Disclaimer

Effective date: June 6, 2026
Last updated: July 22, 2026

Shepherd SOS provides educational dog-behavior information, owner coaching, and general training guidance. This disclaimer explains important limitations concerning the information, products, and services available through ShepherdSOS.com and Shepherd SOS.

Shepherd SOS is operated by Douglas James, doing business as Shepherd SOS (“Shepherd SOS,” “we,” “us,” or “our”).

By accessing ShepherdSOS.com, reading our content, submitting an intake form, purchasing a product or service, participating in a consultation, or using any Shepherd SOS material, you acknowledge and accept this disclaimer together with our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.

1. Educational and Coaching Services Only

Shepherd SOS provides educational guidance intended to help dog owners better understand:

  • Puppy behavior

  • Shepherd and shepherd-mix behaviors

  • Household routines

  • Crate routines

  • Potty-training routines

  • Puppy biting and mouthiness

  • Overstimulation

  • Barking and jumping

  • Leash foundations

  • Calmness and impulse control

  • Environmental management

  • Early behavior concerns

  • Owner consistency and communication

  • General training and behavior-management principles

Our services may include virtual consultations, video reviews, written action plans, digital products, courses, memberships, workshops, text or email support, and other current or future educational services.

Information provided by Shepherd SOS is general educational and coaching information. It is not a substitute for professional services that require a license, physical examination, formal diagnosis, or in-person safety assessment.

2. Not Veterinary Advice

Shepherd SOS does not provide veterinary medicine, veterinary diagnosis, veterinary treatment, prescription services, or medical care.

Nothing on ShepherdSOS.com or provided through a consultation, video review, message, course, guide, checklist, or action plan should be interpreted as:

  • Diagnosing an illness, injury, disease, or medical condition

  • Ruling out a medical cause of behavior

  • Prescribing medication, supplements, or medical treatment

  • Advising you to discontinue veterinary treatment

  • Replacing an examination by a licensed veterinarian

  • Establishing a veterinarian-client-patient relationship

Behavior changes can sometimes be related to pain, illness, injury, neurological conditions, medication, hormonal changes, nutrition, or other medical factors.

Contact a licensed veterinarian when your dog displays:

  • A sudden or unexplained behavior change

  • Signs of pain or physical discomfort

  • Unusual sensitivity to touch

  • Sudden aggression

  • Changes in appetite or thirst

  • Changes in sleep, movement, elimination, or energy

  • Vomiting, diarrhea, coughing, difficulty breathing, or collapse

  • Seizure-like activity

  • Possible poisoning or ingestion of a harmful substance

  • Any other symptom that may require medical attention

Do not delay veterinary care because of information received from Shepherd SOS.

3. Not Veterinary Behavioral Treatment

Shepherd SOS does not represent its services as veterinary behavioral medicine.

Some behavior cases may involve medical, neurological, pharmaceutical, or psychiatric considerations that require assessment by a licensed veterinarian or veterinary behaviorist.

When appropriate, Shepherd SOS may recommend that you consult the following:

  • Your regular veterinarian

  • A board-certified veterinary behaviorist

  • A qualified in-person dog trainer

  • A qualified behavior consultant

  • An emergency veterinary hospital

  • Animal control or local authorities

  • Another professional suited to the circumstances

A referral does not necessarily mean that your dog cannot improve. It means the situation may require a level or type of care beyond the scope of virtual educational coaching.

4. No Emergency Services

Shepherd SOS is not an emergency service and does not provide continuous monitoring or guaranteed immediate responses.

Do not wait for Coach Doug or Shepherd SOS to respond if the following are true:

  • A person or animal is in immediate danger

  • Your dog is actively attacking, biting, or pursuing someone

  • Your dog has escaped

  • Your dog may have ingested a dangerous substance

  • Your dog appears seriously ill or injured

  • A person or animal requires urgent medical care

  • You are unable to control or safely contain your dog

In an emergency:

  1. Create distance and separate the dog when it is safe to do so.

  2. Avoid placing yourself or another person in additional danger.

  3. Contact local emergency services, animal control, law enforcement, a veterinarian, or an emergency veterinary hospital as appropriate.

  4. Seek immediate medical care for any injured person or animal.

For human medical emergencies in the United States, call 911.

5. Aggression, Bites, and Serious Behavior

Dogs are capable of causing serious injury, regardless of age, breed, previous behavior, or training history.

