1. Introduction
Staffy Buddy ("the App", "we", "our", "us") is a health and care tracking application for Staffordshire Bull Terriers and related breeds. This Privacy Policy explains what data we collect, how we use it, and your rights in relation to it.
By downloading or using Staffy Buddy, you agree to the practices described in this policy.
2. Data We Collect
2.1 Data You Provide Directly
The following data is entered by you and stored locally on your device only. It is not transmitted to or stored on any server we operate.
- Dog profiles — name, breed, date of birth, weight history, body condition scores, photos, and health notes
- Health logs — exercise, mobility, skin, behaviour, vet visits, and medication records
- Food scans — photos of pet food labels and the analysis results generated from them
- Care schedule entries — reminders and task notes you create
2.2 Data Collected Automatically
Usage & Analytics (Firebase Analytics)
We use Google Firebase Analytics to understand how the App is used. This includes:
- App launches and session duration
- Screens viewed and features tapped
- A device-level identifier (Firebase installation ID)
This data is aggregated and used solely to improve the App. It does not include your dog's personal health data.
Crash Reports (Firebase Crashlytics)
We use Google Firebase Crashlytics to detect and diagnose crashes. This includes:
- Crash logs and stack traces
- Device model, iOS version, and app version
- A randomised Crashlytics installation UUID
In-App Purchases
When you subscribe to Staffy Buddy Premium, Apple processes the transaction. We receive confirmation of the purchase type and duration only — we never see your payment card details.
3. Photos and Camera
The App requests access to your camera and photo library for two purposes:
- Adding a profile photo of your dog
- Scanning pet food labels for ingredient analysis
Photos used for label scanning are processed entirely on-device using on-device machine learning (Google ML Kit). No photos are uploaded to any external server.
Profile photos are stored locally in the App's private storage folder on your device.
4. Notifications
If you enable care reminders, the App will schedule local notifications on your device. These are generated locally and are never sent through an external messaging service. We do not collect or transmit notification content.
5. How We Use Your Data
| Data | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Dog profiles & health logs | Provide core App functionality; stored locally only |
| Food scan results | Display analysis; stored locally only |
| Firebase Analytics events | Understand feature usage; improve the App |
| Crashlytics reports | Detect and fix crashes; ensure stability |
| Purchase confirmation | Unlock premium features |
We do not sell your data. We do not use your data for advertising. We do not share your data with third parties except as described in Section 6.
6. Third-Party Services
| Service | Purpose | Privacy Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Google Firebase Analytics Cloud |
Usage analytics | firebase.google.com/support/privacy |
| Google Firebase Crashlytics Cloud |
Crash reporting | firebase.google.com/support/privacy |
| Google ML Kit (on-device) On-device |
Label OCR / text recognition | On-device only — no data sent to Google |
| Apple StoreKit Platform |
In-app purchase processing | apple.com/legal/privacy |
7. Data Retention and Deletion
- All dog profiles, health logs, and scan history are stored on your device. You can delete them at any time within the App, or by uninstalling the App.
- Firebase Analytics and Crashlytics data is retained by Google for up to 14 months in accordance with Google's standard data retention policies.
- We do not maintain any server-side copy of your personal data.
8. Children's Privacy
Staffy Buddy is not directed at children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe a child has provided personal data through the App, please contact us and we will take steps to delete it.
9. Your Rights
Depending on your location, you may have rights including:
- Access — request a copy of data we hold about you
- Deletion — request erasure of your data
- Correction — request correction of inaccurate data
- Objection — object to certain processing activities
Since all personal dog data is stored locally on your device, you can exercise access and deletion rights directly in the App or by uninstalling it. For Firebase Analytics/Crashlytics data, you may contact us and we will submit a deletion request to Google on your behalf.
10. Data Security
We take reasonable technical measures to protect the data stored locally on your device. The App uses Apple's standard app sandboxing, and all data is stored in the App's private container, inaccessible to other apps. We do not transmit sensitive health data over the internet.
11. International Users
Staffy Buddy is currently available on the iOS App Store. Google Firebase services may process analytics data in the United States or other countries. By using the App, you consent to this transfer in accordance with Google's privacy terms.
12. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we do, we will update the "Last Updated" date at the top of this page. Continued use of the App after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy. For significant changes, we will provide an in-app notice.
13. Contact
If you have any questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy, please contact:
Aaron Minton
Email: aarondavidminton+staffybuddy@hotmail.co.uk