Self-Serve Snuffle Spot – Terms & Conditions

Self-Serve Snuffle Spot gives you private use of Snuffle Spot without Laura being present during your session.

Laura will be on site while Self-Serve sessions are taking place, but will be unavailable except in the event of a genuine problem or emergency.

These sessions rely on everyone looking after the space and leaving it ready for the next dog. Please read these terms carefully before booking.

By booking and attending a Self-Serve Snuffle Spot session, you agree to the following.

Who can attend

Each booking is for a maximum of 2 dogs and 4 people.

Please do not bring additional dogs or people to your session.

Dogs remain the responsibility of their owner/handler throughout the visit. A responsible adult must supervise dogs and children at all times.

Arriving and leaving

Please arrive at your booked time. Do not arrive early, as another dog may still be using Snuffle Spot.

You must leave by the end of your allocated booking time. Another dog may be arriving immediately after you.

Your booked time includes entering, settling your dog, using Snuffle Spot, cleaning and tidying the room and leaving the premises.

Please allow enough time at the end of your session to leave the room ready for the next customer.

Dogs must be on lead when the door is opened

Your dog must be on a lead whenever the Snuffle Spot door is open.

On arrival, keep your dog on lead until everyone is inside and the door has been closed and locked.

At the end of your session, put your dog back on their lead before unlocking or opening the door.

This is particularly important as another dog may be arriving or leaving nearby.

Keep the door locked

The Snuffle Spot door must remain closed and locked from the inside throughout your session.

Do not open the door during your session unless your dog is safely on lead.

Dogs must be supervised

Your dog must be supervised by a responsible adult at all times and must never be left unattended in Snuffle Spot.

Self-Serve sessions do not include supervision, training or behaviour advice from Laura.

You are responsible for deciding whether individual toys, activities and pieces of equipment are suitable for your dog.

If you are not comfortable supervising your dog and using Snuffle Spot independently, please book an attended Snuffle Spot session instead.

Calm enrichment – not a play session

Snuffle Spot is designed to provide a calm, sniffing and enrichment experience for your dog. It is not an indoor exercise or play facility.

Please discourage rough play, chasing, wrestling, zooming around the room or other high-energy play.

If you bring two dogs, you are responsible for supervising their interactions and ensuring they can safely and calmly use the space together.

Barking

Self-Serve Snuffle Spot is intended to be a calm environment and continuous or repeated barking is not permitted.

An occasional bark is understandable. This rule relates to ongoing or repeated barking that may disturb other dogs or people nearby.

If your dog begins barking, please calmly help them settle. If the barking continues, you must end your session and leave.

Equipment and toys

Please use Snuffle Spot and its equipment as you find it.

Do not move or rearrange large equipment, furniture or props.

Smaller toys and enrichment items can be used during your session but must be returned to where you found them before you leave.

No toys, equipment or other Snuffle Spot property may be removed from the room.

Please do not allow your dog to use the equipment roughly or destructively.

If your dog begins chewing, ripping, scratching or otherwise damaging a toy, prop or piece of equipment, you must stop them immediately and remove their access to that item.

Damage and breakages

Please report any damage or breakages immediately.

You will be responsible for the reasonable cost of repairing or replacing equipment damaged by your dog or members of your party where the damage results from misuse or failure to intervene when your dog is damaging an item.

Normal wear and tear is excluded.

If something becomes damaged during your session, stop your dog using it and let Laura know. Please do not attempt to repair damaged equipment yourself.

Food – please read carefully

You provide your own food and treats for Self-Serve sessions.

You may use your dog’s usual commercial dog food or treats, or simple foods commonly used as dog training rewards, such as plain cooked chicken or small pieces of cheese.

Please only bring food that you know is safe and suitable for dogs.

The following are NOT permitted:

Raw meat, raw fish or raw offal
Raw bones or other raw animal products
Raw, frozen or defrosted raw/BARF dog food
Cooked bones
Food containing ingredients known to be toxic to dogs
Heavily seasoned, spicy or sauced foods
Spoiled or out-of-date food

Raw products are not permitted even when they are commercially produced and sold specifically for dogs.

If you are unsure whether a food is suitable, please do not use it.

Dry food and treats

Dry dog food, kibble and training treats may be scattered or hidden amongst the Snuffle Spot equipment.

Please don’t use excessive quantities and pick up any visible uneaten food before you leave.

Wet, soft and messy foods

Wet, soft, spreadable or messy foods must ONLY be used on the Licki Mats provided.

This includes wet dog food, pâté-style dog food, soft cheese and other spreadable treats.

Do not smear, spread or push wet or soft foods onto or into Snuffle Spot toys, furniture, props or enrichment equipment.

Licki Mats

Two clean Licki Mats will be provided for each Self-Serve session.

You are welcome to use them with suitable food that you have brought for your dog.

Once a Licki Mat has been used, do not return it to the clean area.

Place all used Licki Mats in the clearly marked DIRTY LICKI MAT BOX.

