Cookie Policy

How We Use Cookies and Similar Technologies

Effective Date: 18 April 2025

Version: 1.0

About This Cookie Policy

New Zealand & Cookies. New Zealand does not have a dedicated cookie law. However, the use of cookies that collect personal information is governed by the Privacy Act 2020 and its Information Privacy Principles (IPPs), which require transparency, purpose limitation, and respect for individual rights. This policy explains how we comply with those obligations.

This Cookie Policy explains how Dog Trainer Index Limited (‘Dog Trainer Index’, ‘we’, ‘us’, or ‘our’) uses cookies and similar tracking technologies on our websites www.dogtrainerindex.co.nz and www.dogtrainerindex.com (together, the ‘Platform’).

This policy should be read alongside our Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions, both available on the Platform. Together, these documents form the basis of our data practices.

By continuing to use the Platform after being presented with this Cookie Policy, you acknowledge that cookies may be placed on your device in accordance with this policy. Where we use non-essential cookies, we will seek your consent before placing them.

What Are Cookies?

Cookies are small text files that are placed on your device (computer, tablet, or smartphone) when you visit a website. They are widely used to make websites work efficiently, to remember your preferences, and to provide information to website owners.

Similar technologies include:

• Web beacons / pixel tags: tiny transparent images embedded in web pages or emails that register when a page or email is opened;
• Local storage: data stored in your browser that persists after the browser is closed;
• Session storage: temporary data held only during your browser session; and
• Tracking scripts: JavaScript code that monitors how you interact with the Platform.

In this policy, we use the term ‘cookies’ to refer to all such technologies collectively.

How Cookies Relate to Your Privacy

Under the Privacy Act 2020, we are required to:

• Only collect personal information for a lawful purpose connected with our functions (IPP 1);
• Collect information directly from you wherever practicable (IPP 2);
• Tell you what information we are collecting, why, and who it may be shared with (IPP 3);
• Not use your information for a purpose other than the one for which it was collected, without your consent (IPP 10); and
• Take reasonable steps to keep your information secure (IPP 5).

Some cookies collect personal information (such as your IP address or browsing behaviour linked to your identity). These cookies are subject to the Privacy Act 2020. Where cookies collect personal information, we will be transparent about this and, for non-essential cookies, will seek your consent.

Types of Cookies We Use

Cookies in Detail

5.1 Strictly Necessary Cookies

These cookies are required for the Platform to operate. They do not collect personal information that could be used to identify you for marketing purposes, and they cannot be turned off. They are set in response to your actions — such as submitting a form or setting your communication preferences.

Because these cookies are essential to provide the service you have requested, they do not require your consent under New Zealand law.

5.2 Functional / Preference Cookies

These cookies allow the Platform to remember choices you have made (such as your location or preferences) and provide enhanced, personalised features. They may be set by us or by third-party providers whose services we use.

We will ask for your consent before placing functional cookies on your device. If you do not consent, some features of the Platform may not work as intended.

5.3 Analytics and Performance Cookies

We use analytics tools to understand how visitors interact with the Platform — for example, which pages are visited most often and where visitors encounter difficulties. This helps us improve the Platform over time.

We currently use or may use the following analytics services:

• Google Analytics (operated by Google LLC): collects anonymised data about site usage. Google may transfer data to servers outside New Zealand. You can opt out via the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on at tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout.

Analytics cookies will only be placed where you have given your consent. The data collected is used in aggregate and anonymised form wherever possible.

5.4 Marketing and Advertising Cookies

These cookies are used to deliver advertising content that is relevant to you and to measure the effectiveness of our advertising campaigns. They may track your visits to the Platform and other websites over time.

We currently use or may use the following marketing technologies:

• Google Ads / Google Tag Manager: to track conversions and serve relevant ads;
• Meta Pixel (Facebook/Instagram): to measure ad performance and enable retargeting on Meta platforms; and
• Email tracking pixels: embedded in our marketing emails to measure open rates and engagement.

About Email Tracking. Our marketing emails may contain a small invisible image (a tracking pixel) that tells us when an email has been opened and on what type of device. This helps us measure the effectiveness of our campaigns. You can prevent this by disabling automatic image loading in your email client. You can also unsubscribe from marketing emails at any time.

