Legal · Games

Privacy policy for “Don't bark”

For all games

Last updated: October 11, 2026

Contents

1. Controller

Patrick Gruben
Rolandstraße 14
40476 Düsseldorf
Germany
E-mail: info@grubenhund.com
Phone: +49 160 94857908

Under the brand “grubenhund games” I develop and publish games for smartphones and tablets. I am not required to appoint a data protection officer; if you have questions, write to me directly.

2. Scope

This policy covers the game “Don't bark”. The version for all games is at games.grubenhund.com/en/privacy.

What happens when you visit this website (games.grubenhund.com) is described in the section “Visiting this website”. The dog training website grubenhund.com has its own privacy policy (in German).

3. In short

  • You don't need to register – no name, no password.
  • Your progress is stored on your device.
  • Your progress is also backed up under a random, anonymous ID in a data center in Frankfurt, Germany – you can turn this off in the game.
  • We only process an e-mail address if you enter one yourself – to link it or to load your progress.
  • “Don't bark” uses no analytics, tracking or advertising tools. The only thing it transfers is the cloud backup (see below).

4. Progress on your device

“Don't bark” stores your progress (chapters, checkpoint, keepsakes, best times) and your settings on your device; it also backs up your progress to the cloud (you can turn this off, see below), while your settings stay on the device. Legal basis: Art. 6(1)(b) GDPR (providing the game) and § 25(2) no. 2 TDDDG (storage on the device that is strictly necessary). How to delete your progress, settings and cloud account is explained under “Delete data”.

Note on device backups: if iCloud Backup on your iPhone or Android backup in your Google account is switched on, it may also back up the game data and restore it after a reinstall. Apple's or Google's privacy terms apply; we do not receive this data.

5. Permissions and links

“Don't bark” asks for no permissions: no microphone, camera, photos, location or notifications. It only uses vibration (can be switched off) and keeps the screen on while you play. The links to help and legal pages open this website in your browser; what happens there is described below in the section “Visiting this website”.

6. Cloud backup of your progress

Purpose: so your progress is not lost – for example when you delete the app or switch to a new device – it is backed up to our cloud storage. The game creates an anonymous account for this automatically, without a name or password.

Data: a randomly generated account ID, your save, backup timestamps and, for each sign-in session, the IP address and device or browser information (user agent) that our provider stores to secure the session. Don't bark stores your progress there (chapters completed, best times, keepsakes found, the current run with its checkpoint), a short summary of it, the device type (such as “iPhone”) and the game and language on the account (for matching e-mails). Your settings are not uploaded. Backups run in the background, at most every three minutes and when you leave the app.

Processor: Supabase, Inc. (USA) as processor under Art. 28 GDPR. The data is stored on servers in Frankfurt, Germany (EU).

Legal basis: Art. 6(1)(b) GDPR (providing the game with backup) and Art. 6(1)(f) (secure, abuse-protected operation).

Retention: save and account until you delete the cloud data in the game or ask us to, at the latest when the game is discontinued. Anonymous accounts not linked to Apple, Google or an e-mail address are deleted automatically, together with their save, after 24 months without use (no backup and no sign-in). Session data (IP address, user agent) is kept while the sign-in is valid and deleted with the account at the latest. See Delete data. In Don't bark the backup is on from the start; you turn it off on the title screen under “Settings” → “Cloud save” → “Back up progress to the cloud.” If you link the same e-mail address in another of our games, both saves share one account; deleting in Don't bark deletes only its save, and the account itself only once it holds no saves.

7. E-mail linking (optional)

When you link an e-mail address or load your progress on another device, we send you a 6-digit code. Your e-mail address and the message are processed. We use the Resend service of Plus Five Five, Inc. (USA) as processor; messages are sent via servers in Ireland (EU). We send no advertising and no newsletters. Legal basis: Art. 6(1)(b) GDPR. The e-mail address stays linked to your account until you delete it; Resend keeps sending logs (recipient, time, delivery status) for 30 days.

8. Restore without sign-in

Don't bark creates a random recovery key and keeps it in your device backup (iOS: iCloud Keychain of your Apple ID; Android: Android backup of your Google account). Our cloud storage only holds an irreversible hash of this key, so the game can find your progress after a reinstall or on a new device. Apple's and Google's privacy terms apply to the device backup.

9. Children and teens

The game is not specifically directed at children under 13. It contains no purchases.

10. Visiting this website

This website (games.grubenhund.com) sets no cookies, uses no analytics or tracking tools and embeds no third-party content; fonts, images and videos come from the same server. Links to the App Store, Google Play or other websites only transfer data to those providers once you click them.

When you open a page, the host processes technically necessary data in server logs: IP address, date and time, requested address, amount of data transferred, browser and operating system. This is required to deliver the website, detect attacks and fix errors (Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR; legitimate interest in secure and reliable operation). The site is hosted by Vercel Inc., 650 California St, San Francisco, CA 94108, USA, as processor; transfers to the USA are covered by the EU Standard Contractual Clauses and Vercel's certification under the EU-US Data Privacy Framework. Logs are kept only as long as needed for operation, security and troubleshooting, usually no longer than 30 days.

If you send me an e-mail, I process your details in order to reply (Art. 6(1)(b) or (f) GDPR).

11. Recipients and service providers

  • Supabase, Inc. (USA) – cloud storage and database, servers in Frankfurt, Germany (processor)
  • Plus Five Five, Inc. (USA), Resend service – sending confirmation codes via Ireland (processor)
  • Apple and Google – device backup (iCloud or Google account) (separate controllers)
  • Vercel Inc. (USA) – hosting of this website games.grubenhund.com (processor, see “Visiting this website”)

No ads, no analytics, no crash reporting. Beyond that we do not share personal data, and we never sell data.

12. Transfers outside the EU

Some service providers are based in the USA. Where data is transferred there, this is based on the EU-US Data Privacy Framework (adequacy decision of the European Commission) or EU Standard Contractual Clauses (Art. 46(2)(c) GDPR). Cloud saves are stored on servers in Frankfurt, Germany.

13. Your rights

You have the right of access (Art. 15 GDPR), rectification (Art. 16), erasure (Art. 17), restriction of processing (Art. 18), data portability (Art. 20) and objection (Art. 21), and you may withdraw consent at any time with effect for the future (Art. 7(3)). Write to info@grubenhund.com.

Right to object

Where we process data on the basis of legitimate interests (Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR), you may object to this processing at any time on grounds relating to your particular situation (Art. 21 GDPR). Write to info@grubenhund.com.

How to delete data yourself is explained under Delete data.

You may also lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority, for example the data protection authority of North Rhine-Westphalia (LDI NRW), Kavalleriestraße 2–4, 40213 Düsseldorf, Germany.

14. Changes

When a game changes – for example with new features or service providers – I update this policy. The version published here applies. If this English version differs from the German one, the German version prevails.