Legal

Terms of Use

Last updated August 2026

These terms apply when you use thehachiway.com or book a service through it. The site is operated by Diona Chu, a sole trader based in Melbourne, Australia (ABN 54 766 785 542), trading as The Hachi Way. By using the site you agree to these terms.

Our content is general information

The guides, articles, field notes and the Waterline Assessment are general information about dog behaviour and training. They are not a substitute for hands-on assessment by a qualified trainer or for veterinary advice. Every dog is different, and we cannot guarantee a particular outcome from following general content. If your dog shows signs of pain, illness or sudden behaviour change, see a vet.

The Waterline Assessment

The assessment is a self-guided, plain-language read of where your dog may sit today. It is not a diagnosis and does not replace a professional behavioural assessment.

Bookings and fees

Prices are in Australian dollars and may change. Payment is taken through our payment provider at the time of booking unless we agree otherwise, and receipts include GST and act as your tax invoice. Any payment-plan arrangement is set out when you book. Late payments may attract a reasonable administration fee and may delay or suspend delivery.

Refunds and cancellations

These are the same terms that apply to Diona's practice as Diona The Trainer, so they do not change depending on which of the two you booked through.

Private sessions
To move or cancel a booked session, please give at least 48 hours' notice. Cancellations or rescheduling requests made within 48 hours of the session attract a 100% cancellation fee. Sessions cancelled more than 2 calendar days before the booked time can be rescheduled to a mutually agreeable time within 2 weeks of the original booked date.
Multi-session programs
Once the first session is delivered, the program fee is non-refundable. Remaining sessions can be rescheduled with reasonable notice, in line with the private session rule above.
The PACE Intensive
Non-refundable and non-transferable once enrolled, regardless of the part purchased.
Online programs and courses
Because access is granted instantly, online programs and courses are non-refundable for change of mind. If you were charged in error or cannot access the content, contact us and we will fix it.
Guides and workbooks
Because delivery is instant, PDF guides and workbooks are non-refundable once the download has been provided. If a file will not open or you were charged in error, contact us and we will fix it.
If we cancel
If a session or program is cancelled by us for any reason, a full refund or a reschedule is offered, whichever you prefer.

None of the above affects your rights under the Australian Consumer Law, which apply regardless of what these terms say.

Hachi Way trainers

Trainers listed in our directory are independent practitioners who have trained in The Hachi Way and been selected by Diona Chu to deliver it. They run their own practices. There are two ways you might end up working with one, and they are not the same arrangement.

Work we arrange
This is how the network currently operates. You enquire with us, Diona matches you to the right trainer, and the program is designed and supervised by her and delivered by that trainer. We stand behind that work. If something is not right, tell us and we will put it right, whether that means the trainer, Diona, or a refund under the terms above.
Work you arrange directly with a trainer
If you find a Hachi Way trainer independently and engage them for their own services, outside anything we have arranged or supervised, your agreement is with that trainer and not with us. They set their own fees and terms, and we are not a party to that contract or liable for it. The credential still means what it says about their training, and they are still expected to meet the standards it carries, but we are not the service provider.

If you are not sure which of the two applies to your booking, ask us and we will tell you before you pay. Nothing here removes your rights under the Australian Consumer Law against whoever actually provided the service.

Intellectual property

The site, its content, the methodology materials, and the name, logo and branding of The Hachi Way are owned by us or our licensors and are protected by law. You may read and share links to our content for personal, non-commercial use. You may not copy, reproduce, or use our content, methodology materials, or brand to run or market a competing service without our written permission.

Acceptable use

Please use the site lawfully and do not attempt to disrupt it, misuse the forms, or scrape content at scale.

Links to other sites

The site links to other sites, including dionathetrainer.com and our social channels. We are not responsible for the content or practices of sites we do not control.

Liability

Our services and content come with guarantees that cannot be excluded under the Australian Consumer Law, and nothing in these terms limits those. Subject to that, to the extent permitted by law we are not liable for any loss arising from your use of the site or reliance on general content, and our liability for any service is limited to re-supplying it or paying the cost of having it re-supplied.

Governing law

These terms are governed by the laws of Victoria, Australia.

Changes

We may update these terms from time to time. The current version is always on this page, with the date it was last updated.

Contact us

[email protected]
The Hachi Way, PO Box 3092, Newport VIC 3015, Australia · ABN 54 766 785 542