Effective date: June 2, 2026
Last updated: July 22, 2026

Welcome to Shepherd SOS.

These Terms and Conditions (“Terms”) govern your access to and use of ShepherdSOS.com, related websites, forms, booking pages, client portals, digital content, communications, and all current or future products and services offered under the Shepherd SOS name.

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

By accessing our website, submitting an intake form, purchasing a product or service, booking an appointment, checking an acceptance box, signing electronically, or otherwise using our services, you agree to these Terms and our Privacy Policy.

Please read these Terms carefully before purchasing or using any Shepherd SOS service.

If you do not agree with these Terms, do not purchase, book, access, or use our services.

1. Contact Information

Shepherd SOS
Operated by: Douglas James
Website: ShepherdSOS.com
Email: [COACH@SHEPHERDSOS.COM]

2. Eligibility

You must be at least 18 years old and legally capable of entering into a binding agreement to purchase or use our services.

By using Shepherd SOS, you represent that:

• You are at least 18 years old.

• The information you provide is accurate and complete.

• You are the dog’s owner, authorized caregiver, or otherwise authorized to make decisions concerning the dog.

• You have the authority to enter into these Terms.

• You will use our services only for lawful purposes.

Our services are not directed to children. A minor may participate only under the direct supervision and responsibility of a parent or legal guardian who has agreed to these Terms.

3. Services Covered by These Terms

These Terms apply to all current and future Shepherd SOS offerings, including, without limitation:

• Virtual puppy behavior consultations

• Shepherd SOS Consults

• Video behavior reviews

• Written behavior assessments

• Personalized action plans

• Puppy schedules and routines

• Follow-up consultations

• Short-term or ongoing coaching

• Text, email, chat, or video support

• Group coaching or workshops

• Memberships and subscription services

• Online courses

• Digital downloads

• Guides, templates, checklists, and workbooks

• Educational videos and recorded content

• Breeder, rescue, shelter, and business partnerships

• Referral programs

• Any other product, program, or service offered by Shepherd SOS

Additional terms displayed on a sales page, checkout page, booking page, proposal, invoice, program agreement, or service description also apply to that purchase.

If additional terms directly conflict with these Terms, the more specific terms presented for the purchased service will control for that service.

4. Nature and Scope of Services

Shepherd SOS provides educational information, owner coaching, behavioral observations, routine recommendations, management suggestions, and general dog-training guidance.

Our services are intended to help owners better understand and manage puppy and adolescent dog behavior, particularly behavior involving shepherds, shepherd mixes, and other high-drive or working-breed dogs.

Our services are not:

• Veterinary medicine

• Medical diagnosis or treatment

• Veterinary behavioral treatment

• Emergency assistance

• Legal advice

• A substitute for an in-person safety assessment

• A guarantee that a particular behavior will improve or stop

• A substitute for services from a licensed veterinarian or other appropriately qualified professional

Coach Doug and Shepherd SOS may provide observations regarding behavior, routines, environmental factors, training patterns, and potential concerns. These observations are educational and are not a medical or veterinary diagnosis.

You are responsible for consulting a licensed veterinarian regarding possible pain, illness, injury, medication, nutrition, or other health-related causes of behavior.

5. Virtual-Service Limitations

You understand that virtual coaching has limitations.

Our recommendations may be based on:

• Information you provide

• Intake-form responses

• Photos or videos you submit

• Your description of events

• Live video observations

• Follow-up communications

• Other information reasonably available during the service

We may not observe every relevant behavior, environmental factor, medical condition, household interaction, trigger, or safety risk.

A dog may also behave differently on video, during a scheduled call, or in the presence of different people.

You agree to provide complete, honest, and accurate information. Withholding important information—including growling, snapping, bites, injuries, guarding, aggression, escape behavior, or incidents involving children or animals—may make our recommendations incomplete or inappropriate.

6. Veterinary and Emergency Situations

Contact a licensed veterinarian promptly if your dog shows signs of illness, pain, injury, sudden behavioral change, neurological symptoms, ingestion of a harmful substance, or another possible medical emergency.

