Privacy Policy

HDogz — operated by Harrison O'Neill | harrison@hdogz.com

1. Who We Are

HDogz is a canine behaviour consultancy operated by Harrison O'Neill. Currently operating as a German self-employed sole trader, transitioning to an Irish registered company in January 2027. Contact: harrison@hdogz.com

2. What Data We Collect

  • Your name, email address, phone number, and address

  • Your dog's name, age, breed, and behavioural history

  • Exercise videos and photos submitted via the agreed communication platform

  • Virtual session recordings

  • Audio feedback notes sent via the agreed communication platform

  • The full case thread on the agreed communication platform as a professional record

  • Written communications via email, WhatsApp, Telegram, or other agreed platforms

  • Payment transaction records

3. How We Use Your Data

Your data is used for the following purposes:

  • Delivering the canine behaviour consultation service

  • Analysing exercise videos and advancing your programme

  • Maintaining a professional case record for your dog

  • Professional defence in the event of any complaint or legal claim

  • Case study development and methodology research — in anonymised form, where consent has been given

  • Marketing and educational use — only where explicit consent has been given

4. Legal Basis for Processing

Personal contact data is processed on the basis of contractual necessity — it is required to deliver the service you have engaged.

Case record material — exercise videos, session recordings, audio notes, case thread communications, session notes — is processed and retained on the basis of legitimate interests. HDogz has a legitimate professional and legal interest in retaining case records to evidence the methods used in the event of any complaint, and to contribute to the evidence base for CCBT methodology. Retention of case records is a non-negotiable condition of the programme. Clients who do not consent to case record retention cannot be accepted onto the programme.

Use of material for marketing or social media purposes is based on explicit written consent given separately prior to signing, which may be withdrawn at any time.

5. Data Retention

HDogz operates a split retention policy reflecting the different nature of different data:

Personal contact data — name, address, email, phone number, payment records: retained for the duration of the programme and deleted within two years of the programme concluding, or earlier on request.

Professional case records — exercise videos, session recordings, audio feedback notes, case thread communications, session notes: retained indefinitely on the basis of legitimate interests as described above. Where a client requests erasure, personal contact details will be removed. Case record material will be retained in anonymised form where the legitimate interest applies.

The HDogz programme runs for the lifetime of the enrolled dog. Following the dog's death, case records may be retained in anonymised form for research and methodology purposes where consent has been given.

6. Third-Party Communication Platforms

The HDogz programme operates through an agreed communication platform which may include WhatsApp, email, Telegram, or other mutually agreed channels. Communications, videos, and audio messages shared via any third-party platform are subject to that platform's own privacy policy and data processing terms in addition to this policy. HDogz does not control third-party platform data practices. Clients are encouraged to review the relevant privacy policy for whichever platform is used.

Session recordings may be hosted on Zoom, Google Meet, or similar platforms. Those platforms' own privacy policies apply to recordings stored on their infrastructure.

7. Data Sharing

Your data is not sold or shared with third parties for commercial purposes. Data may be shared in the following limited circumstances:

  • With the Institute of Canine Psychotherapy for mentorship supervision purposes, where consent has been given in the Client Agreement

  • With payment processing providers, limited to transaction data only

  • Where required by applicable law

8. Your Rights

Under GDPR you have the right to: access your personal data; correct inaccurate data; request deletion of personal contact data; object to processing; and data portability. Requests should be directed to harrison@hdogz.com and will be responded to within 30 days.

Requests for erasure of case record material will be considered against HDogz's legitimate interests as described above. HDogz will communicate clearly if a retention claim applies and on what basis.

From January 2027, you may lodge a complaint with the Data Protection Commission of Ireland at dataprotection.ie. Currently, complaints regarding German data processing may be directed to the relevant German Datenschutzbehörde.

9. Cookies

The HDogz website is hosted on Squarespace. Squarespace uses cookies for website functionality and analytics. For full details please refer to squarespace.com/privacy. HDogz does not operate independent tracking or advertising cookies.

10. Policy Updates

This policy will be updated when HDogz transitions to Irish law in January 2027. Material changes will be communicated to active clients directly. The current version is always available on this page.