Cookie Policy

Introduction

What Are Cookies? Cookies are small text files that websites place on your computer or mobile device when you visit. These files store and sometimes track information about your browsing activity and preferences. Cookies (and similar technologies like local storage, web beacons, and pixel tags) enable websites to remember you, keep you logged in, save your settings, and generally improve your user experience. They also help website owners understand how people use their site and can support features like analytics and personalised content. Some cookies last only for your browsing session, while others remain on your device for a set period to remember you on future visits.

Why We Use Cookies. Software For Small Businesses Ltd (“we” or “us”), operating the Software for Dog Trainers website and platform (collectively, the “Site” or “Platform”), uses cookies and similar technologies for several purposes: to ensure our services function properly, to distinguish you from other users, to remember your preferences, to analyse our traffic, and to support our marketing efforts. Using cookies helps us provide a smoother, more tailored experience (for example, by keeping you logged in or recalling your form inputs) and improve our Site’s performance.

Legal Compliance (UK GDPR and PECR). We are committed to using cookies in a privacy-compliant way. Under UK law – namely the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations 2003 (PECR) – we must inform you about our use of cookies and, for any cookies not strictly necessary for the Site to operate, obtain your prior consent before setting them on your device. This means that non-essential cookies (like analytics, functional, or advertising cookies) will only be activated if you “Allow” or consent to them via our cookie banner. The only exceptions are cookies that are essential to provide the service you explicitly request, which do not require consent under these rules. We detail each category of cookie we use below, along with their purpose and legal basis.

Scope of this Policy. This Cookie Policy applies to all web pages on the softwarefordogtrainers.co.uk domain and its subdomains, including our marketing website and the secured Platform you access when logged in. In other words, whether you are browsing our public site or using your account on our Platform, this policy governs the cookies and similar technologies in use across our services. By using our Site, you can choose which non-essential cookies we use (via consent choices described below), and you can change your preferences at any time as explained in the “Your Cookie Choices” section.

Types of Cookies We Use

We classify the cookies we use into four main categories for transparency. Below we explain each type, what it does, and examples of how we use them on our Site:

1. Strictly Necessary Cookies

These cookies are essential for the basic functioning of our website and Platform. Without them, our services would not work properly, and you wouldn’t be able to use features necessary to request the service (for example, logging into your account or adding items to a cart). Strictly necessary cookies are typically set in response to actions you take, such as logging in, navigating pages, or submitting forms, and they enable core functionalities like authentication, security, and network management. Because these cookies are needed to deliver the service you specifically request, they do not require your consent under PECR’s “strictly necessary” exemption. We rely on legitimate interests (balanced with your rights) as the lawful basis for processing any personal data through these cookies.

Examples of strictly necessary cookies we use include:

Session and Security Cookies: These keep you logged in as you move between pages and protect your account. For instance, when you sign into our Platform, we set a secure session cookie to recognize your account until you log out. This cookie (often called a session ID) ensures that as you navigate the Platform, you remain authenticated and can access authorised features. It expires once you log out or close your browser.

Cookie Preference Cookie: When you interact with our cookie consent banner, we save your choice (consent or rejection) in a cookie (e.g. a cookie named “cookie_config” or similar) so that your preferences are remembered. This strictly necessary cookie stores the fact that you have made a choice, ensuring we don’t keep asking you and that we honour your consent settings. It typically lasts up to 1 year.

Security and Infrastructure Cookies: We use services that help maintain the security and performance of our Site. For example, our Site may use Cloudflare or similar services to distinguish legitimate users from bots – Cloudflare sets a cookie (__cf_bm) to apply security controls and manage bot traffic, which is necessary to protect our Site from malicious activity. Additionally, if our forms use Google’s reCAPTCHA to block spam, Google will set a cookie (e.g. _GRECAPTCHA) to provide risk analysis and ensure that a human is submitting the form. These cookies are necessary for network security and are usually session-based or short-lived.

Legal basis: As noted, we use these essential cookies under the PECR exception for services you request. Any associated processing of personal data (like your login credentials or security identifiers) is based on our legitimate interest in providing a secure, functioning service to you, and this use is balanced against your privacy rights. You cannot opt out of strictly necessary cookies via our banner (except by blocking all cookies in your browser, which may break site functionality), but we list them here for transparency.

