Can a Canine Dimensions franchisee carry inventory items not approved by the franchisor?
Canine_Dimensions Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
You will be permitted to carry only the specific items of inventory approved by us. We will provide you with a list of approved suppliers following execution of the Franchise Agreement.
If we do not authorize a product, service, or supplier, you are prohibited from using it in your Franchised Business. It is a material breach of your Franchise Agreement if you buy products, equipment, supplies, inventory, goods or services from anyone other than our designated or approved suppliers and distributors (which may include us or our affiliates) without our prior written approval.
We formulate and modify our standards and specifications based on the market for dog training and behavior modification businesses in general, as well as competitive and economic conditions, based on the experience of our affiliate's operation of a Canine Dimensions Business. We do not provide any material benefits to you based upon your use of approved suppliers.
Supplier Approvals
If you want to purchase or lease any products, equipment, supplies, forms, marketing, supplies, advertising or services from a supplier, other than from us or our authorized supplier, you must first notify us and obtain our written approval. We will provide you with our specifications and standards for approval. We will review your request and we will respond to you in writing (typically by e-mail) regarding our approval or disapproval of the alternative supplier within 60 days after we have had the opportunity to test the item or supplier. We have no obligation to approve any request for a new supplier, product, or service, but we will not unreasonably withhold our approval if the item, product, or service is not one that we require you to purchase or obtain from our existing suppliers.
You will be required to pay our costs of testing. If the supplier proposed by you meets our criteria, we will permit you to contract with that approved supplier. We reserve the right to re-inspect the facilities and to retest the product of any approved supplier and to revoke any approval if the supplier fails to continue to meet our high standards.
Source: Item 8 — RESTRICTIONS ON SOURCES OF PRODUCTS AND SERVICES (FDD pages 14–17)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Canine Dimensions's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees are generally required to purchase inventory items from suppliers approved by Canine Dimensions, which may include Canine Dimensions itself or its affiliates. Franchisees are only permitted to carry specific inventory items that have been approved by Canine Dimensions.
Canine Dimensions reserves the right to be the only approved supplier for certain inventory items. Specifically, Canine Dimensions or its affiliates are the only approved suppliers of client workbooks and the initial inventory package that franchisees must purchase. While Canine Dimensions reserves the right to be the only approved supplier of other inventory items, they are not currently the only approved supplier for all inventory items.
If a franchisee wishes to purchase inventory from a supplier not already approved, they must first notify Canine Dimensions and obtain written approval. Canine Dimensions will review the request and respond in writing, typically via email, within 60 days after having the opportunity to test the item or supplier. Canine Dimensions is not obligated to approve any request for a new supplier, product, or service, but they will not unreasonably withhold approval if the item, product, or service is not one that franchisees are required to purchase from existing suppliers.
If Canine Dimensions approves a new supplier, the franchisee will be required to pay the costs of testing the supplier's products. Canine Dimensions also reserves the right to re-inspect the facilities and retest the product of any approved supplier and to revoke approval if the supplier fails to continue to meet their standards. If approval is revoked, Canine Dimensions will inform the franchisee in writing, and the franchisee must cease contracting with that supplier immediately.