How are disputes resolved with Canine Dimensions?
Canine_Dimensions Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
| Provision | Section in | Summary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Franchise Agreement | (g) Prior to the date of transfer, your transferee must complete our training program to our satisfaction. | ||
| n. Franchisor’s right of first refusal to acquire franchisee's business | Section 13.5 | We can match any bona fide written offer for your Franchised Business. | |
| o. Franchisor’s option to | Section 15.4 | Upon expiration or termination, we can buy your personal property, | |
| purchase franchisee's | fixtures, equipment, and inventory related to your Franchised | ||
| business | Business. | ||
| p. Death or disability of franchisee | Section 13.6 | Within thirty (30) days of death or disability, the Franchise must be operated by a person who has been approved by us and passed our Initial Training Program. The Franchise must be transferred to an approved individual or entity within 6 months of death or incapacity. We must approve all transfers. | |
| q. Non-competition | Article 16 | You must not be in a competing business anywhere and must not | |
| covenants during the term of | attempt to divert customers of your Franchised Business to any | ||
| the franchise | competitive business. | ||
| r. Non-competition covenants after the franchise is terminated or expires | Article 16 | You may not divert business to any competitor or employ or contract with any of our or another franchisee’s personnel. In addition, for two years after termination or expiration, you may not have any involvement in a competing business within: (a) 30 miles of your Protected Territory; or (b) 50 miles of any Canine Dimensions Business. | |
| s. Modification of the | Article 21 | Changes to the Franchise Agreement must be made in writing and | |
| agreement | agreed to by both parties. | ||
| t. Integration/merger clause | Article 21 | Only the terms of the Franchise Agreement are binding (subject to state law). Nothing in the agreement or in any related agreement is intended to disclaim the representations we made in the Franchise Disclosure Document. Any representations or promises outside the Franchise Disclosure Document and Franchise Agreement may not be enforceable. | |
| u. Dispute resolution by arbitration or mediation | Article 23 | Subject to federal and your state’s law, all disputes, except as explicitly listed in the Franchise Agreement, must be submitted to non-binding mediation in accordance with the commercial arbitration rules of the American Arbitration Association. If unsuccessful, the dispute must be submitted to arbitration within five miles of our headquarters in Florida. |
Source: Item 19 — FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE REPRESENTATIONS (FDD pages 30–32)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Canine Dimensions' 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, dispute resolution is addressed in Article 23 of the franchise agreement. The standard process involves first submitting disputes to non-binding mediation, following the commercial arbitration rules of the American Arbitration Association. This means that if a franchisee has a disagreement with Canine Dimensions, they are initially required to attempt to resolve it through mediation, where a neutral third party helps facilitate a discussion and potential settlement.
If mediation is unsuccessful, the dispute must then be submitted to arbitration. The arbitration proceedings will take place within five miles of Canine Dimensions' headquarters in Florida. This means a franchisee may need to travel to Florida to resolve the dispute. The requirement to arbitrate is subject to federal and the franchisee's state laws, which may provide additional protections or requirements.
It is important to note that there may be exceptions to this dispute resolution process, as explicitly listed in the Franchise Agreement. Franchisees should carefully review Article 23 and related sections to understand the full scope of the dispute resolution process and any exceptions that may apply. Understanding this process is crucial for any prospective franchisee, as it outlines how disagreements with Canine Dimensions will be handled, potentially saving time and resources by avoiding court litigation.