We collect only the data needed to deliver the Service.
We also collect publicly available dog show records (such as exhibitor names, judge names, and results) from public sources to build a comprehensive show database.
We never sell your personal information.
We do not take card payments and do not store payment details.
If subscriptions are introduced, they are billed and managed by Apple App Store or Google Play.
Leaderboard participation is opt-in only. Your results will not appear in public rankings unless you consent.
You can access, correct, or delete your account data at any time. Independently sourced public records are subject to a separate retention policy (see sections 3B and 6).
1. Scope
This Privacy Policy applies to the Show Companion website, mobile applications (iOS and Android), and related services (the “Service”).
The Service is intended for users in the United Kingdom. It does not cover third-party services that we do not control.
2. Data we collect
We collect two categories of information:
2.1 Account data (provided directly by you)
When you create an account or use the Service, you provide information directly to us:
Account data: your name and email address.
Location/travel data: your postcode (used to estimate travel time to shows).
Dog and show data: dog name, date of birth, breed, kennel affiliation, and results/wins you record. If you opt in to the leaderboard, this data is used to calculate rankings visible to other users.
App technical data: device and app information, diagnostic logs, to keep the Service working.
Support communications: messages you send us if you contact support.
2.2 Publicly available show data (collected independently)
We independently collect dog show records from publicly available sources to build and maintain an accurate, comprehensive show database. This data may include:
Exhibitor and owner names as published in show catalogues and results.
Judge names and judging appointments.
Dog registered names, breeds, and kennel affiliations.
Show results, placings, awards (such as Challenge Certificates), and class entries.
Typical sources include published results from show societies, the Kennel Club, show secretaries and scheduling agents, and other publicly accessible records of dog show competition.
Publicly available information may still constitute personal data under UK GDPR where it identifies or can be used to identify a living individual. We recognise this and process such data in accordance with data protection law (see section 4).
We do not collect special category data (such as health information) and we do not collect precise GPS location. We do not use your data to train public AI models, and your data is not used for advertising or profiling.
3. How we use data
Provide the core Service (account access and syncing your saved information).
Use your postcode to estimate travel times for show planning features.
Send service messages you request (for example, account or service notices).
Maintain security, prevent misuse, and troubleshoot issues.
Improve the Service by analysing performance and reliability in aggregate.
Generate automated critiques, insights, and summaries based on the dog and show data you choose to record.
Display your dog’s show results and ranking on the Show Companion Leaderboard, if you opt in (see section 3A below).
Maintain a comprehensive and historically accurate database of dog show records for the benefit of the dog show community (see section 3B below).
3A. Leaderboard and public rankings
Show Companion provides a seasonal leaderboard that ranks dogs based on their show results. This section explains how your data is used for this feature.
What data is used: your dog’s registered name, breed, kennel name, and show placings/results that you record or that are imported from publicly available show results.
How it is displayed: if you opt in, your dog’s name, breed, and aggregated results (such as points, CC count, and group wins) may be visible to other authenticated users of the Service on the leaderboard.
Consent required: your dog’s results will only appear on the leaderboard if you explicitly opt in. You can opt in or out at any time in the app settings. If you opt out, your dog’s data will not be included in the leaderboard rankings visible to other users.
Public show results: show results that are sourced from publicly available records (such as Kennel Club published results) may appear in anonymised or aggregated form regardless of your opt-in status, as this data is already in the public domain. However, linking those results to your account and displaying your name on the leaderboard requires your consent.
You can change your leaderboard preference at any time from the Settings screen in the app or on the web. Opting out removes your identifiable information from future leaderboard displays.
3B. Publicly available show data
This section explains how we handle personal data contained in publicly available dog show records.
What we collect and why
We collect dog show results, judging records, exhibitor names, and related competition data from publicly available sources. We do this to maintain an accurate, useful, and historically complete dog show database that serves the community — enabling features such as show result lookup, breed and dog history, progress tracking, judge records, and kennel directories.
Lawful basis
We process publicly available personal data under Legitimate Interests (Article 6(1)(f) UK GDPR). Our legitimate interests are:
Maintaining a comprehensive historical record of dog show competition in the UK.
Enabling the dog show community to view, search, and reference results and records.
Providing accurate data that supports features such as progress tracking, breed research, and show planning.
