Privacy Policy

Last updated: 23 August 2026

This policy explains how Dave's Dogs collects, uses and protects your personal data, and what rights you have over it. It's written to comply with the UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018.

Who we are

Dave's Dogs is a sole trader business run by Dave Taylor, based at 24 Porter's Close, Fordham Heath, Colchester, Essex, CO3 9TY. Dave is the data controller for any personal data collected through this website or through the running of the business.

Contact: davesdogservices@gmail.com

What data we collect

We only collect what we need to run a dog walking service properly.

Through the general enquiry form: your name, email address, phone number, and any details you choose to include about your dog and your enquiry.

If you become a client: your name, home address, phone number, email address, an emergency contact, key handling arrangements, and invoicing details. We also hold information about your dog (breed, age, temperament, vet details, behavioural notes) so we can care for them properly, though this is treated as business information rather than personal data under GDPR, since it relates to your dog rather than to you.

Website usage data: this site runs on Squarespace, which uses some cookies to keep the site working and, if you don't opt out, to gather anonymous analytics about how visitors use the site. See the Cookies section below.

We don't collect payment card details ourselves. Invoices are settled directly between you and Dave, and we don't store card numbers or bank details beyond what's needed to identify that an invoice has been paid.

Why we use your data, and our legal basis for doing so

  • Responding to your enquiry — legitimate interest, in following up on enquiries about our services.

  • Providing the dog walking service, arranging meet and greets, and managing your booking — necessary for the performance of a contract with you.

  • Emergency contact and key handling details — necessary for the performance of a contract, and to protect your dog's safety and your property.

  • Invoicing and payment records — necessary for the performance of a contract, and to meet our legal obligations around business record keeping.

  • Occasional updates about availability or service changes — legitimate interest, kept to a minimum and only sent to existing enquirers or clients. You can ask us to stop at any time.

We don't use your data for anything beyond running and improving Dave's Dogs. We don't sell it, and we don't share it with third parties for marketing purposes.

Who we share data with

We may share limited data with service providers who help us run the business, such as our website host (Squarespace) and any invoicing or scheduling tools we use. These providers only process data on our instructions and are bound by their own data protection obligations.

We may also disclose data where required by law, for example if requested by the police or another public authority.

We don't transfer your data outside the UK ourselves. Squarespace, as our website host, may process some website usage data on servers outside the UK; where this happens, it's covered by Squarespace's own data protection safeguards, including standard contractual clauses where relevant.

How long we keep your data

  • Enquiry form submissions that don't lead to a booking are kept for up to 12 months, then deleted.

  • Client records (contact details, dog information, booking history) are kept for the duration of our working relationship and for up to 6 years afterwards, in line with standard record keeping practice for a small business.

  • Invoicing records are kept for as long as required by HMRC, currently 6 years.

If you'd like something deleted sooner, get in touch and we'll do so unless we have a legal reason to keep it.

Cookies

This site runs on Squarespace, which sets some cookies automatically to make the site function properly (essential cookies). It may also set analytics cookies to help us understand how visitors use the site.

Where analytics or non-essential cookies are used, you'll be asked to consent before they're set, and you can withdraw that consent at any time through your browser settings or the site's cookie preferences.

Your rights

Under UK GDPR, you have the right to:

  • Access the personal data we hold about you

  • Rectification of inaccurate or incomplete data

  • Erasure of your data, where there's no legal reason for us to keep it

  • Restriction of how we use your data

  • Object to us using your data for certain purposes

  • Data portability, meaning you can ask for your data in a portable format

  • Withdraw consent at any time, where we're relying on consent

To exercise any of these rights, email davesdogservices@gmail.com. We'll respond within one month.

If you're unhappy with how we've handled your data, you have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), the UK's data protection regulator, at ico.org.uk or on 0303 123 1113.

Children's privacy

This website and our services aren't directed at children, and we don't knowingly collect personal data from anyone under 13.

Security

We take reasonable steps to keep your data secure, including limiting who has access to client records and using a reputable, secure website host. No method of storage or transmission is completely secure, but we do our best to protect what we hold.

Changes to this policy

We may update this policy from time to time. Any changes will be posted on this page with an updated date at the top.

Contact us

If you have any questions about this policy or how your data is handled, email davesdogservices@gmail.com.