If mediation fails to resolve a dispute with All Dogs Unleashed, what is the next step?
All_Dogs_Unleashed Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
| Provision | Section in Franchise Agreement | Summary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| r. | Non-competition covenants after the franchise is terminated or expires | Section 15.2 | For a two-year period following expiration, termination or transfer of the franchise, neither you nor your owners may (i) perform dog training, grooming, or boarding services for any customer or former customer of the Franchised Business or (ii) own, maintain, advise, operate, engage in, be employed by, make loans to, or have any interest in any business providing dog training, grooming, or boarding services within or within 25 miles from the perimeter of your former Service Area, or within or within 25 miles of the perimeter of any other ALL DOGS UNLEASHED business no diversion of any present or prospective customer of ours to a competitor; no solicitation of ours or any of our affiliate's management employees. |
| s. | Modification of the agreement | Sections 18.1 and 18.2 | Must be in writing and signed by all parties |
| t. | Integration/merger clause | Sections 18.1 and 18.2 | Only the terms of the franchise agreement and other related written agreements are binding (subject to federal law). Any other promises may not be enforceable. Nothing in the franchise agreement or any other related agreement is intended to disclaim representations contained in this franchise disclosure document. Any representations or promises outside of the Franchise Disclosure Document and other agreement may not be enforceable. |
| u. | Dispute resolution by arbitration or mediation | Sections 19.2 and 19.3 | Claims, controversies, or disputes from or relating to the franchise agreement must be mediated, except for actions seeking injunctive relief and actions we bring which are related to or based on our Marks or Confidential Information. If the claims, controversies, or disputes are not resolved in mediation, they must be submitted for arbitration (subject to relevant state law). |
| v. | Choice of forum | Sections 19.2, 19.3, and 19.4 | Mediation and arbitration at the AAA offices located in the city where our principal business office is located at the time mediation and/or arbitration occurs. Venue for any other proceeding is the courts in the county in which we maintain our principal business office (subject to applicable state law). |
Source: Item 17 — RENEWAL, TERMINATION, TRANSFER AND DISPUTE RESOLUTION THE FRANCHISE RELATIONSHIP (FDD pages 30–38)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to All Dogs Unleashed's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, disputes arising from or related to the franchise agreement that cannot be resolved through mediation must be submitted for arbitration. However, this is subject to relevant state law.
This means that if a franchisee has a disagreement with All Dogs Unleashed regarding the franchise agreement, both parties must first attempt to resolve it through mediation. If mediation is unsuccessful, the franchisee is then required to proceed to arbitration to settle the dispute. Arbitration is a form of alternative dispute resolution where a neutral third party hears both sides of the argument and makes a binding decision.
The requirement to arbitrate may impact a franchisee's rights to pursue a lawsuit in court. The location for mediation and arbitration will be at the AAA offices located in the city where All Dogs Unleashed’s principal business office is located at the time mediation and/or arbitration occurs. Franchisees should be aware of the costs and procedures associated with arbitration, as they can differ from traditional litigation.