The Doggy Dude ("we", "us", "our") is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, and protect your personal information in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs).

By using our website (thedoggydude.com.au) or booking our grooming services, you consent to the practices described in this Privacy Policy.

1 - What Information We Collect

We collect personal information only where it is necessary to provide our services or to communicate with you. The types of information we may collect include:

• Personal Information (You / The Owner)

• Your name and contact details (phone number, email address)

• Your address or the service location for mobile grooming appointments

• Payment information (processed securely via third-party payment providers; we do not store card details)

• Communication records, including booking requests, emails and messages

• Pet Information

• Your dog's name, breed, age, size and coat type

• Grooming history and service preferences

• Known allergies, skin conditions, health issues or behavioural notes

• Vaccination status

• Veterinarian details (provided voluntarily)

• Microchip number (provided voluntarily in the Grooming Bible)

• Website & Technical Information

• IP address, browser type and device information when you visit our website

• Pages viewed and time spent on site (via analytics tools)

• Cookies — see Section 6 below

2 - How We Collect Your Information

We collect information directly from you when you:

• Submit a booking or enquiry through our website

• Complete our dog questionnaire prior to your appointment

• Contact us by phone, email or social media

• Participate in our loyalty or referral programs

• Receive or contribute to a Grooming Bible record

We may also collect limited information automatically when you browse our website (see Section 6 —Cookies).

3 - How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

• To confirm, manage and deliver your booked grooming services

• To tailor each groom to your dog's specific needs, coat type and health requirements

• To maintain a grooming history and health record for your dog over time

• To contact you regarding appointments, confirmations, reminders and follow-ups

• To administer our loyalty and referral programs

• To respond to your enquiries and provide customer support

• To improve our website, services and overall customer experience

• To comply with our legal obligations

We will not use your personal information for any purpose beyond what is described here without your consent.

4 - How We Store And Protect Your Information

Your information is stored securely. We take reasonable steps to protect personal information from misuse, loss, unauthorised access, modification, and disclosure.

Information may be stored in digital systems (including third-party booking and email platforms) and in physical records (such as the Grooming Bible). We take care to ensure both digital and physical records are handled with appropriate security measures.

We retain personal information for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes for which it was collected, or as required by law. Where information is no longer required, it is securely destroyed or de-identified.

5 - Disclosure Of Your Information

We do not sell, trade, or rent your personal information to third parties. We may share your information with trusted third parties only where necessary, including:

• Payment processors — to securely process booking payments

• Booking or scheduling platforms — to manage appointments

• Email service providers — to send booking confirmations and communications

• Website analytics providers — to understand how our website is used (in de-identified form where possible)

We require all third-party service providers to handle your information in accordance with applicable privacy laws. We may also disclose information where required by law or in response to a lawful request from a government authority.

6 - Cookies & Website Tracking

Our website may use cookies — small data files stored on your device — to improve your browsing experience and collect analytics data. Cookies help us understand which pages are most visited and how users navigate our site.

You can configure your browser to refuse cookies or to alert you when cookies are being sent. Please note that some features of our website may not function correctly if cookies are disabled.

We may use third-party analytics tools such as Google Analytics. These services may collect anonymised data about your visit. Please refer to the relevant provider's privacy policy for more information.

7 - Social Media

The Doggy Dude maintains a presence on social media platforms (including Instagram: @thedoggydude). If you interact with us on social media, please be aware that those platforms have their own privacy policies and data collection practices, which are outside our control.

We will never share identifiable information about our clients or their dogs on social media without explicit prior consent.

8 - Grooming Bible Records

The Doggy Dude Grooming Bible is a physical record provided to clients to track grooming history and home care habits. The Grooming Bible belongs to you. Any information recorded in the Grooming Bible by our groomer during sessions is used solely to deliver and improve your dog's grooming experience over time.

You are responsible for the safekeeping of your Grooming Bible. Please bring it to every appointment. We ask that you update us at each session if any details recorded in the book have changed.

9 - Your Rights

Under the Australian Privacy Principles, you have the right to:

• Request access to the personal information we hold about you

• Request correction of any inaccurate or outdated information

• Withdraw consent to the use of your information (where consent is the basis for collection)

• Lodge a complaint if you believe your privacy has been breached

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the details in Section 12. We will respond within a reasonable timeframe.

10 - Children’s Privacy

Our website and services are directed at adults. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under the age of 18. If you believe a child has submitted information to us, please contact us and we will take prompt steps to remove it.

11 - Complaints

If you have a concern or complaint about how we have handled your personal information, please contact us in the first instance. We take all privacy complaints seriously and will respond as quickly as possible.

If you are not satisfied with our response, you may contact the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) at www.oaic.gov.au or by calling 1300 363 992.

12 - Contact Us

For any privacy enquiries, access requests or complaints, please contact:

• Business: Edward Marlowe T/A The Doggy Dude · • ABN 72 910 690 665

  • Phone: 0447 412 559 (Eddie)

  • Email: woof@thedoggydude.com.au

  • Website: thedoggydude.com.au

  • Social: @thedoggydude

  • Service Area: East Gippsland, Victoria

13 - Changes To This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or in applicable law. The current version will always be published at thedoggydude.com.au. We encourage you to review this policy periodically.