2. Functional Cookies (Preferences and Features)

Functional cookies enable enhanced functionality and personalisation on our Site. While not strictly necessary, they allow the website or Platform to remember choices you make and provide improved features. These could be set by us or by third-party providers whose services we have added to our pages. If you disable these cookies, some of those services or preferences may not work properly.

Examples of functional uses on our Site:

Preference Storage: If our Platform offers settings or remembers your preferences (for example, your language, time zone, or UI customisations), functional cookies might store that information so you don’t have to re-enter it each time. For instance, a cookie might remember your preferred notifications settings or form inputs for convenience.

Integrations that Enhance Services: We integrate certain third-party tools to deliver special features. A key example is our integration with OpenAI. Our Platform includes an AI-powered virtual assistant and content tools (to help with tasks like automated replies or generating social media content). This AI feature is powered by OpenAI’s technology.

Important: OpenAI’s integration does not place any cookies on your device. Instead, when you use the AI features, our system securely sends the necessary data to OpenAI’s servers and returns the AI-generated responses. We mention this integration in our Cookie Policy for transparency because it is a third-party service affecting your experience. It falls under “functional” services – meaning it enhances the functionality of our Platform. If you were to opt out of all non-essential cookies (as described below), features like the AI assistant (which rely on external processing) may be disabled or limited for you, since we treat them as part of optional functionality.

Support Chat or Widgets: (If applicable) We may offer a live chat support widget or similar tool on our site. Such a feature might use functional cookies to remember if you’ve already seen a welcome message or to keep track of your chat session. For example, if we had a support chat pop-up, a cookie could store that you minimized or dismissed it, so it doesn’t keep popping up.

Currently, we use functional cookies and services only to the extent needed for our Platform’s added features. These cookies are not strictly necessary, so we will only use them if you consent. If you decline non-essential cookies, certain preferences might not be saved and some features (like the AI assistant or other integrated widgets) might be unavailable or operate in a very limited mode.

Legal basis: We rely on your consent to use functional cookies and related processing of personal data. When you consent via our cookie banner, these cookies are enabled; if you do not consent (or if you later withdraw consent), we disable them. No functional cookies will be set without your permission. You can always change your mind through the means described in Your Cookie Choices below.

3. Performance & Analytics Cookies

Performance cookies (also known as analytics or statistics cookies) help us measure traffic and understand user interactions with our Site. They allow us to count visits, see which pages or features are most popular, and analyse how visitors navigate through our website. The data collected is generally aggregated and anonymous – for example, we might see overall usage patterns but not personally identify you from analytics cookies alone. However, because analytics cookies are not essential and can involve processing of pseudonymous identifiers (which could be considered personal data), we treat them as non-essential and require your consent to use them.

Third-Party Analytics Services: We use trusted third-party tools to perform analytics, principally Google Analytics. Google Analytics sets cookies to collect information about how visitors use our site. For instance, cookies like ga and gid help Google distinguish unique users, track user behaviour, and provide us with reports on website traffic. The information these cookies collect (such as pages visited, time spent, interactions and approximate location based on IP) is transmitted to Google and compiled into aggregate statistics. We use these insights to improve content, fix user experience issues, and optimize our services. Google Analytics cookies have varying lifespans – for example, ga can persist for around 2 years, whereas gid lasts about 24 hours. We have configured Google Analytics in accordance with applicable guidance, and we do not collect any directly identifying information via analytics cookies (Google provides us data in anonymised or aggregated form). You can read more in Google’s own Privacy Policy on how it handles data. (Note: If we implement IP anonymisation, Google Analytics would further truncate your IP address within the EEA/UK to anonymise it.)

Platform Performance Cookies: In addition to Google Analytics, our Platform (built on the LeadConnector/HighLevel system) uses certain first-party cookies to track performance and usage of embedded web pages or client portal features. For example, cookies named v2_session_history__... or similar may track session details and interactions within our web app to help us analyze feature usage and improve stability. These cookies are primarily for internal analytics to see how the Platform is used (e.g., which features are utilized) and to troubleshoot issues. They collect usage data that helps us improve functionality, but not for advertising. Data from these cookies is stored within our systems (or our platform provider’s systems) and not shared for external marketing.