If a person or animal is in immediate danger:

1. Separate the dog from people and animals when it is safe to do so.

2. Secure the dog using safe management practices.

3. Contact local emergency services, animal control, a veterinarian, or another appropriate local professional.

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

Do not wait for an email, text message, scheduled consultation, or response from Shepherd SOS during an emergency.

Shepherd SOS does not provide emergency monitoring or guaranteed immediate response times.

7. Aggression, Bites, Guarding, and Serious Safety Concerns

You must disclose any known history involving:

• Growling

• Snapping

• Biting

• Broken skin

• Injury to a person or animal

• Resource guarding

• Territorial behavior

• Severe fear

• Lunging

• Escape behavior

• Predatory behavior

• Unsafe behavior around children

• Any incident that made someone feel physically unsafe

Virtual services may assist with early identification, management, education, prevention, and referral recommendations. They may not be appropriate as the only form of help for serious or escalating behavior.

Shepherd SOS may decline, pause, limit, or discontinue a service when we believe the following:

• The situation presents an immediate or significant safety risk.

• In-person observation is necessary.

• Veterinary assessment is appropriate.

• The requested service is outside our scope.

• The household cannot safely implement remote recommendations.

• Another professional is better suited to the matter.

A referral or recommendation for additional support is not a statement that a dog cannot improve. It is a safety-based judgment about the appropriate level of care.

8. Owner Responsibilities

You remain solely responsible for your dog and for all decisions concerning your dog.

You agree to:

• Maintain physical control and appropriate supervision.

• Follow applicable leash, vaccination, licensing, and animal-control laws.

• Use crates, gates, leashes, muzzles, pens, barriers, and other management tools safely.

• Supervise interactions involving children, visitors, other dogs, cats, livestock, or other animals.

• Avoid intentionally provoking dangerous behavior.

• Avoid placing any person or animal at risk to demonstrate or record behavior.

• Use reasonable judgment when implementing recommendations.

• Stop an exercise if it appears unsafe or causes a concerning reaction.

• Seek veterinary or in-person professional support when recommended.

• Inform Shepherd SOS of material changes, incidents, injuries, or escalating behavior.

You are responsible for deciding whether a recommendation is safe and appropriate in your environment.

9. Children and Vulnerable Individuals

Dogs and children must be appropriately supervised by a responsible adult.

You agree not to allow a child to:

• Take food, toys, chews, or stolen objects from a dog.

• Enter or disturb a dog’s crate or resting space.

• Handle a dog during guarding, fear, or high-arousal behavior.

• Participate in an exercise that may create a bite, chase, knockdown, or injury risk.

• Serve as the primary person responsible for controlling a dog.

Recommendations involving children are educational management suggestions and are not a guarantee of safety.

If a dog has bitten, snapped at, guarded from, chased, knocked down, or otherwise endangered a child, you agree to use immediate separation and seek appropriate in-person support.

10. No Guaranteed Results

Animal behavior is affected by many factors, including:

• Genetics

• Breed tendencies

• Age and development

• Health and pain

• Prior experiences

• Environment

• Reinforcement history

• Household consistency

• Owner implementation

• Frequency of practice

• Access to triggers

• Information available to Shepherd SOS

For these reasons, Shepherd SOS does not guarantee:

• A specific behavioral result

• Complete elimination of a behavior

• A specific improvement timeline

• Prevention of future incidents

• Suitability of a dog for a particular household, activity, or purpose

• Compatibility with children, adults, dogs, cats, livestock, or other animals

• That a dog will never bite, growl, guard, escape, react, or cause injury

Testimonials, examples, estimates, and descriptions of possible outcomes are illustrative only. Individual results vary.

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

11. Booking and Scheduling

Appointments are not confirmed until all required steps are completed, which may include:

• Successful payment

• Submission of required contact information

• Completion of an intake form

• Acceptance of these Terms

• Receipt of booking confirmation

You are responsible for confirming the appointment time and time zone.

