Custom Fields: User, Item or Order?

-- HikaShop version -- : 2.4.0 Business

Just a quick question on best practice. I have setup a few simple shops so far. I am now updating a client's website to be responsive and have an actual store (Hikashop).

With other sites the default fields have been fine. Now I am updating a dog training website that requires certain information when they buy a class. I don't want to collect this information if they are just buying a book or shirt.

From a quick reading of "Custom field Edit/Listing" it seems that going with "Item" field would be the most appropriate solution? That would let me tie those fields to only "class" products?

I am looking to collect information like the dog's name and various other questions related to the dog when they purchase a class. If they add other items but no class, I don't want to collect that information.

Correct, from what you're saying you're up to, "item" fields are the ones to use.

Right at the beginning of the documentation link you posted, you find the description of the field types.

Maybe you weren't done with configuring fields anyway, but in the configuration as posted you want to keep an eye on the following:
"Required" - if you want to force customers to fill in the field: "yes".
"Front-end" - you want this to be displayed on your website: "yes".
"Categories"/"Products" - use this to limit the field to your 'class' products.

Excellent, thank you for the reassurances and the extra info to watch out for. I have not configured these fields before, but expect your advice will save me some trouble shooting time from a simple error.