Last Updated: October 2025

Take the Lead - Terms of Trade

These Terms of Trade (Terms) apply to all services that Take the Lead QT Limited (Take the Lead) provides to you, the Client (Client). By using the Take the Lead website (Website) or by making a booking on the Website the Client agrees to these Terms. 

  1. Bookings and Confirmations

    1. All bookings for all Take the Lead services (Services) must be made by text message to the designated business number. A booking is not confirmed until the Client receives a valid confirmation message. The confirmation message will include the date, time, and details of the Service (including if this is an ongoing Service i.e to continue weekly). If the Client does not receive a confirmation message within 24 hours of making a booking request, please contact Take the Lead to ensure the booking has been received and processed. 

    2. All Services are subject to availability. Take the Lead reserves the right to decline bookings due to capacity limits, weather conditions, or other operational constraints.

  2. Overnight care and house-sitting 

    1. A non-refundable deposit equal to 20% of the total Service fee is required to secure all overnight care and house-sitting bookings (Overnight Booking). This deposit must be paid at the time the Overnight Bookings is made. 

    2. The Client must notify Take the Lead of any changes or cancellations to a Overnight Booking as soon as possible. While Take the Lead will make reasonable efforts to accommodate changes, Take the Lead does not guarantee acceptance of changes once a Overnight Booking has been confirmed.

  3. Fees and Invoicing  

    1. The Client shall pay Take the Lead the Service fees as recorded in the booking confirmation for the services provided. 

    2. Take the Lead will issue to the Client a weekly GST invoices for amounts payable by the Client. Payments shall be made without set-off, counterclaim or deduction within 14 days of the date of the invoice. If the Client disputes in good faith the whole or any portion of any invoice, the Client shall pay the portion not in dispute.  

    3. Take the Lead may charge interest on overdue payments at 2% per month or part month. If payment in full is not made on the due date, Take the Lead may suspend all Services to the Client until suspend services if payment is received in full. 

    4. Take the Lead accepts payment by bank transfer or cash, unless otherwise agreed.

  4. Cancellation and Changes 

    1. The following cancellation fees apply to cancellations of any bookings initiated by the Client:

      1. cancellations made with more than with more than 24 hours’ notice will not incur a cancellation fee.

      2. cancellations made with less than 24 hours’ notice will incur a fee equal to 50% of the scheduled Service fee. 

      3. same-day cancellation will incur a fee equal to 100% of the scheduled Service fee.

    2. Exceptions to the cancellation fees listed in 4.1(a)4.1(c) may be made at the discretion of Take the Lead for cancellations due to veterinary/medical reasons (proof of such circumstances may be requested).

    3. In the event that Take the Lead is unable to provide a scheduled Service, Take the Lead will provide as much notice to the effected Clients as reasonably possible. 

    4. No cancellation fee will apply for cancellations initiated by Take the Lead and where possible, Take the Lead will attempt to reschedule the affected booking at a mutually convenient time.

  5. Client Obligations 

    1. The Client agrees to:

      1. ensure their dog(s) are up to date with vaccinations, in good health, and free from contagious illness;

      2. observe a 14-day stand-down period if a dog is diagnosed with or suspected to have kennel cough or another contagious condition;

      3. disclose any medical conditions, behavioural issues, aggression, anxiety, or history of biting;

      4. confirm whether their dog attends other pack walkers, daycares, or dog care facilities;

      5. provide appropriate equipment (e.g., collar, harness, leash) in safe working order;

      6. ensure safe access to the Clients property at the agreed times; and

      7. provide accurate and current emergency contact details.

  6. Unneutered Dogs and Dogs in Heat 

    1. The Client is responsible for informing Take the Lead in advance if their dog is unneutered or in heat. Failure to disclose this information may result in immediate suspension of Services, additional fees to cover costs set out in clause 6.3, or refusal of future bookings.

    2. Take the Lead may refuse or alter Services at its discretion for dogs that are unneutered males or females in heat, depending on safety and management considerations.

    3. Where Services are provided to unneutered dogs or dogs in heat, additional supervision may be required to ensure a safe and controlled environment. This may include separate walks, one-on-one care, or exclusion from group activities. In such cases, an additional fee will be charged to reflect the extra time, resources, and staff attention required.

  7. Risk and Liability and Insurance 

    1. The first time the Client books Take the Lead Services; the Client will be required to sign a Dog Walking Liability Waiver. The Dog Walking Liability Waiver is incorporated into and forms part of these Terms. If there is any inconsistency between these Terms and the Dog Walking Liability Waiver, these Terms shall prevail to the extent of that inconsistency. 

    2. Take the Lead will take all reasonable precautions to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the Client's dog(s), However, the Client accepts the Services involve inherent risks, including but not limited to:

      1. injury to the Client's dog;

      2. the Client's dog becoming ill due to exposure to environmental and manmade hazards; 

      3. weather-related risks;

      4. unexpected dog behaviour (being behaviour of the Client's dog or other dogs attending the Services); and

      5. escape or loss of the Client's dog(s).

