TERMS & CONDITIONS
Effective Date: August 19, 2026
Last Updated: August 19, 2026
These Terms and Conditions (“Terms”) govern your access to and use of mybestpaldogtraining.com (the “Website”), operated by My Best Pal Dog Training and Steph Raines (“My Best Pal,” “we,” “us,” or “our”).
These Terms apply to use of the Website and information provided through it. Individual dog-training, pet-sitting, drop-in, house-sitting, walking, consultation, or other services may also be subject to separate agreements, intake forms, waivers, service policies, or written terms.
By accessing or using the Website, submitting an inquiry, requesting a consultation, purchasing a product, or engaging with services described through the Website, you agree to these Terms.
If you do not agree with these Terms, please discontinue use of the Website.
1. About My Best Pal Dog Training
My Best Pal Dog Training provides dog-training and pet-care services in the Tri-Cities of Washington, including Kennewick, Richland, and Pasco.
Services described on the Website may include:
in-home dog training;
puppy training;
leash and dog-walking training;
training tune-ups;
pet sitting;
house sitting;
drop-in pet visits;
dog walking;
medication administration;
consultations;
breed-matching guidance;
educational resources; and
related pet-care services.
Services are provided by Steph Raines, a certified canine trainer.
Service offerings, pricing, geographic availability, and requirements may change.
2. No Guarantee of Training Results
Every dog is different.
Training results depend on numerous factors outside My Best Pal’s control, including:
My Best Pal does not guarantee that a dog will achieve a particular behavioral result within a particular period.
Statements regarding potential improvements, training goals, or expected progress represent professional assessments or goals rather than guarantees.
Owner participation and consistent reinforcement between training sessions may be essential to maintaining progress.
3. Animal Behavior and Inherent Risks
Animals can behave unpredictably.
Dog training, walking, handling, pet sitting, play, transportation, entry into a pet’s home environment, and interaction with people or other animals involve inherent risks.
These risks may include:
Clients acknowledge that even a dog with no known history of aggression may react unexpectedly.
Nothing on the Website should be interpreted as representing that a particular dog poses no risk.
4. Owner Disclosure Obligations
Before services begin, owners are responsible for providing complete and accurate information regarding their pets.
This includes disclosure of known:
Failure to disclose relevant information may result in modification, suspension, or termination of services.
My Best Pal may decline to accept or continue working with a dog where Steph reasonably determines that doing so would create an unacceptable safety risk.
The Website currently states that pet-sitting services cannot accommodate pets with a known history of biting.
5. Vaccination and Health Requirements
Dogs and puppies participating in applicable services must meet the health and vaccination requirements communicated by My Best Pal.
The Website currently requires pets participating in applicable training and pet-care services to be up to date on vaccinations.
Owners are responsible for ensuring their pet is sufficiently healthy to participate in the requested service.
My Best Pal does not provide veterinary advice and is not a substitute for veterinary care.
If you have concerns regarding whether your pet is medically able to participate in training, exercise, walking, or another service, consult a licensed veterinarian.
6. Veterinary Emergencies
If an animal becomes ill or injured while in My Best Pal’s care and the owner cannot reasonably be reached, My Best Pal may seek veterinary assistance when Steph reasonably believes doing so is necessary to protect the animal’s health or safety.
The owner remains financially responsible for veterinary care, medications, transportation, emergency treatment, and related costs unless otherwise agreed in writing or required by law.
Owners should provide current veterinary and emergency-contact information before pet-care services begin.
Nothing in this provision obligates My Best Pal to diagnose or treat a medical condition.
7. Medication Administration
Pet-care services may include administration of medications when agreed in advance.
Owners are responsible for providing:
the correct medication;
clear written instructions;
appropriate dosage information;
administration timing;
veterinary instructions where applicable; and
information concerning known reactions or risks.
My Best Pal does not prescribe medication or provide veterinary treatment.
If medication cannot reasonably or safely be administered due to an animal’s behavior, refusal, physical condition, or other circumstances, My Best Pal may contact the owner or designated emergency contact for further instruction.
8. Training Consultations
A consultation may be required before My Best Pal accepts certain training or pet-care engagements.
The Website currently identifies mandatory consultations for various services and lists a $30 consultation fee.
A consultation provides an opportunity to assess the animal, discuss goals and needs, and determine whether My Best Pal is an appropriate provider.
Completion of a consultation does not guarantee acceptance into a training or pet-care program.
9. Deposits and Training Packages
Certain training packages may require a deposit to reserve a program.