Please join virtual appointments from a safe location with a reliable internet connection. Your dog does not need to remain visible throughout the entire appointment unless requested and safe.

If you arrive late, the appointment may still end at its originally scheduled time. We are not required to extend a session because of client lateness.

12. Rescheduling, Cancellations, and Missed Appointments

Unless a different policy is displayed when you purchase:

• You may reschedule a one-time appointment once by providing at least 24 hours’ notice.

• Requests made less than 24 hours before the appointment may be treated as a late cancellation.

• Missed appointments, no-shows, and late cancellations are nonrefundable.

• Arriving late does not entitle you to additional time or a partial refund.

• Repeated rescheduling may require a new booking and payment.

• Any approved rescheduled appointment must occur within 30 days of the original appointment unless we agree otherwise in writing.

If Shepherd SOS must cancel an appointment, we will offer a reasonable opportunity to reschedule or provide a refund for the affected undelivered service.

We may make reasonable exceptions for documented emergencies at our discretion. An exception in one situation does not require an exception in another.

13. Payments, Fees, and Taxes

Prices are listed in U.S. dollars unless stated otherwise.

You agree to pay all fees shown at checkout or agreed to in writing. Payment may be processed by a third-party payment provider.

You authorize the applicable payment provider to charge the payment method you submit for:

• The purchase price

• Applicable taxes

• Agreed payment-plan installments

• Recurring subscription charges, when clearly disclosed

• Other amounts you expressly authorize

You are responsible for keeping your billing information current.

We may change prices at any time. Price changes do not retroactively change a completed purchase unless the parties agree otherwise.

You are responsible for any taxes, duties, bank charges, currency-conversion fees, or other transaction costs imposed on your purchase, except taxes based on our income.

14. Payment Plans

When a payment plan is offered, you agree to pay every installment on the stated schedule.

A payment plan divides the total purchase price into installments. It is not a month-to-month cancellation option unless expressly described that way at checkout.

If a payment fails:

• We may retry the payment.

• We may suspend access to services or content.

• We may cancel remaining appointments.

• The unpaid balance may become immediately due, to the extent permitted by law.

• You remain responsible for amounts already earned or services already delivered.

You agree to contact us promptly if your payment method changes or a payment problem occurs.

15. Subscriptions and Automatic Renewal

Certain current or future services may be offered as subscriptions or memberships.

When a service automatically renews, the applicable sales or checkout page will disclose:

• The amount charged

• The billing frequency

• Whether the subscription automatically renews

• Any trial or introductory period

• How to cancel

• When cancellation becomes effective

By purchasing an automatically renewing service, you authorize recurring charges until cancellation.

Unless otherwise stated, cancellation stops future renewals and does not create a retroactive or prorated refund for a billing period that has already begun.

You may cancel using the method stated at checkout, through your account when available, or by emailing coach@shepherdsos.com.

Cancellation must be received before the next billing date to avoid the next charge.

Nothing in this section limits cancellation or refund rights that cannot legally be waived.

16. Refund Policy

Unless a different written refund policy applies to a specific offer:

Consultations and coaching

Payments become nonrefundable when:

• The appointment occurs;

• We begin reviewing submitted materials;

• Personalized preparation begins;

• Personalized written work is delivered; or

• The applicable service period begins.

A timely cancellation made before personalized work begins may be eligible for rescheduling or a refund at our discretion and subject to any disclosed cancellation policy.

Digital products and downloadable content

Because access is generally delivered immediately, digital-product purchases are nonrefundable after access or download is provided, except when:

• The file is materially defective;

• Access cannot reasonably be provided;

• A duplicate charge occurred; or

• A refund is required by law.

Contact us within seven days of purchase if you experience a technical problem. We will first attempt to repair, replace, or restore access.

Group programs, memberships, and subscriptions

Refund and cancellation terms displayed on the applicable sales or checkout page will apply.

No outcome-based refunds

Dissatisfaction with the pace or degree of behavioral improvement does not create a right to a refund because results depend on factors outside our control.

Nothing in these Terms excludes any refund, cancellation, or consumer right that cannot legally be waived.