LeadConnector Cookie (Tracking & A/B Testing): Our Platform uses the LeadConnector framework (a marketing and automation platform underlying some of our Site’s functionality). LeadConnector sets a cookie called msgsndr_id (among others) which helps track visitors for purposes like affiliate referrals and A/B testing on landing pages. For instance, if we run split-tests on our site to compare two versions of a page, the msgsndr_id cookie ensures you consistently see the same version and helps tally conversion rates. It also can identify if you came via an affiliate link so that referrals are credited properly. This cookie typically persists for up to one year. While this cookie aids our marketing analytics, we categorise it under performance/analytics because its primary purpose is to improve site performance and measure campaign effectiveness rather than to target ads at you.

All these analytics/performance cookies are disabled by default unless you consent. If you accept analytics cookies, we (and our third-party analytics providers) will collect data that helps us understand usage. If you decline, we will not load Google Analytics or similar tracking, and we will only have very limited data (for example, essential operational logs) about your visit. Rejecting these cookies will not affect the core usage of our Platform, but it makes it harder for us to improve our services based on user feedback. We appreciate consent to analytics, but it’s your choice.

Legal basis: We only set performance/analytics cookies with your consent. In terms of UK GDPR, your consent (Art 6(1)(a)) is our lawful basis for processing any personal data via these cookies. You have the right to withdraw consent at any time. (We do not rely on “legitimate interests” for analytics cookies, given the PECR requirement for consent.) Our cookie banner provides a clear option to accept or reject these cookies, and no analytics data is collected unless you opt in.

4. Targeting/Advertising Cookies

Targeting cookies (also called marketing or advertising cookies) are used to track browsing habits and tailor advertising to your interests. These cookies may be set through our site by advertising partners to build a profile of your interests, so that ads you see on our site or on other sites are more relevant to you. They work by uniquely identifying your browser and device. They might record that you visited our Site and share that information with third parties (like ad networks or social media platforms) to enable re-targeting (showing our ads to you on other platforms) or conversion tracking (measuring if an ad resulted in a sign-up or purchase). If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising, but you will still see generic ads.

We use a few marketing and tracking tools to promote our services:

Meta (Facebook) Pixel: We utilise the Facebook Pixel (now part of Meta), which places cookies such as fbp on your device. The Meta Pixel helps us understand the effectiveness of our Facebook/Instagram ads and allows us to re-target visitors on those platforms. For example, if you visit our site and consent to marketing cookies, the Pixel may note your visit so that if you have a Facebook account, you might later see an ad from us in your feed. The fbp cookie identifies browsers for the purposes of providing advertising and site analytics services through Facebook. It typically lasts around 3 months. Data collected via the Meta Pixel (such as your browser identifier and browsing behaviour on our site) is sent to Meta and used in accordance with Facebook’s data policy to provide us aggregated ad performance reports and enable ad targeting. We do not receive personal data about you from this – only insights and audience segments.

Google Ads and Marketing Cookies: If we run Google Ads or use Google’s marketing platforms, Google may set advertising cookies on our site as well. For instance, a cookie named gclau may be used by Google AdSense/Ad Manager to store and track conversions, and Google’s NID cookie may help profile your interests for advertising purposes. These cookies assist in measuring our ad campaigns and showing relevant ads on Google or partner networks. Google’s advertising cookies generally have shorter lifespans (e.g. six months) unless you clear them.

Other Advertising Partners: We do not currently use other ad networks extensively, but if we integrate additional advertising or social media platforms (for example, LinkedIn Ads or Twitter pixels), those providers may also set targeting cookies. In such cases, similar principles apply: the cookie gathers information about your visit to our site and the fact you showed interest in our content, then enables the third-party platform to show you relevant ads or measure outcomes. We will update this policy if any new significant advertising cookies are introduced.