The Website currently provides that certain puppy and dog-walking training packages require a 50% non-refundable deposit, with the remaining balance due according to the applicable program terms.
Any deposit, payment schedule, cancellation policy, or refund policy disclosed on the applicable service page or communicated before booking is incorporated into the service agreement.
Deposits may be non-refundable to the extent disclosed before payment and permitted by applicable law.
10. Cancellations and Rescheduling
Different services may have different cancellation requirements.
The Website currently states cancellation policies for pet sitting and drop-in services, including minimum notice requirements and potential partial or full charges for late cancellations.
Clients are responsible for reviewing the cancellation policy applicable to their particular booking.
Fees may apply to late cancellations, shortened bookings, or no-shows where disclosed in advance.
My Best Pal may also reschedule or cancel services because of illness, weather, unsafe conditions, emergencies, pet behavior, access issues, or circumstances outside reasonable control.
11. Pet Sitting, Drop-Ins, and House Access
Pet-sitting and drop-in services are performed in the client’s home unless otherwise agreed.
Clients are responsible for providing safe and reliable access to the property.
This may include:
The Website requests that clients inform My Best Pal in advance about other persons who will access the home during a pet-care engagement.
My Best Pal is not responsible for the acts or omissions of other persons who access the property before, during, or after a pet-care engagement.
12. Home Conditions and Property
Clients are responsible for maintaining a reasonably safe environment for services performed in their home or on their property.
Clients should disclose known hazards including:
defective gates or fences;
broken locks;
security-system issues;
aggressive animals;
unsafe structures;
hazardous substances;
construction;
surveillance systems where disclosure is legally required;
other occupants or visitors; and
environmental hazards.
Pet-sitting services may include limited home-care activities such as mail collection, plant watering, or trash handling when agreed.
My Best Pal does not provide general property-management, landscaping, maintenance, or security services.
13. Pet Supplies and Equipment
Clients are responsible for providing any food, medications, treats, leashes, collars, harnesses, crates, or other supplies required for the agreed service unless otherwise arranged.
The Website currently requires owners to provide training treats for applicable training programs and food where feeding is required during pet-care services.
Clients are responsible for ensuring equipment provided for their animal is reasonably safe and properly fitted.
14. Escapes and Unforeseen Events
My Best Pal will use reasonable care when handling pets.
However, pets may escape, bolt, pull away, damage equipment, become frightened, or otherwise act unpredictably.
Owners are responsible for informing My Best Pal of known escape behavior and ensuring that fencing, gates, doors, collars, harnesses, and other containment systems are reasonably secure.
Nothing in these Terms eliminates liability that cannot legally be limited under Washington law.
15. Interaction With Other Animals and People
My Best Pal may reasonably avoid interaction with unfamiliar people or animals when necessary for safety.
Clients should not assume that training or supervision eliminates the possibility of aggressive, fearful, reactive, or unpredictable behavior.
Owners remain responsible for appropriately supervising and managing their animals outside the specific period during which the animal has been entrusted to My Best Pal.
16. Breed Matching and Educational Information
My Best Pal may provide guidance concerning dog breeds, temperament characteristics, lifestyle considerations, or breed selection.
This information is educational and based on generalized characteristics and professional judgment.
Individual dogs within a breed can differ substantially.
Breed guidance does not guarantee:
Prospective owners should independently research breeders, rescues, veterinary considerations, breed-specific health concerns, and local legal requirements.
17. Digital Products and Resources
The Website may offer or link to digital products, educational resources, training tools, product recommendations, or other materials.
These materials are intended for educational purposes.
Digital training information does not replace individualized assessment where a dog presents aggression, serious reactivity, severe anxiety, medical concerns, or other significant behavioral issues.
Unless otherwise stated, purchases of immediately accessible digital content may be subject to separate refund terms communicated at purchase.
18. Product Recommendations and Affiliate Links
The Website may recommend or link to products, equipment, toys, training tools, supplies, or third-party retailers.
A recommendation does not guarantee that a particular product is suitable or safe for every animal.
Clients should:
use products according to manufacturer instructions;
select appropriate sizing;
supervise animals where appropriate; and
discontinue use if a product becomes unsafe or damaged.
If an affiliate relationship exists for a particular link, applicable disclosures should be provided as required by law.
19. Payments
The Website identifies cash, check, PayPal, Venmo, and other electronic methods as possible payment methods for certain services.
Payments processed by third-party payment providers are also subject to that provider’s terms, privacy policy, fraud controls, and security practices.
My Best Pal is not responsible for the independent operation or security of third-party payment platforms.