Shepherd SOS may provide education concerning early warning signs, household management, trigger avoidance, behavior tracking, and possible next steps. A virtual service cannot guarantee that aggressive, fearful, defensive, predatory, territorial, or guarding behavior will not occur or escalate.

You must disclose any known history involving:

  • Growling

  • Freezing or stiffening

  • Hard staring

  • Snapping

  • Biting

  • Broken skin

  • Injury to a person or animal

  • Food, toy, object, space, or person guarding

  • Lunging

  • Severe fear

  • Predatory behavior

  • Chasing

  • Escape behavior

  • Unsafe behavior involving children

  • Reactions toward visitors, dogs, cats, livestock, or wildlife

Do not intentionally create, stage, repeat, or provoke dangerous behavior so that it can be observed or recorded.

If your dog has caused injury, has an escalating bite history, cannot be safely controlled, or creates an immediate threat, use appropriate physical separation and seek qualified in-person help.

6. Children and Other Vulnerable Individuals

No dog can be guaranteed safe around a child, elderly person, disabled person, visitor, or other vulnerable individual.

A responsible adult should actively supervise interactions between dogs and children. Passive supervision from another room or while distracted may not be sufficient.

Children should not be permitted to

  • Remove food, toys, chews, or stolen items from a dog

  • Enter or disturb a dog’s crate

  • Approach a dog while the dog is eating or resting

  • Hug, climb on, corner, restrain, or startle a dog

  • Participate in an exercise that presents a bite or knockdown risk

  • Handle a dog during guarding, fear, or high arousal

  • Serve as the primary person responsible for controlling the dog

If your dog has growled at, snapped at, bitten, chased, guarded from, knocked down, or otherwise endangered a child, immediately separate the dog and child and seek qualified in-person assistance.

Educational guidance from Shepherd SOS is not a guarantee that an interaction will be safe.

7. Virtual Consultation Limitations

Virtual consultations and video reviews have important limitations.

Shepherd SOS may rely on the following:

  • Information you provide

  • Your interpretation of the behavior

  • Intake-form answers

  • Selected video clips

  • Photographs

  • Live video observations

  • Descriptions from household members

  • Follow-up messages

  • The quality and completeness of submitted information

A video may not show:

  • Events occurring before or after the clip

  • Subtle body-language details

  • Environmental triggers outside the camera’s view

  • Medical causes

  • The dog’s complete history

  • The intensity of an in-person interaction

  • Every person’s handling practices

  • Every safety risk within the home

Dogs may also behave differently when observed, recorded, restrained, placed in a new environment, or exposed to different people.

Virtual information may help identify patterns and priorities, but it is not equivalent to a comprehensive in-person evaluation.

8. Accuracy of Client Information

Recommendations are affected by the accuracy and completeness of the information you provide.

You are responsible for disclosing relevant facts, including:

  • Previous bites or injuries

  • Growling, snapping, or guarding

  • Known medical issues

  • Medication use

  • Behavior around children and animals

  • Changes in the dog’s behavior

  • Prior training methods

  • Equipment currently used

  • The dog’s origin and known history

  • Household routines and restrictions

  • Any incident that caused someone to feel unsafe

Shepherd SOS is not responsible for recommendations that become incomplete or inappropriate because material information was omitted, concealed, misunderstood, or inaccurately reported.

Notify Shepherd SOS if circumstances change or new information becomes available.

9. Owner Responsibility

You remain responsible for your dog at all times.

You are responsible for:

  • Deciding whether to implement a recommendation

  • Maintaining physical control of your dog

  • Providing appropriate supervision

  • Following local leash and animal-control laws

  • Using crates, gates, pens, leashes, muzzles, and other equipment safely

  • Protecting children, visitors, animals, and the public

  • Preventing unsafe access to triggers

  • Seeking veterinary care when appropriate

  • Seeking in-person professional help when needed

  • Stopping an exercise when it appears unsafe

  • Understanding the manufacturer’s instructions for any equipment

  • Ensuring that every household member follows appropriate safety rules

Never attempt an exercise that exceeds your physical ability, skill, comfort level, or control of the dog.

When you are uncertain about safety, stop and obtain qualified in-person assistance.

10. Assumption of Risk

Interacting with, handling, training, exercising, restraining, transporting, feeding, or caring for a dog involves inherent and unpredictable risks.

These may include:

  • Bites

  • Scratches

  • Falls

  • Trips

  • Knockdowns

  • Strains

  • Property damage

  • Escape

  • Traffic incidents

  • Conflict between animals

  • Injury to a person

  • Injury to an animal

  • Worsening or unexpected behavior

Behavior may occur without warning even when reasonable precautions are taken.

