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Referral Policy

A Step Beyond and Lisa Clifton-Bumpass do not accept referral fees from the individuals or companies listed on this website. They are required to stand alone on the strength of their skill, expertise and quality of information. We encourage dog owners to get help from experts who combine their love for animals with scientific knowledge and years of experience when working with training and behavior issues.

When contacting any animal training or consultant professional, please take the time verify their professional certifications and associations. Please refer to www.k9aggression.com for suggested questions to ask consultants you call. Additionally, verify that the kind of insurance they carry covers working with aggressive dogs. Many insurance companies no longer cover dog trainers who work on aggression cases as per Dennis Stowers of Mourer Foster Inc. (www.mourerfoster.com/kennelpro.asp).

Take time to check references and stated qualifications carefully; a veterinarian’s recommendation should not be your only decision point, as some vet offices allow anyone to walk in and distribute brochures without the benefit of a background investigation into their professional status and expertise. If an individual states that they are educated or certified in a specific dimension, ask for the organization’s contact information, the certification number and make sure that the company or individual is in good standing and insured to perform the services as claimed.

We have, to the best of our abilities, attempted to provide a referral network of training and behavior professionals that are certified, qualified, trained and insured to provide the highest quality services available. The trainers listed on this website are individuals that we have personal knowledge of, including their tools, methods, philosophies and skills used to train and modify animal behavior. We cannot guarantee their services or results and receive no referral fees for listing or referring to them.