Marketing cookies will only be placed where you have given your consent. You can withdraw consent at any time using our cookie preference centre or by adjusting your browser settings.

5.5 Third-Party Embedded Content

Some pages on the Platform may include embedded content from third-party services (such as maps or video players). These third parties may set their own cookies when you interact with their embedded content. Dog Trainer Index does not control third-party cookies. Please refer to the relevant third party’s privacy and cookie policy for more information.

Your Consent and Cookie Choices

6.1 Cookie Banner

When you first visit the Platform, we will present you with a cookie consent banner. From this banner you can:

• Accept all cookies;
• Accept only strictly necessary cookies; or
• Customise your preferences by cookie category.

Your preferences will be saved. You can change them at any time by clicking the ‘Cookie Settings’ link available in the footer of the Platform.

6.2 Browser Settings

Most web browsers allow you to control cookies through your browser settings. You can typically:

• Block all cookies;
• Block third-party cookies only;
• Delete existing cookies; or
• Receive a notification before a cookie is placed.

Please note that blocking cookies may affect the functionality of the Platform and prevent certain features from working correctly. Instructions for managing cookies in common browsers:

• Google Chrome: Settings > Privacy and security > Cookies and other site data
• Mozilla Firefox: Settings > Privacy & Security > Cookies and Site Data
• Safari: Preferences > Privacy > Manage Website Data
• Microsoft Edge: Settings > Cookies and site permissions

6.3 Withdrawing Consent

You may withdraw your consent to non-essential cookies at any time by:

• Visiting the Cookie Settings panel on the Platform;
• Clearing cookies from your browser settings; or
• Contacting us at privacy@dogtrainerindex.co.nz.

Withdrawing consent will not affect the lawfulness of any processing carried out prior to your withdrawal.

6.4 Do Not Track

Some browsers include a ‘Do Not Track’ (DNT) feature that sends a signal to websites requesting that your browsing not be tracked. There is currently no universal standard for how websites should respond to DNT signals in New Zealand. We will endeavour to respect DNT signals where technically practicable, but cannot guarantee full compliance given the lack of a common standard.

Cookies and Personal Information

Where cookies collect information that can identify you as an individual (for example, where analytics data is linked to your name or email address following a form submission), that information is personal information for the purposes of the Privacy Act 2020.

We treat any personal information collected via cookies in accordance with our Privacy Policy, including:

• Only using it for the purposes for which it was collected;
• Taking reasonable security steps to protect it;
• Giving you the right to access and correct it; and
• Not selling it to third parties.

You may request access to personal information held about you (including that collected via cookies) by contacting our Privacy Officer at privacy@dogtrainerindex.co.nz.

Overseas Data Transfers

Some of the third-party cookie providers we use (such as Google and Meta) are based outside New Zealand and may transfer data to servers in other countries, including the United States. These providers operate under their own privacy frameworks.

Where we use such providers, we take reasonable steps to satisfy ourselves that they provide comparable privacy protections to those required by the Privacy Act 2020 (in accordance with IPP 12). This may include reliance on:

• Standard contractual clauses or data processing agreements;
• The provider’s participation in recognised privacy frameworks (such as the EU-US Data Privacy Framework); or
• Our assessment that the provider’s home jurisdiction offers comparable safeguards.

Retention of Cookie Data

The length of time a cookie remains on your device depends on its type:

• Session cookies: deleted automatically when you close your browser;
• Persistent cookies: remain on your device for a set period (as specified in the cookie table above) or until you delete them; and
• Third-party cookies: governed by the retention periods set by the third party.

We review our cookie practices periodically and will update retention periods in this policy if they change.

Changes to This Cookie Policy

We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our use of cookies, changes in third-party services, or changes in applicable law. When we make material changes, we will update the effective date above and, where appropriate, notify you via the cookie banner on your next visit.

We encourage you to review this policy periodically. The current version will always be available on the Platform.

Contact Us

If you have questions about this Cookie Policy or our use of cookies, please contact our Privacy Officer:

This Cookie Policy was last updated on 18 April 2025. It reflects our obligations under the Privacy Act 2020 (New Zealand) and best practice guidance from the Office of the Privacy Commissioner.