17. Chargebacks and Payment Disputes

Please contact us at coach@shepherdsos.com before initiating a chargeback so we have a reasonable opportunity to investigate and resolve the issue.

Initiating a chargeback does not cancel your contractual payment obligations.

We may provide the payment processor with relevant records, including:

• These Terms

• Checkout records

• Booking confirmations

• Intake forms

• Access logs

• Communications

• Service-delivery records

• Completed deliverables

We may suspend services or account access while a payment dispute is pending.

This section does not prevent you from exercising a lawful right to dispute an unauthorized or incorrect charge.

18. Client Materials, Videos, and Recordings

You may submit videos, photographs, documents, messages, behavior logs, and other materials (“Client Materials”) for use in providing services.

You retain ownership of your Client Materials.

By submitting Client Materials, you grant Shepherd SOS a limited, nonexclusive license to access, store, reproduce, review, annotate, and use those materials only as reasonably necessary to:

• Deliver the purchased service

• Prepare recommendations

• Maintain client records

• Communicate with you

• Protect legal rights

• Comply with applicable law

You represent that:

• You have the right to submit the materials.

• Their submission does not violate another person’s privacy or intellectual-property rights.

• You have obtained any necessary permission from identifiable adults appearing in the materials.

• You are the parent or legal guardian of any identifiable minor appearing in the materials or have obtained permission from that person’s parent or guardian.

Do not submit footage captured in private areas where another person reasonably expects privacy.

Shepherd SOS will not use identifiable Client Materials for advertising, social media, testimonials, case studies, or public education without separate permission.

19. Call Recording

Virtual sessions will not be recorded by Shepherd SOS unless you are notified and provide consent.

You may not record, reproduce, distribute, publish, livestream, sell, or publicly share a consultation without our prior written permission.

Written notes taken for your personal use are permitted.

If a recording is authorized, the permitted use will be stated in writing.

20. Testimonials and Publicity

Submitting a testimonial does not automatically authorize us to publish your full name, image, videos, or identifying information.

We may publish a testimonial only with your permission. Permission may specify whether we may use:

• Your first name

• Initials

• General location

• Dog’s name

• Dog’s photograph or video

• Written statement

• Audio or video testimonial

Testimonials reflect individual experiences and do not guarantee that another client will receive the same result.

You may request that we stop using a testimonial in future materials by contacting us. This may not require us to recall or destroy materials already printed, published, or distributed before the request.

21. Intellectual Property

The Shepherd SOS website and all materials we create or provide are owned by Shepherd SOS or used with permission, including:

• Written plans

• Templates

• Checklists

• Guides

• Videos

• Graphics

• Course materials

• Training frameworks

• Worksheets

• Downloads

• Branding

• Logos

• Website copy

• Recorded presentations

Purchasing a service or product grants you a limited, revocable, nonexclusive, nontransferable license to use the material for your personal, noncommercial household use unless we expressly grant different rights in writing.

You may not:

• Reproduce or resell our materials

• Share paid materials publicly

• Upload materials to a shared drive, course platform, AI dataset, or file-sharing site

• Remove copyright or ownership notices

• Modify and sell derivative materials

• Use our materials to train clients for payment

• Present our materials as your own

• Record or distribute paid sessions without permission

Breeders, rescues, trainers, and other businesses must obtain a separate written license before distributing our materials to customers, adopters, staff, or clients.

22. Acceptable Conduct

You agree not to:

• Use our services for an unlawful purpose

• Harass, threaten, abuse, or impersonate another person

• Submit false or misleading information

• Attempt to gain unauthorized system access

• Introduce viruses, malware, or harmful code

• Copy or scrape website content

• Interfere with service delivery

• Infringe intellectual-property or privacy rights

• Pressure Shepherd SOS to endorse unsafe, abusive, or unlawful treatment

• Publish private communications in a misleading or defamatory manner

• Use our services to harm a person or animal

We may suspend or terminate service for conduct we reasonably believe is unsafe, abusive, fraudulent, unlawful, or materially disruptive.