All targeting/advertising cookies on our Site are third-party cookies (set by the external providers like Meta or Google via our Site). These cookies are never set unless you have given consent. When you first visit, unless you opt in, our site will not load the Meta Pixel or Google Ads scripts, meaning no advertising cookies will be dropped. If you do consent to marketing cookies, you are also consenting to the data collected by these third parties. Please note that these third-party providers may use the data from their cookies for their own purposes as well (for example, improving their advertising systems or cross-platform tracking), and their use of the data will be governed by their privacy policies. We recommend you review Facebook’s and Google’s privacy policies to understand how they handle information.

Legal basis: We rely on your consent for all targeting and advertising cookies (and associated processing). Under UK GDPR, the processing of personal data for marketing cookies is based on consent. You will not receive these cookies unless you explicitly opt in. If you do opt in, you can always opt out later (withdraw consent) as described below. Declining or removing targeting cookies will not affect how our website functions, but it will limit the personalised advertising you might receive from us.

Third-Party Cookies and Integrations Used

For clarity, here is a summary of the key third-party services we use that involve cookies or similar tracking on our Site, and what they do:

Google Analytics: Provides us with website analytics. Sets cookies like ga and gid to collect information on how visitors use our site, helping us analyse traffic and improve the user experience. (Category: Performance/Analytics – requires consent.)

LeadConnector (HighLevel Platform): This is the underlying platform powering our Site and client Portal. It uses cookies both for essential platform functionality and for tracking website performance. For example, msgsndr_id is a cookie used by LeadConnector to manage affiliate links and run split-tests of pages. Some other cookies from this platform store user session data, form responses, or other technical details needed to operate the service (some of which are essential, as listed in our Strictly Necessary section). (Category: Necessary or Performance, depending on the cookie – note: non-essential ones are only used with consent.)

Meta (Facebook) Pixel: A marketing integration that tracks visitor activity on our site and connects it with Facebook/Instagram profiles for ad targeting and analytics. The Meta Pixel sets cookies such as _fbp to recognize your browser and determine if certain actions (like visiting a page or signing up) happened, so we can measure our Facebook ad performance. (Category: Targeting/Advertising – requires consent.)

OpenAI API Integration: Powers the AI assistant and content-generation features of our Platform. While OpenAI does not set cookies, using this service involves sending certain data (e.g. your prompts or messages) to OpenAI’s systems to get an AI-generated result. We include it here to be fully transparent about third-party data flows. (Category: Functional – treated as an optional integration that you can disable by refusing non-essential cookies or simply not using the AI features. No cookies are placed by this integration, but it’s an external data processor.)

Google reCAPTCHA: Protects our forms from spam and abuse by using risk analysis. reCAPTCHA sets a cookie (_GRECAPTCHA) and may collect data like mouse movements to determine if the user is a human. This runs only when needed (e.g., on form submissions). (Category: Strictly Necessary – security function exempt from consent.)

Cloudflare: Our site infrastructure may use Cloudflare for DNS and security. Cloudflare may set a cookie (__cf_bm) to identify and mitigate automated bot traffic (Category: Strictly Necessary – security function exempt from consent.)

Other Third-Party Tools: If we embed content from other providers (for example, a YouTube video, a social media share button, or a scheduling widget), those providers may set cookies as well. We will endeavor to list such cookies in our cookie table. Any such cookies would also be considered non-essential (unless required for the content to display) and would be used only if you have given consent. For instance, a YouTube embed might drop cookies for video player preferences or advertising (like VISITOR_INFO1_LIVE), which would fall under targeting or functional categories depending on their purpose.

Each of these third parties has its own privacy/cookie policies regarding their use of data. We have provided brief descriptions above, but you can find more details on their respective websites. We do not share any more personal data with these partners than is necessary to utilize their services. For example, we don’t feed customer contact lists to Meta or Google for advertising without separate consent; the cookies operate within their limited scope as described.

Remember, except for those services classified as strictly necessary, none of these third-party integrations will run or set cookies unless you have opted in via our cookie consent banner. If you have any specific questions about a particular third-party integration, feel free to contact us (see Contact Us at the end of this policy).

