific training or behavioural outcomes, as progress depends upon many factors including consistency, practice and the individual dog.

 

Welfare First

No dog will ever be physically or emotionally forced through an exercise.

If a dog becomes overwhelmed, anxious or unable to participate comfortably, activities may be adapted to ensure their welfare remains the priority.

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The Dog Wash - Terms & Conditions

The following Terms & Conditions apply to all appointments booked for The Dog Wash.

Services

The Dog Wash currently offers Bath & Blow Dry and Bath, Blow Dry & De-Shed services.

The following services are not currently offered:

• Full body clipping

• Breed styling

• Face trimming

• Hand stripping

• Clip-offs for heavily matted coats

 

Booking & Deposits

A £20 non-refundable deposit is required to secure all appointments.

Appointments are not confirmed until the deposit has been received.

The deposit will be deducted from your final balance.

Appointments are booked in good faith based on the information provided at the time of booking. Failure to disclose information that may affect your dog's appointment may result in the appointment being amended, postponed or cancelled.

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Pricing

Prices displayed on our website are provided as a guide only.

The final price will depend on your dog's:

• Breed

• Size

• Coat type

• Coat condition

• Behaviour

• Service requested

• Time required

Any quotation provided before your appointment is an estimate and may be amended if the information provided at the time of booking differs from your dog's condition on arrival.

 

Nervous, Reactive or Aggressive Dogs

The Dog Wash is suitable for dogs that are generally comfortable with routine bathing and grooming.

If your dog is nervous, anxious, reactive or has previously shown aggression during grooming or handling, we also offer a Specialist Grooming Support service. Please contact Wendy before booking to arrange a FREE consultation, where we'll discuss your dog's individual needs and create a personalised grooming plan designed to build confidence and support a positive grooming experience.

Matted Coats

The Dog Wash does not offer clip-offs for heavily matted coats.

If your dog's coat is found to be heavily matted, we will discuss the most appropriate options with you before any work is carried out. We reserve the right to refuse or stop an appointment where continuing would compromise your dog's welfare.

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Health & Welfare

Dogs attending The Dog Wash must be fit and well and free from signs of contagious illness.

Please do not bring your dog to their appointment if they are showing signs of illness, including (but not limited to):

• Coughing

• Vomiting

• Diarrhoea

• Any other contagious illness

Dogs attending appointments must also be free from flea infestations.

If fleas are discovered during an appointment, we reserve the right to stop the appointment immediately. Additional cleaning charges may be incurred where specialist cleaning of the grooming room or equipment is required.

Your dog's welfare will always be our priority.

We reserve the right to adapt, postpone or end an appointment where continuing would compromise the safety or welfare of your dog, yourself or our staff.

No dog will ever be physically forced through a grooming procedure simply to complete an appointment.

 

Cancellations & Late Arrivals

Appointments cancelled or rescheduled with less than 48 hours' notice are non-refundable.

If you arrive late, we will always do our best to complete your appointment. However, where this is not possible, your appointment may need to be shortened or rescheduled to avoid impacting subsequent bookings.

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Specialist Grooming Support

The following Terms & Conditions apply to appointments booked for Specialist Grooming Support.

Suitability.  Specialist Grooming Support is designed for dogs that are nervous, anxious, reactive or find aspects of grooming difficult.  Appointments are tailored to each dog's individual needs and progress at a pace appropriate for that dog.

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Initial Consultation

All new Specialist Grooming Support clients will begin with a FREE consultation.  This allows us to discuss your dog's grooming history, behaviour, previous experiences and individual needs before recommending an appropriate grooming plan.

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Individual Grooming Plans

Every dog is different.  As a result, appointments are individually tailored and may focus on building confidence and positive associations with grooming rather than completing a full groom during the first visit.

Progress will always be made at a pace that is appropriate for your dog.

 

Welfare

Your dog's welfare will always remain our priority.  No dog will ever be physically forced through any grooming procedure or handling exercise. If we believe continuing an appointment would compromise your dog's welfare or safety, we reserve the right to adapt, postpone or end the appointment.

 

Owner Responsibility

Owners must provide accurate information regarding their dog's health, behaviour, previous grooming experiences and any known handling requirements.

Failure to disclose relevant information may affect the suitability or outcome of the appointment.

 

Pricing & Deposits

Following your consultation, recommended appointments and pricing will be discussed with you before any further bookings are made.  Any deposits paid for subsequent appointments are subject to the cancellation policy in force at the time of booking.

 

Expectations

Every dog progresses at their own pace.  Whilst every effort will be made to help your dog become more comfortable with grooming, no guarantees can be given regarding the number of sessions required or the outcome achieved.

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Health & Safety

The health, safety and welfare of all visitors, dogs and staff is our priority.  By attending It's A Dog's Life St Helens, you agree to the following:

 

Dog Health

All dogs attending our premises must:

• Be fit and well.

• Be free from signs of contagious illness.

• Be free from flea infestations.

• Be up to date with vaccinations where appropriate for the service they are attending.

Dogs that have shown symptoms of kennel cough must be symptom-free for at least 14 days before attending.

Please do not bring your dog to any appointment, class or event if they are showing signs of illness, including (but not limited to):

• Coughing

• Vomiting

• Diarrhoea

• Any other contagious illness.

If you are unsure whether your dog should attend, please contact us before your appointment.

 

Equipment & Facilities

All equipment provided by It's A Dog's Life St Helens is intended for dog use unless otherwise stated.