20. Third-Party Forms and Services
The Website may direct users to third-party services, including Microsoft Forms, payment providers, social-media platforms, maps, retailers, or other websites.
The site currently uses Microsoft Forms for its house and pet-sitting intake process.
These services operate independently and maintain their own terms and privacy practices.
My Best Pal does not control third-party platforms and is not responsible for their independent acts, omissions, security practices, availability, or data handling.
21. Testimonials and Results
Testimonials reflect the experiences of individual clients.
They do not constitute a guarantee that another client or animal will receive identical or similar results.
Training and pet-care outcomes vary according to the animal, owner participation, environment, circumstances, and other factors.
22. Photographs and Video Updates
Pet-sitting and other services may include photographs or video updates provided to an owner.
Providing private updates to an owner does not automatically authorize My Best Pal to use those images publicly for marketing.
Where photographs or video identifying the owner, home, or other individuals are used publicly, appropriate permission should be obtained where required.
23. Intellectual Property
Unless otherwise stated, original Website content—including written materials, photographs, graphics, branding, logos, digital materials, and educational resources—is owned by or licensed to My Best Pal Dog Training and protected by applicable intellectual-property laws.
You may use publicly available Website content for personal, noncommercial purposes.
You may not, without authorization:
republish Website content;
commercially reproduce training materials;
distribute purchased digital resources to others;
sell or license Website materials;
remove copyright or proprietary notices;
systematically scrape Website content; or
represent My Best Pal content as your own.
Nothing in these Terms restricts uses permitted by applicable copyright law.
24. Website Accuracy
We make reasonable efforts to keep service descriptions, rates, requirements, and availability current.
However, information may change.
If Website information conflicts with the specific terms provided to a client when booking a service, the applicable service agreement or booking terms will control.
25. Disclaimer of Warranties
TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, THE WEBSITE AND GENERAL INFORMATION PROVIDED THROUGH IT ARE PROVIDED “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE.”
MY BEST PAL DISCLAIMS EXPRESS AND IMPLIED WARRANTIES CONCERNING THE WEBSITE, INCLUDING WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, ACCURACY, AND AVAILABILITY, EXCEPT WHERE THOSE WARRANTIES CANNOT LAWFULLY BE DISCLAIMED.
26. Limitation of Website Liability
TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, MY BEST PAL DOG TRAINING, STEPH RAINES, AND THEIR CONTRACTORS OR REPRESENTATIVES WILL NOT BE LIABLE FOR INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES ARISING SOLELY FROM USE OF OR RELIANCE UPON THE WEBSITE.
Nothing in these Website Terms is intended to waive liability that cannot lawfully be waived or limited.
These Website Terms also do not replace a separate dog-training agreement, pet-care agreement, veterinary authorization, key/access agreement, or assumption-of-risk/liability waiver applicable to actual services.
27. Indemnification
To the extent permitted by Washington law, you agree to indemnify and hold harmless My Best Pal Dog Training and Steph Raines from claims, losses, liabilities, damages, and reasonable expenses arising from:
your unlawful misuse of the Website;
materially false information you knowingly provide;
your failure to disclose a known dangerous condition relating to your pet or property;
your infringement of another person’s rights; or
your violation of these Terms.
28. Accessibility
My Best Pal Dog Training seeks to make its Website reasonably accessible.
If you experience difficulty accessing Website content or functionality, contact:
Steph Raines
Text: 509-518-3673
Email: steph@mybestpaldogtraining.com
29. Privacy
Personal information collected through the Website is handled as described in the My Best Pal Dog Training Privacy Policy.
30. Governing Law
These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of Washington, without regard to conflict-of-law principles.
To the extent permitted by applicable law, disputes arising solely from these Terms or use of the Website will be brought in a court of competent jurisdiction serving the applicable Tri-Cities area of Washington.
31. Severability
If a provision of these Terms is found invalid or unenforceable, it will be enforced to the maximum extent permitted by law and the remaining provisions will remain effective.
32. No Waiver
Failure to enforce a provision of these Terms does not constitute a waiver of that provision or another right.
33. Changes to These Terms
These Terms may be updated periodically to reflect changes to services, Website features, policies, technology, or legal requirements.
The “Last Updated” date above identifies the latest revision.
34. Contact
Questions concerning these Terms may be directed to:
My Best Pal Dog Training
Steph Raines, Certified K9 Trainer
Serving Kennewick, Richland & Pasco, Washington
Email: steph@mybestpaldogtraining.com
Text: 509-518-3673
Website: mybestpaldogtraining.com