You do not need to wash them. Laura Carter Canines will clean and sanitise used Licki Mats before they are provided to another dog.

Do not allow your dog to chew or damage the Licki Mats. Remove the mat when your dog has finished or immediately if they begin chewing it.

Damage caused by allowing a dog to chew a Licki Mat may be charged at the reasonable replacement cost.

Food allergies, intolerances and dietary restrictions

Please be aware that Snuffle Spot is a food-based enrichment environment.

The room is not inspected or cleaned by Laura Carter Canines between individual Self-Serve sessions.

Every customer is required to pick up visible leftover food before leaving, but small pieces, crumbs or traces of food may remain hidden within toys or equipment.

We therefore cannot guarantee which foods or traces of foods your dog may encounter or consume.

Self-Serve Snuffle Spot is not suitable for dogs with food allergies, food intolerances, highly sensitive stomachs or medical/dietary conditions requiring strict control over what they eat.

By booking a Self-Serve session, you accept that your dog may find and eat small amounts of food left behind by a previous customer.

Toilet your dog before entering

Please give your dog an opportunity to toilet before entering Snuffle Spot.

We understand that accidents can still happen.

If your dog wees, poos, vomits or has another accident during your session, you must clean it thoroughly before leaving.

Cleaning materials are provided.

Please let Laura know if an accident has occurred that may require additional cleaning before the room can be used again.

Illness and infectious disease

Please do not bring your dog to Snuffle Spot if they are unwell or have a known or suspected infectious or contagious illness.

This includes dogs experiencing vomiting, diarrhoea, a new or unexplained cough, or other symptoms that could potentially be passed to another dog.

If you are unsure whether your dog could pose an infection risk to other dogs, please do not attend.

Bitches in season

Bitches in season must not attend Self-Serve Snuffle Spot.

This is for hygiene reasons and because scent left within the room can significantly affect subsequent dogs and may encourage scent marking.

If your bitch comes into season before your booking, please contact Laura.

Children

Children are welcome to accompany a responsible adult but must be supervised at all times.

Snuffle Spot toys, props and equipment are designed for dogs and must not be used as play equipment by children.

Children must not climb, sit, stand, swing or play on the equipment.

Coffee and refreshments

Coffee is available on a self-service basis.

You are welcome to make yourself a drink, but please tidy up after yourself and leave the refreshment area as you found it.

Your dog must remain appropriately supervised while you make your drink.

No customer toilet

Please be aware that there are no toilet facilities available for customers at Snuffle Spot.

Please plan accordingly before attending your session.

Smoking, vaping and alcohol

Smoking, vaping and the consumption of alcohol are not permitted inside Snuffle Spot.

Anyone responsible for supervising a dog must not be under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Report problems immediately

Please have a quick look around the room when you arrive.

If you find an accident that has not been cleaned, leftover food, damaged equipment, excessive mess or anything you believe could be unsafe, please contact Laura immediately before beginning your session.

Do not allow your dog to use damaged or potentially unsafe equipment.

You are not expected to clean up significant mess left by a previous customer. Please report it so that it can be dealt with appropriately.

Please also report any damage, breakages or other problems that occur during your own session.

Leave Snuffle Spot as you found it

The Self-Serve system relies on every customer leaving Snuffle Spot clean, tidy and ready for the next dog.

Before you leave:

Pick up any visible uneaten food.
Return toys and smaller equipment to where you found them.
Put used Licki Mats in the DIRTY LICKI MAT BOX.
Thoroughly clean any accidents using the cleaning materials provided.
Dispose of your rubbish.
Tidy the coffee/refreshment area if you have used it.
Take all of your belongings with you.
Put your dog on lead before unlocking the door.
Leave by the end of your allocated booking time.

The room is not cleaned or reset by Laura Carter Canines between Self-Serve sessions, so please leave it as you would expect to find it.

Laura is on site but unavailable

Laura will be on site while Self-Serve sessions are taking place but will not be present during your session.

Self-Serve bookings do not include supervision, training, behaviour advice or assistance with your dog.

Please do not seek Laura out during your session unless there is a genuine problem or emergency.

Emergency information will be displayed within Snuffle Spot.

Failure to follow the Self-Serve rules

Self-Serve Snuffle Spot relies on customers following these rules for the safety and enjoyment of everyone using the facility.

Failure to follow the rules — including leaving the room dirty, failing to clean accidents, overstaying, using prohibited foods, allowing equipment to be damaged or repeatedly disregarding the conditions of use — may result in you being unable to book future Self-Serve sessions.

Where appropriate, reasonable repair, replacement or additional cleaning costs resulting from misuse may be charged.

Your responsibility

Dogs remain the responsibility of their owner/handler throughout the visit.

You are responsible for supervising your dog and anyone accompanying you, managing interactions between dogs attending together and ensuring the room and equipment are used appropriately.

If you believe an activity or piece of equipment is unsuitable or unsafe for your dog, do not use it.

By booking a Self-Serve Snuffle Spot session, you confirm that you have read, understood and agree to these Terms & Conditions.