23. Third-Party Services and Links

We may use or link to third-party services, such as:

• Payment processors

• Scheduling platforms

• Video-conferencing providers

• Email or messaging systems

• Form providers

• File-storage providers

• Client portals

• Social-media platforms

Your use of those services may be governed by their own terms and privacy policies.

We are not responsible for a third party’s availability, security, acts, omissions, content, fees, policies, or service interruptions, except to the extent liability cannot legally be excluded.

A link or reference to a third party does not necessarily constitute endorsement.

24. Communications

By purchasing or booking, you agree that we may send service-related communications reasonably necessary to:

• Confirm appointments

• Deliver links and materials

• Request intake information

• Provide reminders

• Respond to questions

• Process payments

• Provide support

• Send legal or policy notices

Marketing emails or promotional messages will be handled in accordance with applicable law. You may unsubscribe from promotional email using the unsubscribe method provided.

Opting out of marketing does not prevent transactional or service-related communications.

Standard carrier messaging and data rates may apply to text messages.

25. Privacy

Our collection and handling of personal information are described in our Privacy Policy, available at:

[INSERT PRIVACY POLICY URL]

The Privacy Policy is incorporated into these Terms by reference.

Do not submit sensitive information that is not reasonably necessary for the service.

26. Disclaimer of Warranties

To the fullest extent permitted by law, Shepherd SOS and its services, website, content, and materials are provided “as is” and “as available.”

We disclaim all warranties, express or implied, including warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, title, noninfringement, accuracy, availability, and results.

We do not warrant that:

• The website will always be uninterrupted or error-free.

• Every recommendation will be appropriate for every dog.

• All submitted information will reveal every relevant risk.

• A particular behavior will improve.

• A dog will remain safe in all circumstances.

• Digital materials will be compatible with every device or system.

Some jurisdictions do not allow certain warranty exclusions. In those jurisdictions, these exclusions apply only to the extent permitted by law.

27. Assumption of Risk

You understand that interacting with, handling, training, restraining, transporting, exercising, or caring for a dog involves inherent risks.

These risks may include:

• Bites

• Scratches

• Falls

• Knockdowns

• Property damage

• Escape

• Conflict between animals

• Injury to a person or animal

• Worsening or unexpected behavior

You voluntarily choose whether to implement recommendations and assume the ordinary risks associated with dog ownership and training.

You agree not to perform an exercise when you reasonably believe it is unsafe.

Nothing in these Terms releases Shepherd SOS from liability that cannot legally be waived.

28. Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law, Shepherd SOS and its owners, officers, employees, contractors, and representatives will not be liable for indirect, incidental, special, consequential, exemplary, or punitive damages arising from or related to:

• Use of or inability to use the services

• Implementation of a recommendation

• Dog behavior

• Injury or property damage caused by a dog

• Reliance on incomplete or inaccurate client information

• Third-party products or services

• Lost profits, income, data, opportunity, or goodwill

To the fullest extent permitted by law, our total aggregate liability arising from a particular claim will not exceed the amount you paid Shepherd SOS for the specific product or service giving rise to that claim during the six months preceding the event.

These limitations do not apply to liability that cannot legally be limited or excluded, including liability arising from fraud, willful misconduct, or other liability that applicable law makes nonwaivable.

29. Indemnification

To the fullest extent permitted by law, you agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless Shepherd SOS and its owners, employees, contractors, and representatives from third-party claims, damages, liabilities, losses, and reasonable expenses arising from:

• Your unlawful use of the services

• Your material violation of these Terms

• False or incomplete information you knowingly provide

• Your infringement of another person’s rights

• Your unauthorized use or distribution of our intellectual property

• Your failure to maintain reasonable control or supervision of your dog

This obligation does not apply to the extent a claim was caused by Shepherd SOS’s own negligence, gross negligence, willful misconduct, or other conduct for which liability cannot legally be shifted.