    3. The Client acknowledges and accepts the risks outlined in clause 7.2. To the maximum extent permitted by law, Take the Lead and its staff are excluded from any liability for injury, illness, loss, or damage to the Client's dog or property that may occur during the provision of Services.

    4. The Client accepts full financial responsibility for:

      1. any damage or injury caused by their dog to property, persons, or other animals;

      2. all veterinary care costs incurred during or as a result of the Service;

      3. any third-party claims arising from the dog’s behaviour or actions.

    5. The Client agrees to indemnify Take the Lead from and against any and all claims, liabilities, losses, damages, costs, or expenses (including legal fees) arising out of or in connection with:

      1. the Client's dog’s behaviour or actions during or related to the provision of Services;

      2. any breach of these Terms by the Client; and

      3. any third-party claims resulting from injury, damage, or loss caused by the Client's dog.

    6. Take the Lead and its staff shall not be liable for any damage to the Client's property (Client's Property) while performing the Services of a Homestay Booking caused by:

      1. the pet, including chewing, scratching, urination, or other destructive behaviour;

      2. general wear and tear to the Client's Property.

    7. All Client's that make an Overnight Booking must:

      1. maintain valid home and contents insurance during the Overnight Booking period; 

      2. notify their insurer of the homestay / house sitting arrangement; and 

      3. ensure the relevant Take the Lead staff are noted on the insurance policy as a temporary occupant or guest (as required by the insurer).

    8. In the event, Take the Lead is liable, its total aggregate liability for all claims made by the Client under or in relation to these Terms, whether in contract, tort (including negligence) or otherwise shall not exceed the Service Fees paid by the Client in the previous 6 months.

    9. Nothing in these terms excludes any rights or remedies that a Client may have under the Fair Trading Act 1986 or Consumer Guarantees Act 1993.

  8. Emergencies

    1. The Take the Lead staff are trained in pet first aid. The Client consents to Take the Lead staff administering first aid on the Client's dog(s) as and when required.

    2. In the event of an emergency, Take the Lead will attempt to contact the Client as soon as reasonably practicable.

    3. If the Client cannot be reached, the Client is deemed to have authorised Take the Lead to seek veterinary treatment at Petfirst Queenstown or the nearest available clinic.

    4. The Client is liable for all veterinary costs incurred as a result of Take the Lead dealing with an emergency under this clause 8.

  9. Keys and Property Access

    1. If Take the Lead turn up to the Client's property but are unable to reach the dog(s), or there is a lack of dog(s) presence, the full Service fee will be charged to the Client.

    2. If the Client provides keys, access codes or any other secure method for accessing the Client's property, Take the Lead will keep such access information secure and returned upon termination of Services.

  10. Photographs and Promotion

    1. Subject to clause 10.2, Take the Lead may take photographs of the Client's dogs in its care for updates and promotional purposes (including social media and our website).

    2. If the Client does not wish for photographs of their dog(s) to be used, the Client must notify Take the Lead in writing before Services commence.

  11. Termination of Services

    1. Take the Lead reserve the right to terminate Services immediately if the Client's dog poses a risk to themselves, other animals, members of the public, or any Take the Lead staff.

  12. Force Majeure

    1. Neither the Client or Take the Lead will be liable for any delay or failure to perform any of its obligations (excluding any payment obligation) that is caused or contributed to by any event beyond its reasonable control (including but not limited to an act of nature, pandemic, epidemic, war, fire, discontinuity in utility supply, road closure, court order, riot, strike or labour disturbance) provided that party: 

      1. notifies the other party of the event on becoming aware of it; and 

      2. uses its best endeavours to mitigate the effects of the event and to perform its obligations not affected by the event.

If the event materially affects the Client or Take the Lead's ability to meet its obligations under these Terms for more than 90 days, the other may terminate an Order by notice in writing.

  1. Privacy

    1. Take the Lead will only collect, use and disclose the Client's personal information in accordance with its Privacy Policy and otherwise in compliance with the Privacy Act 2020.

  1. General 

    1. No Waiver: No failure or delay by the Client or Take the Lead in insisting on the strict performance of these Terms or to exercise any right under these Terms will operate as a waiver of those matters.  A waiver will not be effective unless it is in writing.  A waiver of any breach will not be a waiver of any other breach.     

    2. Entire agreement: These Terms record the entire arrangement between the parties relating to the matters dealt with in these Terms and supersedes all previous arrangements, whether written, oral, or both, relating to such matters.

    3. Amendments: Take the Lead may amend these Terms at any time by updating the Terms on its Website. The “Last Updated” date shown at the top of the Terms will be changed to reflect the date of the most recent update. Any amended Terms will apply to all new bookings placed after the updated Terms are published on the Take the Lead Website. We recommend that the Client review the Terms regularly to ensure it understands the terms that apply at the time of making a booking.

Governing Law: This Agreement is governed by New Zealand laws and the parties submit to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the New Zealand courts.