By choosing to implement educational guidance, you acknowledge these risks and accept responsibility for evaluating whether an activity is suitable for your circumstances.

Nothing in this disclaimer excludes liability that cannot legally be excluded.

11. No Guarantees

Shepherd SOS does not guarantee any specific result.

We do not guarantee that:

  • A behavior will stop

  • A behavior will improve within a particular period

  • A dog will remain safe in every situation

  • A dog will never bite, growl, guard, bark, lunge, escape, or react

  • A dog will be suitable for children, animals, public access, service work, protection work, sports, breeding, or another purpose

  • A puppy will mature into a particular type of adult dog

  • A specific training technique will work for every dog

  • A recommendation will produce the same result for every client

  • A behavior that improves will never return

Behavior is influenced by factors that Shepherd SOS cannot control, including:

  • Genetics

  • Breed traits

  • Age and development

  • Physical health

  • Pain

  • Prior experiences

  • Socialization history

  • Household dynamics

  • Environment

  • Owner consistency

  • Training frequency

  • Reinforcement history

  • Exposure to triggers

  • The conduct of other people and animals

Payment is for access to the purchased service, preparation, educational guidance, professional time, and stated deliverables—not a guaranteed outcome.

12. Expected Progress and Timelines

Statements about possible progress or timelines are estimates, not promises.

Some management changes may provide immediate relief by reducing access to triggers or unwanted behavior. Lasting behavior change generally requires repeated practice, consistency, appropriate management, and adjustments over time.

A client’s experience may differ significantly from another client’s experience.

Failure to achieve a desired outcome does not necessarily mean the service or recommendation was defective. The dog’s behavior, the owner’s implementation, household participation, and outside circumstances all affect results.

13. Testimonials and Success Stories

Testimonials, reviews, case examples, and success stories reflect the experiences of the people who provided them.

They are not guarantees that you will receive the same or similar results.

Testimonials may involve differences in:

  • The dog’s age

  • Breed or genetics

  • Severity of the behavior

  • Household environment

  • Owner experience

  • Time available for implementation

  • Consistency

  • Length of participation

  • Additional professional services used

  • Other circumstances

Shepherd SOS will not knowingly publish a false testimonial or materially alter a testimonial in a way that misrepresents the client’s experience.

When a testimonial reflects an unusual or exceptional outcome, it should not be understood as representing the result every client can expect.

14. Professional Titles and Credentials

Descriptions of Coach Doug’s background, experience, private mentorship, areas of focus, and services are intended to accurately explain his practical experience and role at Shepherd SOS.

Unless expressly stated, the use of terms such as “coach,” “specialist,” “behavior specialist,” “trainer,” or similar descriptive language should not be interpreted as a representation that Coach Doug holds a government-issued veterinary license, veterinary specialty, or other regulated professional credential.

The About page and applicable service descriptions identify the experience and credentials relied upon by Shepherd SOS.

Prospective clients are encouraged to review those disclosures and ask questions before purchasing.

15. Equipment and Product Recommendations

Shepherd SOS may discuss or recommend products such as the following:

  • Crates

  • Exercise pens

  • Baby gates

  • Leashes

  • Long lines

  • Collars

  • Harnesses

  • Muzzles

  • Treat pouches

  • Toys

  • Chews

  • Food-dispensing products

  • Cleaning products

  • Other dog-related supplies

A recommendation does not guarantee that a product is safe, suitable, escape-proof, durable, or appropriate for every dog.

Follow the manufacturer’s instructions and warnings. Inspect equipment regularly for wear, damage, improper fit, or misuse.

Some products can create choking, entanglement, ingestion, escape, strangulation, or injury risks when used incorrectly or without supervision.

Consult a veterinarian before making decisions concerning food, supplements, medication, allergies, nutrition, or health-related products.

16. External Professionals and Referrals

Shepherd SOS may refer you to a veterinarian, veterinary behaviorist, trainer, behavior consultant, rescue, breeder, shelter, or another professional.

A referral is provided for convenience and does not guarantee:

  • Availability

  • Qualifications

  • Licensing status

  • Quality

  • Safety

  • Results

  • Pricing

  • Insurance coverage

  • Compatibility with your goals

You are responsible for independently evaluating any third-party provider.

Unless expressly disclosed, a referral does not mean Shepherd SOS controls, employs, supervises, or accepts responsibility for that provider.