30. Suspension and Termination

We may suspend, refuse, or terminate access to a service when:

• Payment is overdue

• You materially violate these Terms

• You engage in abusive, fraudulent, unlawful, or unsafe conduct

• You request guidance outside our scope

• Continuing the relationship presents a safety concern

• A conflict of interest exists

• We reasonably believe another professional is required

When reasonably possible, we will explain the reason and identify any remaining deliverables or refund if applicable.

Termination does not eliminate payment obligations for services already performed or materials already delivered.

Sections intended to survive termination—including intellectual property, payment obligations, disclaimers, limitations of liability, indemnification, and dispute provisions—will continue to apply.

31. Service Changes and Availability

We may update, modify, replace, suspend, or discontinue a product, feature, platform, or service.

If a material change prevents us from delivering a service you already purchased, we will offer a reasonable substitute, rescheduling option, account credit, or refund for the undelivered portion, as appropriate.

We are not responsible for minor changes that do not materially reduce the core value of the purchased service.

32. Force Majeure

We will not be responsible for delay or failure caused by circumstances beyond our reasonable control, including the following:

• Severe weather

• Natural disaster

• Fire

• Epidemic or public emergency

• Power or internet failure

• Platform outage

• Government action

• Labor disruption

• Illness or medical emergency

• War, terrorism, or civil unrest

We will make reasonable efforts to resume service or provide an alternative when practical.

33. Dispute Resolution

Before filing a formal legal claim, you and Shepherd SOS agree to make a good-faith effort to resolve the dispute informally.

The complaining party must send written notice describing:

• The party’s name and contact information

• The purchase or service involved

• The relevant facts

• The requested resolution

Send notices to:

coach@shepherdsos.com

The parties will have 30 days after receipt of the notice to attempt an informal resolution.

Either party may seek temporary or emergency relief when necessary to protect safety, confidential information, intellectual property, or other rights that could be irreparably harmed.

Nothing in this section prevents either party from bringing an eligible matter in small-claims court.

34. Governing Law and Venue

These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of Texas, without regard to conflict-of-laws principles.

Subject to any consumer right that requires a different location, legal proceedings arising from these Terms or the services must be brought in the state or federal courts located in Travis County, Texas, and the parties consent to personal jurisdiction in those courts.

Nothing in these Terms eliminates a legal protection or forum right that cannot lawfully be waived.

35. Electronic Communications and Acceptance

You agree that electronic records, notices, disclosures, agreements, and signatures may be used in connection with our services.

Actions that may indicate acceptance include:

• Checking an acceptance box

• Clicking a purchase or booking button after being shown these Terms

• Signing electronically

• Submitting payment

• Accessing purchased materials

• Participating in a booked service

You are responsible for saving a copy of these Terms and maintaining a current email address.

36. Changes to These Terms

We may update these Terms periodically.

The “Last updated” date will identify the most recent version.

Updated Terms apply prospectively when posted or otherwise communicated. Material changes affecting an active paid service will not retroactively remove rights already earned unless you agree or applicable law requires otherwise.

Your continued use of the website or purchase of a new service after updated Terms become effective constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms.

37. Assignment

You may not transfer or assign your rights under these Terms without our written consent.

We may assign these Terms as part of a merger, reorganization, sale of assets, change in ownership, or transfer to an affiliated or successor business, subject to applicable law.

38. Severability

If a provision of these Terms is found unlawful, invalid, or unenforceable, that provision will be enforced to the maximum extent permitted or modified as necessary to make it enforceable.

The remaining provisions will remain in effect.

39. No Waiver

A delay or failure to enforce a provision does not waive the right to enforce it later.

A waiver is effective only when made in writing by the party granting it.

40. Entire Agreement

These Terms, the Privacy Policy, and any additional written terms presented for a specific service constitute the entire agreement between you and Shepherd SOS concerning that service.

They replace prior or contemporaneous discussions, communications, representations, or agreements relating to the same subject.

41. Headings

Section headings are provided for convenience and do not affect interpretation.

42. Questions

Questions about these Terms may be sent to:

Shepherd SOS
Email: coach@shepherdsos.com
Website: ShepherdSOS.com