Your Cookie Choices and How to Manage Them

We believe in giving you control over your privacy. When you first visit our Site, you will see a cookie consent banner that lets you make a choice about non-essential cookies. Here’s how our consent mechanism works and how you can manage your preferences:

All-in or All-out Approach: For simplicity, our cookie banner currently provides a choice to either accept all optional cookies or reject all optional cookies. We do not provide granular toggles for each category on the first layer of the banner (i.e., you cannot individually toggle analytics vs. advertising vs. functional cookies in the banner at this time). Your options are essentially “Accept All Cookies” or “Reject Non-Essential Cookies”. If you click “Accept All,” you are giving us consent to set all cookies beyond the strictly necessary ones. If you click “Reject” (or decline in equivalent manner), we will not set any cookies except the strictly necessary ones that are always active. This approach means it’s an “all-in or all-out” consent for the optional categories; we currently do not support partial consent to some non-necessary cookies but not others (aside from you separately choosing to use or not use certain features like the AI assistant). We acknowledge that more granular control is a good practice, and we may introduce a more detailed cookie preference center in the future. However, rest assured that you can fully opt out of all tracking cookies with one click, which we make available and just as easy as the accept option (in line with regulatory guidance). There is no penalty for rejecting cookies – you will still be able to use our Site, although some enhanced features or personalisation may be disabled.

Implied Consent: If you ignore the banner and continue using our Site without making a selection, we will treat that as a no-consent for non-essential cookies by default. In practice, that means we will not load analytics or advertising cookies until you explicitly opt in. The banner will remain available for you to make a choice. (We do not use pre-ticked boxes or assume consent from scrolling – consent must be a clear affirmative action as per UK GDPR standards.)

Changing Your Preferences Later: You have the right to change your mind at any time. If you initially accepted cookies and later wish to withdraw consent (or vice versa), you can do so. How? There are a few ways:

Using Our Site Interface: If our Site supports it, you may find a “Cookies” link or button (often in the footer or a settings menu) that re-opens the consent banner or a cookie settings panel. From there, you could toggle your choice (accept or reject). We will remember the new selection and respect it going forward. (Note: If you cannot find a direct cookie settings link on the site, please use the browser method below or contact us for assistance.)

Browser Settings: You can always manage cookies through your web browser’s settings. Most modern browsers allow you to view, delete, or block cookies for individual websites or all websites. For example, you can delete our Site’s cookies to effectively reset your consent choice, and the next time you visit, the cookie banner will appear again. You can also configure your browser to block new cookies from our site (or third-party cookies generally). Please note that if you set your browser to block all cookies, our Site may not function fully (since even necessary cookies could be blocked). Here are general directions for popular browsers:

Google Chrome: Go to Settings > Privacy and security > Cookies and other site data. Here you can choose to block third-party cookies or all cookies, and see all cookies stored. You can also clear cookies via Clear browsing data.

Mozilla Firefox: Go to Options (or Preferences) > Privacy & Security. Under Cookies and Site Data, you can manage data and set cookie preferences (Standard, Strict, or Custom tracking protection).

Apple Safari (macOS/iOS): Go to Preferences > Privacy. You can choose to Block all cookies or manage cookie data. On iOS, find these options in the Settings app under Safari.

Microsoft Edge: Go to Settings > Privacy, search, and services. Under Tracking prevention, choose a level (Basic, Balanced, Strict) and under Cookies, you can block third-party cookies or all cookies.

Other browsers: For Opera, Samsung Internet, or others, please refer to their specific settings or help documentation.

For more detailed, step-by-step guidance on controlling and deleting cookies, websites like AllAboutCookies.org provide up-to-date tutorials. You can also visit the UK’s YourOnlineChoices website for tools to opt out of many advertising cookies centrally (see www.youronlinechoices.com). Keep in mind that if you use multiple browsers or devices, you’ll need to adjust settings on each one. Also, if you clear all cookies, that removes the record of your opt-outs, so you will need to opt out again.

Do Not Track and Global Privacy Control: Currently, our Site does not respond to “Do Not Track” signals or the newer Global Privacy Control header by automatically disabling cookies. Please use the methods described above to set your preferences. We will monitor regulatory developments around browser signals for consent and will honour any requirements once they are standardised and mandated.