Please use all equipment responsibly and report any damaged equipment or safety concerns to a member of staff as soon as possible.

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Safe Handling

Dogs must remain on a lead whilst entering and leaving the premises unless instructed otherwise.

Owners are responsible for supervising and safely handling their dogs at all times.

Harsh handling or physical punishment of any dog is not permitted.

The use of aversive training equipment, including prong collars, electronic collars or other equipment designed to cause fear, pain or discomfort, is not permitted during any activity organised by It's A Dog's Life St Helens.

 

Right to Refuse

We reserve the right to refuse entry or end any appointment, session or event where we believe doing so is necessary to protect the safety or welfare of any person or animal.

This includes, but is not limited to:

• Dogs showing signs of contagious illness.

• Aggressive or dangerous behaviour.

• Failure to comply with these Terms & Conditions.

• Situations where continuing the appointment or activity may compromise the safety or welfare of any person or animal.

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Parking & Arrival

Customers are asked to arrive promptly for their appointment or booking and to park considerately within the designated parking areas.

As It's A Dog's Life St Helens is located on an industrial estate, please take extra care when driving due to the movement of other vehicles, deliveries and machinery.

All vehicles are parked entirely at the owner's risk. It's A Dog's Life St Helens accepts no responsibility for any loss, theft or damage to vehicles or their contents whilst on the premises.

Dogs must remain on a lead whilst moving between your vehicle and the premises unless otherwise instructed.

Please do not enter the premises before your allocated booking time unless invited to do so by a member of staff.

To help ensure the safety of all visitors and allow appointments to run smoothly, we kindly ask customers to arrive and leave within their allocated booking time

 

Liability

Whilst every reasonable effort is made to provide a safe, secure and enjoyable environment, all services and facilities at It's A Dog's Life St Helens are used entirely at the owner's own risk.

Owners remain responsible for the behaviour, welfare and actions of their dog(s) at all times whilst attending our premises or using our services.

It's A Dog's Life St Helens accepts no responsibility for:

• Injury, illness or death of any dog whilst attending our premises or participating in our services, except where caused by our negligence.

• Loss, theft or damage to personal belongings or vehicles.

• Damage or injury caused by one dog to another dog, person or property.

• Any communicable illness that may be contracted whilst attending our premises or using our services.

Whilst every effort is made to minimise risks, owners acknowledge that activities involving dogs carry an inherent level of risk.

Any damage caused to the premises, equipment or property through negligence or misuse may be chargeable.

Nothing within these Terms & Conditions affects your statutory rights.

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XL Bully & Exempt Breeds

It's A Dog's Life St Helens welcomes XL Bully dogs and other exempt breeds, provided all current legal requirements and the conditions of our insurance policy are met.

Owners are responsible for ensuring their dog complies with all applicable legislation relating to exempt breeds.

The following conditions apply:

• The dog must be registered on the Index of Exempted Dogs (IED) where legally required.

• Owners must provide copies of relevant exemption and public liability insurance documents upon request.

• The dog must be microchipped.

• The dog must be neutered where required by current legislation.

• A minimum 1:1 dog-to-handler ratio must be maintained unless attending with other dogs from the same household where legislation permits otherwise.

• Dogs must remain on a lead and wear a muzzle whilst entering and leaving the premises unless legislation permits otherwise.

• Once inside a securely enclosed private hire area, leads and muzzles may be removed where permitted by current legislation and our insurance policy.

• Where dogs from different households are present, exempt breeds must comply with all current legal and insurance requirements throughout the visit.

Owners are responsible for ensuring they remain compliant with any future changes in legislation relating to exempt breeds.

It's A Dog's Life St Helens reserves the right to refuse entry where legal or insurance requirements have not been met.

Waste & Cleanliness

Owners are responsible for cleaning up after their dogs at all times.

• Please encourage your dog to toilet before entering the premises where possible.

• All dog waste must be picked up immediately and disposed of in the bins provided.

• Please dispose of all litter responsibly.

• Customers are asked to leave the facility clean, tidy and ready for the next visitor.

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Privacy

It's A Dog's Life St Helens respects your privacy and is committed to protecting your personal information.

Any personal information collected when you make a booking or enquiry will only be used for the purposes of:

• Managing your booking or appointment.

• Providing the services you have requested.

• Contacting you regarding your booking where necessary.

• Meeting our legal and regulatory obligations.

We will never sell or share your personal information with third parties for marketing purposes.

Your information will be processed and stored in accordance with applicable UK data protection legislation.

Customer Agreement

By making a booking or attending any service provided by It's A Dog's Life St Helens, you confirm that:

• You have read, understood and agree to these Terms & Conditions.

• The information you have provided is accurate and complete to the best of your knowledge.

• You accept responsibility for your dog's behaviour, welfare and actions whilst attending our premises or using our services.

• You agree to follow any reasonable instructions given by members of staff to help ensure the safety and welfare of all people and dogs attending.

• You understand that activities involving dogs carry an inherent level of risk and agree that participation is entirely at your own risk.

• You acknowledge that It's A Dog's Life St Helens reserves the right to refuse or end any appointment, session or event where it is considered necessary to protect the welfare or safety of any person or animal, or where these Terms & Conditions have not been complied with.

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Thank you for choosing It's A Dog's Life St Helens. We look forward to welcoming you and your dog.

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V2. Last Updated: 5 August 2026