17. External Links and Third-Party Content

ShepherdSOS.com, emails, social media pages, guides, and course materials may include links to third-party websites, products, videos, articles, platforms, or services.

These links are provided for convenience or educational reference.

Shepherd SOS does not control or is not responsible for:

  • Third-party accuracy

  • Availability

  • Security

  • Privacy practices

  • Products

  • Services

  • Opinions

  • Claims

  • Updates

  • Actions or omissions

A link does not automatically mean that Shepherd SOS endorses every statement, product, service, or practice associated with the third party.

Review third-party terms, privacy policies, product instructions, and professional qualifications before relying on them.

18. Affiliate Links and Commercial Relationships

Shepherd SOS may use affiliate links or receive referral compensation for certain products or services in the future.

When a material financial, employment, family, ownership, referral, or other relationship could affect how a recommendation is evaluated, Shepherd SOS will seek to disclose that relationship clearly and appropriately.

Using an affiliate link may result in Shepherd SOS receiving a commission without increasing your purchase price.

Compensation does not guarantee that a product is appropriate for your dog. You remain responsible for evaluating the product and following applicable instructions and safety warnings.

19. Website and Content Accuracy

Shepherd SOS makes reasonable efforts to provide useful and accurate information. However, dog-training practices, technology, products, laws, safety guidance, and professional recommendations may change.

Website content may contain:

  • Errors

  • Omissions

  • Outdated information

  • Typographical mistakes

  • Incomplete explanations

  • Generalizations that do not apply to every dog

Shepherd SOS does not guarantee that every page, post, guide, answer, or resource is complete, current, or error-free.

Contact us if you believe information is inaccurate or requires clarification.

20. General Website Content

Articles, FAQs, posts, videos, social-media content, downloads, newsletters, and free resources are intended for general education.

They are not personalized recommendations and should not be treated as a substitute for:

  • A paid consultation

  • A complete behavior history

  • A veterinary examination

  • An in-person safety assessment

  • Advice from a professional who has directly evaluated your dog

Do not assume that advice written for another dog applies to yours.

21. Digital Products and Courses

Digital products, courses, guides, schedules, templates, and checklists are educational resources.

They are not individualized assessments unless the product description expressly states otherwise.

You are responsible for adapting general material to:

  • Your dog’s age

  • Physical ability

  • Health

  • behavior history

  • Environment

  • Household

  • Local laws

  • Safety needs

Stop using a digital recommendation and seek appropriate help if it appears unsuitable, unsafe, or ineffective for your dog.

22. Social-Media Communications

Comments, posts, direct messages, and replies on social media are not automatically consultations or client relationships.

Brief responses may be based on incomplete information and should not be treated as a full behavioral assessment.

Shepherd SOS cannot guarantee that social-media messages will be seen or answered promptly.

Do not use social media to request emergency assistance.

23. No Professional Relationship From Website Use

Visiting ShepherdSOS.com, reading content, downloading a free resource, joining an email list, or sending an unsolicited message does not by itself establish a paid coaching relationship.

A service relationship begins only when Shepherd SOS accepts a booking or purchase and any required payment, intake, and agreement steps are completed.

Even after a service relationship begins, the scope is limited to the purchased service.

24. Limitation of Liability

The limitation-of-liability provisions in the Shepherd SOS Terms and Conditions apply to the website, services, products, content, and materials.

To the fullest extent permitted by law, Shepherd SOS is not responsible for injury, loss, damage, or expense arising from:

  • A dog’s behavior

  • Implementation or misuse of educational information

  • Failure to seek veterinary or in-person help

  • Incomplete or inaccurate client information

  • Failure to supervise or control a dog

  • Use or misuse of equipment

  • Reliance on third-party content or services

  • Circumstances outside Shepherd SOS’s reasonable control

Nothing in this disclaimer limits liability that applicable law does not permit to be limited.

25. Updates to This Disclaimer

Shepherd SOS may update this disclaimer to reflect changes in:

  • Services

  • Business practices

  • Technology

  • Safety guidance

  • Legal requirements

  • Third-party relationships

The “Last updated” date will identify the current version.

Your continued use of the website after an updated disclaimer becomes effective constitutes acknowledgment of the revised version, subject to any rights that cannot legally be waived.

26. Related Policies

This disclaimer should be read together with the following:

If a service-specific agreement contains additional disclaimers or safety requirements, those provisions also apply to that service.

27. Contact Information

Questions about this disclaimer may be sent to:

Shepherd SOS
Operated by: Douglas James
Website: ShepherdSOS.com
Email: coach@shepherdsos.com