Consequences of Disabling Cookies: If you choose to reject non-essential cookies (either via our banner or via browser settings), we will not serve you any analytics or targeting cookies. You will still have access to the Site and Platform. All strictly necessary cookies will continue to operate so that the service itself works (for instance, you can still log in and navigate). However, as noted in the sections above, certain features that rely on optional cookies or third-party services (such as personalized content, the AI assistant feature, or seeing embedded videos or social media content) might not function or display. Additionally, our ability to understand how users use our Site will be limited, which may impact our ability to improve our services as quickly. On the flip side, your experience will be more private and generic without those cookies. The choice is entirely yours, and we will not deny you service or change your user experience except as needed to honor your settings.

Cookies Used on Our Site (List)

For transparency, the following table provides a representative list of cookies that may be set on your device when using our website and Platform. This list includes the cookie name, its category/type, who sets it (first party or which third party), a brief description of its purpose, and its typical duration (expiry). While we strive to keep this list up-to-date, please note that the cookies and their names may change as our Site and integrations evolve. However, we will update this policy periodically to reflect significant changes.

1. cookie_config

Type: Strictly Necessary

Provider: Our website (first-party)

Purpose: Remembers your cookie preferences — whether you accepted or rejected optional cookies — so your settings are honoured.

Duration: Approximately 1 year

2. session_id (example name)

Type: Strictly Necessary

Provider: Our website (first-party)

Purpose: Maintains your secure login session across pages on the Platform, ensuring you stay authenticated until you log out.

Duration: Active only during your browsing session (deleted when you close your browser or log out)

3. _GRECAPTCHA

Type: Strictly Necessary

Provider: Google

Purpose: Used by Google reCAPTCHA to protect forms against spam and automated abuse by analysing user behaviour to verify that a human is submitting the form.

Duration: Around 6 months

4. __cf_bm

Type: Strictly Necessary

Provider: Cloudflare

Purpose: Helps manage and filter out bot traffic to keep the site secure and performing well. It does not store any personally identifiable information.

Duration: Session-based (expires within about 30 minutes)

5. _ga

Type: Performance / Analytics

Provider: Google Analytics

Purpose: Distinguishes unique users by assigning a random identifier, allowing us to collect anonymous statistics about site visits and behaviour.

Duration: 2 years

6. _gid

Type: Performance / Analytics

Provider: Google Analytics

Purpose: Records how visitors use the site on a daily basis, helping us measure page performance and improve content.

Duration: 24 hours

7. msgsndr_id

Type: Performance / Analytics

Provider: LeadConnector (our website and automation platform)

Purpose: Tracks visitors for affiliate referrals, A/B testing, and funnel performance. It helps us understand which campaigns or web pages are most effective.

Duration: 1 year

8. _fbp

Type: Targeting / Advertising

Provider: Meta (Facebook and Instagram)

Purpose: Identifies browsers for delivering relevant advertising and tracking the performance of Meta advertising campaigns. It may be used for re-targeting visitors on Facebook or Instagram.

Duration: Approximately 3 months

9. gclau

Type: Targeting / Advertising

Provider: Google Ads / Google AdSense

Purpose: Stores and tracks ad click information to measure conversions and improve the relevance of Google Ads shown to users.

Duration: Around 3 months

10. Other possible cookies

We may occasionally use additional cookies if new features or third-party integrations are added (for example, embedded YouTube videos, social media feeds, or scheduling widgets).

These may include functional cookies for content playback or analytics cookies used by embedded tools.

Any new non-essential cookies will only be activated with your explicit consent, and this list will be updated accordingly.

Note: The above list is not exhaustive, but covers the primary cookies you may encounter. Other cookies not listed (such as additional platform cookies, or cookies used by embedded third-party content) will generally fall into the same category types described in this policy. We will treat any cookie not strictly necessary as requiring consent. Also, some cookies (especially those set by third parties like Google or Meta) might change their names or add new cookies over time; however, their purposes will remain consistent (analytics, advertising, etc.). We regularly review our cookie usage to ensure compliance and will update this policy’s cookie list as needed.

