Who we are
Head Start Dog Training is an Edinburgh-based dog training business operated by Katya as a sole trader. We are ABTC-certified and committed to reward-based, force-free training methods.
What data we collect
We may collect the following personal information:
- Contact details — your name, email address, and phone number
- Dog information — your dog’s name, breed, age, and relevant behavioural or health details
- Photographs and videos — taken during training sessions, with your consent
- Website data — your IP address and basic browser information when you visit our website
- Communications — records of emails, messages, and phone conversations between us
How we collect your data
We collect personal data through:
- Our contact form — when you submit an enquiry or book a consultation on our website
- Email and phone — when you get in touch with us directly
- Text messages — via WhatsApp or SMS during an active training programme
- In person — during consultations and training sessions
- Our website — automatically through essential cookies and hosting infrastructure
How we use your data
We use your personal data to:
- Respond to your enquiries and book consultations
- Deliver dog training services you have booked
- Send appointment reminders and session follow-ups
- Provide ongoing support between sessions (e.g. via WhatsApp)
- Send marketing communications, only where you have given explicit consent
- Improve our website and the services we offer
- Comply with legal and regulatory obligations
We will never sell your personal data to third parties.
Legal basis for processing
Under UK GDPR, we process your data on the following legal bases:
- Consent — when you submit our contact form, opt in to marketing emails, or agree to photographs being taken
- Contractual necessity — to deliver the training services you have booked and paid for
- Legitimate interest — to respond to enquiries, manage our business, and improve our services
You can withdraw your consent at any time by contacting us at katya@headstartdogtraining.com.
How we store your data
Your personal data is stored securely using the following measures:
- Email correspondence is held within our email provider’s secure infrastructure
- Contact form submissions are processed through our website hosting (Cloudflare)
- Client records and training notes are stored securely and access is limited to the trainer
Retention periods
- Enquiry data (name, email, message) — retained for up to 2 years after your last contact
- Client records (training notes, session history) — retained for up to 6 years after your last session
- Marketing consent records — retained for as long as you remain subscribed
- Photographs and videos — retained until you request their removal, or for up to 3 years
Your data protection rights
Under UK GDPR, you have the following rights:
- Right of access — you can request a copy of the personal data we hold about you
- Right to rectification — you can ask us to correct any data that is inaccurate or incomplete
- Right to erasure — you can ask us to delete your personal data in certain circumstances
- Right to restrict processing — you can ask us to limit how we use your data
- Right to object — you can object to our processing of your data based on legitimate interest
- Right to data portability — you can request your data in a commonly used, machine-readable format
To exercise any of these rights, please email us at katya@headstartdogtraining.com. We will respond within one month.
Cookies
Our website uses only essential cookies required for the site to function correctly. We do not use advertising or tracking cookies.
Third-party services that may set cookies or collect data through our site:
- Cloudflare — our hosting provider, which may set essential security cookies
- Google Fonts — we load fonts (Fraunces and DM Sans) from Google’s servers, which may log your IP address
We do not use Google Analytics or any other analytics tracking tools on this website.
Third-party services
We use the following third-party services in connection with our website and business:
- Cloudflare — website hosting and content delivery
- Google Fonts — web font delivery
- Instagram — we maintain a social media presence; interactions on Instagram are governed by Meta’s privacy policy
We only share your personal data with third parties where it is necessary to deliver our services or where we are legally required to do so.
Children’s privacy
Our services are designed for dogs and their owners. Some of our programmes, such as Family Dog Training, may involve children.
We do not knowingly collect personal data from children under the age of 16 without the consent of a parent or guardian. If you are a parent or guardian and believe we have collected data about your child without consent, please contact us and we will delete it promptly.
Changes to this policy
We may update this privacy policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. When we make changes, we will update the “last updated” date at the top of this page.
We encourage you to review this page periodically.
If you have any questions about this privacy policy or how we handle your data, please get in touch:
Complaints
If you are not satisfied with how we have handled your data, you have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO):
- Website: ico.org.uk
- Phone: 0303 123 1113