We have assessed that these interests are not overridden by the rights and freedoms of the individuals concerned, given that the data is already publicly available and is processed in the same context in which it was originally published (dog show competition records).
Public availability does not exempt data from privacy law. We process this data responsibly and in accordance with UK GDPR principles including data minimisation, accuracy, and purpose limitation.
Profile claiming and verification
The Service allows registered users to “claim” or verify a profile associated with existing public records — for example, linking your account to show results already recorded under your name or your dog’s name. Claiming a profile:
Links your account to an existing public record, giving you control over how it is presented and enabling additional features (such as progress tracking and the leaderboard).
Does not make the underlying public record exclusively “user-provided data”. The historical show result exists independently of your account.
Does not change the source or lawful basis for the underlying public record.
Retention after account deletion
If you delete your account:
Account-specific data (email, postcode, preferences, and other information you provided directly) is deleted or anonymised in accordance with our retention policy.
Independently sourced public records — including historical show results, placings, and references to a person’s or dog’s name that were collected from public sources — may be retained where there is a lawful basis to do so. These records exist independently of any user account.
Any link between a deleted account and public records is removed, so the records are no longer associated with a registered user.
Account deletion does not automatically delete all historical or publicly sourced records that may reference your name or your dog’s name. See section 7 for how to exercise your rights regarding such records.
Correction and privacy rights
If publicly available data held in the Service is inaccurate, you may request correction. You may also exercise other applicable data protection rights including objection or erasure (see section 7). Each request is assessed on its merits in accordance with UK GDPR.
4. Legal bases
When the UK GDPR applies, we rely on the following legal bases:
Contract: to provide the Service you request when you create an account.
Legitimate interests: to keep the Service secure, maintain performance, improve reliability, and to collect and maintain publicly available dog show records for the benefit of the community (see section 3B).
Consent: where you choose optional features that require it (for example, push notifications or leaderboard participation).
Legal obligation: where we must comply with applicable laws.
5. Sharing and processors
We share personal data only with trusted service providers who help us run the Service, such as hosting and infrastructure providers, analytics/diagnostics tools, and email or notification services.
These providers may process data only on our instructions and must protect it appropriately. We do not sell personal data and we do not share it for third-party marketing.
Some features use automated systems, including artificial intelligence services, to analyse and summarise dog and show data. These systems process data only to provide the requested features and are subject to appropriate contractual and security safeguards.
If we introduce subscriptions, purchases will be handled by Apple App Store or Google Play. We do not receive or store your card details.
6. Data retention
We keep your account data for as long as your account is active or as needed to provide the Service.
If you delete your account, we delete or anonymise account-specific personal data within a reasonable time unless we are required to keep it by law.
Independently sourced public records (such as historical show results, judging records, and exhibitor names collected from public sources) may be retained after account deletion where we have a continuing lawful basis to do so — typically Legitimate Interests in maintaining a complete and accurate historical show database. Any link between the deleted account and those records is removed.
If you believe retained records should be corrected or removed, you may contact us or exercise your rights as described in section 7.
7. Your rights
If the UK GDPR applies, you have the following rights:
Access: request a copy of the personal data we hold about you.
Rectification: ask us to correct inaccurate or incomplete data, including publicly sourced records that are factually wrong.
Erasure: request deletion of your account and account-specific data. The right to erasure is not absolute — it does not apply where we have a lawful basis for continued processing, such as the retention of independently sourced public records under Legitimate Interests.
Objection: object to processing based on Legitimate Interests, including the processing of publicly available records. We will assess each objection on its merits and cease processing unless we can demonstrate compelling legitimate grounds.
Restriction: request restriction of processing in certain circumstances while a complaint or objection is being resolved.
Complaint: complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) if you are unhappy with how we handle your data.
We use technical and organisational measures to protect your data, including encryption in transit and access controls.
9. International transfers
Some of our service providers may process personal data outside the UK. Where this happens, we use appropriate safeguards such as international data transfer agreements or standard contractual clauses.
10. Children’s privacy
The Service is not intended for children under 16. We do not knowingly collect personal data from children under 16.
11. Changes to this policy
We may update this policy to reflect changes to the Service or legal requirements. We will notify you of material changes through the Service or by email.
12. Data controller
For the purposes of UK data protection law, Show Companion Ltd is the data controller for the personal data processed in connection with the Service.