Terms & Conditions

1. Agreement to these terms

By accessing or using the It Was the Dog website, purchasing or downloading a product, contacting us through the site, or participating in related services, you agree to these Terms & Conditions and our Privacy Policy.

If you do not agree with these terms, do not use the website or purchase our products.

2. About It Was the Dog

It Was the Dog is a publishing brand of John Stegmeier LLC. The website provides educational dog-training books, digital products, resource recommendations, affiliate-program information, and related content.

3. Educational information only

The books, website, articles, resource pages, emails, and other materials are provided for general educational and informational purposes. They are not a substitute for individualized veterinary care, veterinary-behavior care, professional diagnosis, emergency services, or other professional advice appropriate to your dog and situation.

Dogs differ in health, temperament, learning history, environment, age, genetics, and behavior. You are responsible for deciding what is appropriate and safe for your dog.

4. No guarantee of results

We aim to provide practical, evidence-informed training guidance, but no training method, book, product, tool, schedule, or recommendation can guarantee a particular behavioral result.

Results depend on many factors outside our control, including consistency, timing, environment, prior learning, health, temperament, household circumstances, and how the material is applied.

5. Purchases and checkout

Purchases are processed through Digistore24, which provides checkout, payment processing, order administration, and related transaction services for It Was the Dog products.

By placing an order, you agree to provide accurate purchase information and to pay the price, taxes, and other charges shown at checkout. Digistore24's applicable buyer terms and the terms displayed on the checkout page also apply to the transaction.

Prices, product availability, bundles, bonuses, and promotional offers may change without notice unless a specific offer states otherwise.

6. Digital-product delivery

It Was the Dog books and related downloadable products are digital products. No physical book or other physical item will be shipped unless a product page specifically states otherwise.

Digital delivery may occur by download page, email, third-party platform, or another electronic method stated at checkout.

You are responsible for providing a valid email address and maintaining access to the device, software, internet connection, and storage needed to receive and use digital products.

If you experience a delivery or access problem, contact [email protected] and include the email address used for the purchase and the product purchased.

If the email link doesn't open, visit our Contact page.

7. 60-day refund policy and billing issues

It Was the Dog book sales are offered with the 60-day refund period stated on the applicable sales page and at checkout. Refund requests and related transaction matters are processed through Digistore24 in accordance with the terms presented for the purchase.

If you have an order, billing, duplicate-charge, download, or refund question, you may use the support options provided through Digistore24 or contact [email protected] for help identifying the order.

You can also reach our support options through the Contact page.

8. Personal-use license for digital products

Unless we expressly state otherwise in writing, purchasing or downloading an It Was the Dog book or digital product gives you a limited, personal, non-exclusive, non-transferable license to use that product for your own lawful personal use.

You may not, without written permission:

• Copy, reproduce, republish, upload, or distribute the product to others.
• Sell, sublicense, rent, share, or give away copies.
• Post substantial portions publicly or make the product available through file-sharing sites.
• Remove copyright, trademark, attribution, or ownership notices.
• Use the product to create an unauthorized competing or derivative commercial product.

9. Intellectual property

The website, books, written content, graphics, logos, branding, product names, original photographs, promotional materials, and other original content are owned by or licensed to John Stegmeier LLC and are protected by applicable intellectual-property laws.

“It Was the Dog” and related brand elements may not be used in a way that suggests sponsorship, endorsement, partnership, or authorization unless permission has been given.

10. Acceptable website use

You agree not to misuse the website or related services, including by:

• Attempting unauthorized access to accounts, systems, forms, or data.
• Interfering with website operation or security.
• Using automated systems in a way that unreasonably burdens the website.
• Submitting fraudulent, deceptive, abusive, unlawful, or malicious material.
• Using the website or products in violation of applicable law.

11. Affiliate links and product recommendations

Some links on It Was the Dog pages may be affiliate links. If you purchase through an affiliate link, John Stegmeier LLC may receive a commission at no additional cost to you.

Recommendations are provided for convenience and general informational purposes. Products, pricing, availability, specifications, merchant policies, and suitability can change. Always evaluate a product for your own dog, household, and circumstances.

12. Third-party websites and services

The website may link to independent third-party websites, merchants, social networks, checkout providers, affiliate platforms, tools, and other services.

We do not control those services and are not responsible for their content, availability, security, privacy practices, pricing, policies, or performance. Your use of a third-party service is governed by that service's own terms.

13. Affiliate program

Participation in the It Was the Dog affiliate program may be subject to separate program, platform, tracking, commission, advertising, and promotional rules.

Affiliates are responsible for using accurate representations, appropriate disclosures, approved tracking links, and lawful marketing practices. We may modify, suspend, or discontinue an affiliate offer or promotional asset when reasonably necessary.

14. Website and product disclaimer

To the fullest extent permitted by law, the website and content are provided on an “as available” and “as is” basis. We do not promise that every page, link, download, feature, or third-party service will always be uninterrupted, error-free, or available.

Nothing in these terms excludes warranties or rights that cannot lawfully be excluded.

15. Limitation of liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law, John Stegmeier LLC and the It Was the Dog brand will not be liable for indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages arising from use of the website, products, recommendations, or third-party services.

Nothing in these terms limits liability where doing so would be prohibited by applicable law.

16. Changes to the website, products, or terms

We may update website content, products, pricing, bundles, features, policies, or these Terms & Conditions from time to time. The effective date at the top of this page will be updated when revised terms are posted.

Your continued use of the website after revised terms are posted means the revised terms apply to future use, subject to applicable law.

17. Suspension or termination of access

We may restrict or terminate access to website features or services when reasonably necessary to address fraud, abuse, unlawful conduct, security concerns, infringement, or material violation of these terms.

18. Severability and no waiver

If a provision of these terms is found unenforceable, the remaining provisions will continue to apply to the extent permitted by law.

A failure to enforce a provision in one situation does not mean that provision is permanently waived.

19. Applicable law

These terms are governed by applicable law and are intended to be interpreted consistently with any consumer-protection or other legal rights that cannot be waived by contract.

20. Contact us

Questions about these Terms & Conditions can be sent to:

John Stegmeier LLC
It Was the Dog
Email: [email protected]