Last updated: 2 August 2026
You can record rides without signing in. Everything stays in a private database on your device, and deleting the app deletes it. The only things that leave your phone are the network requests described under Services we send data to.
While you are recording a ride — and only then — TrailDog collects your location (GPS route, speed, altitude) and motion-sensor data (accelerometer, gyroscope, barometer). These are what produce your ride stats, your descent scores and your Rider Index.
Recording continues while your phone is locked or in your pocket — that is what the "always"-style location permission is for. Location is collected only while a ride you started is recording. TrailDog does not track you at any other time.
Creating an account turns on sync. From then on the following is stored on our servers:
| Account | Your email address — or the private relay address Apple gives us if you use Sign in with Apple — and which sign-in method you used. |
|---|---|
| Profile | Your display name, your handle, your home area if you set one, your Rider Index, level and seven attribute scores, and your profile photo. |
| Rides | The full ride: your GPS route at recording precision, motion-sensor data, timings, distance and elevation, computed scores, detected trail names, the place name and the weather summary. |
| Descents | Each scored descending run — score, length, drop, duration, and an identifier derived from its geometry. This is what personal bests and comparison with friends are built on. |
| Friends | Who you have sent requests to, who has sent them to you, and who you are friends with. |
| Devices | An install identifier, your device name, model, iOS version and app version, so we can tell which build a problem came from. |
| Logs | Technical records of what the app did — see Diagnostic logs. |
The app records technical logs — sync results, errors, timings, app version and ride identifiers — and uploads them with your account so we can diagnose crashes and sync failures. Before anything is written, email addresses, authentication tokens and long key-like strings are stripped out automatically, and precise coordinates are never written to logs at all. Logs are kept for 90 days and then deleted.
We do not use advertising or analytics SDKs, and we do not sell or rent your data.
The share button exports a ride file containing its GPS route, sensor data and scores, so you can send it to whoever you choose. Be aware that a ride file contains your precise route, which may start near your home. The Export Backup button creates a file you control. Your device's own iOS/iCloud backup may also include the app's data, governed by Apple's terms. Nothing is ever shared automatically.
Delete Account in Settings removes your account and everything listed above: profile, rides, descents, friendships, device records, logs, and every stored file — ride tracks, raw sensor archives and your profile photo. If you signed in with Apple, we also revoke that connection with Apple. This cannot be undone.
Rides already on your phone stay there until you delete the app, which removes the local copy.
If you are in the UK or EU: we process your ride and profile data to provide the app you asked for (performance of a contract), and diagnostic logs to keep it working (legitimate interests). You have the right to access, correct, export or delete your data. Export Backup and Delete Account do the last two immediately from inside the app; for anything else, contact us below.
TrailDog is not directed at children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect their data.
If this policy changes, the update will appear on this page with a new date. Questions, or any request about your data: ridetraildog@gmail.com