Lawful Basis for Cookies and Data Processing

We want to clearly link each category of cookies to its lawful basis under UK data protection law (UK GDPR):

Strictly Necessary Cookies: For cookies that are essential to provide you with the service you requested (e.g. to log in, or to remember items in a cart, etc.), consent is not required by law (PECR). The use of these cookies is justified by the necessity for the service and/or our legitimate interests in ensuring our website works correctly. In practice, this means we do not ask your consent for strictly necessary cookies. If any personal data is processed via these cookies (such as an IP address for security, or an email in a session token), we rely on legitimate interests (Art 6(1)(f) UK GDPR) or the performance of our contract with you (Art 6(1)(b), if you are using our service) to lawfully process that data. We balance our interests with your rights and ensure no excessive data is collected. We never use strictly necessary cookies for purposes unrelated to the core functionality (e.g. tracking or marketing).

Performance, Functional, and Targeting Cookies: All cookies in these categories are non-essential and therefore used only with your consent. The lawful basis under UK GDPR for processing personal data collected through these cookies is your consent (Art 6(1)(a)). When you consent via our banner, you are allowing us (and any third-party providers involved) to process the data these cookies collect for the purposes described. If you do not consent (or if you withdraw consent), we will not process your data through these cookies. We keep records of your consent as required. You have the right to withdraw consent at any time, and we have mechanisms in place to cease processing when consent is withdrawn. We do not rely on “legitimate interests” to override your choice regarding analytics, functionality, or advertising cookies. In other words, if you say no to these cookies, we respect that choice fully and do not attempt to use the data under some other rationale.

Complying with PECR: The UK’s PECR rules essentially mandate consent for any cookie that is not “strictly necessary” for a service explicitly requested by the user. We adhere to this by not setting non-essential cookies without consent and by providing clear information (this policy and our banner) about each cookie’s purpose. Our cookie consent mechanism is designed to meet the UK GDPR standard for consent – which is that it must be freely given, specific, informed, and unambiguous (no pre-ticked boxes, and a positive action is required). We also ensure that rejecting cookies is just as easy and accessible as accepting them, and we do not use any tricks or “nudges” to unfairly influence your choice (for example, our “Reject” option is provided alongside “Accept” in the banner, and not hidden). This approach reflects the latest ICO guidance and industry best practices in the UK.

In summary, consent is the basis for anything optional, and legitimate interests/necessity is used only for the handful of cookies that keep the lights on (the essential ones). If you have questions about how we’ve determined our lawful bases or if you need more information about our balancing tests for legitimate interests, please contact us (see below).

Updates to this Policy

We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our cookie practices or for other operational, legal, or regulatory reasons. For example, if we start using a new tool that sets cookies, or if the law or guidance changes, we will revise this policy accordingly. The “Last Updated” date at the top of the policy (or on the webpage) will indicate when the latest changes were made. We encourage you to review this Policy periodically to stay informed about how we use cookies and protect your privacy. If we make any significant changes, we may also notify you by other means (for instance, via a notice on our website or an email if appropriate).

Contact Us

If you have any questions or concerns about this Cookie Policy or our use of cookies and similar technologies, please do not hesitate to contact us. Software For Small Businesses Ltd is the data controller responsible for the processing described in this policy. You can reach out via the following:

Email: [email protected]

Postal Address: Software For Small Businesses Ltd, 4 Chillerton Way, Wingate Durham TS28 5DY

We will do our best to respond promptly and address your inquiries. This includes assisting you with any requests to change your cookie preferences or providing more detail about the data we collect. Your trust is important to us, and we are committed to ensuring your personal information is handled in compliance with UK GDPR, the Data Protection Act 2018, and PECR.

By using our Site, you acknowledge that you have been informed about our use of cookies through this policy. Remember, you have full control over non-essential cookies – it’s always your choice. We appreciate you taking the time to read this Cookie Policy. For further information on how we handle personal data more broadly (beyond cookies), please see our Privacy Policy on our website.

Thank you for choosing Software for Dog Trainers – we hope you enjoy an efficient and tailored experience on our Platform, with only the cookies you’re comfortable with.