Guide
Getting started
Your first play session with Dog Play Journal in four steps.
Add your dog
Open the app and tap “Add your dog”: a name is enough. Breed, year of birth, size and a weekly play goal are optional. Want to look around first? Tap “Try the example journal”.
Play and time it
Open the Play tab, pick the first game or a routine and press Start. Switch to the next game when you change, pause when you take a break.
Rate and save
Tap “Finish & rate”. Give each game 1 to 5 balls, add energy before and after and tick what you noticed. Save — the session appears in the journal.
Look back
The Games tab ranks games by your ratings; the Stats tab shows play time per week and month. Notes and photos are in the Diary.
Questions and answers
How do I log a walk or a past session?
On the Journal, tap “Log walk”. Enter the minutes, the distance if you like, and any games you played on the way. To add a play session afterwards, switch the same form to “Play session”.
Can I change the distance unit?
Yes: More (the cog at the top) → Settings → Distance unit. Distances are stored once and shown in miles or kilometres.
How do I move the journal to a new phone?
More → Backup and data → Create backup file (tick “Include photos” if you want them). Save or share the file, then use “Restore from a backup file” on the new phone.
I deleted something by mistake.
Right after deleting, tap “Undo” in the message at the bottom of the screen.
Can I use it for more than one dog?
Yes. Tap the dog’s badge at the top to switch dogs or add another one. Each dog has its own journal.
Is the app really free?
Yes. Every feature is free. There are no ads, no subscriptions and no in-app purchases.
Does the timer run in the background?
No. The timer counts only while the Play screen is open, and the screen stays on while it runs. If you leave the screen or lock the phone, the session is paused and waits for you.
Where are my entries and photos stored?
Only on your phone, in the app’s own storage. The app has no internet access. You decide when to export a report or create a backup file.
Is this veterinary advice?
No. The app is a personal journal of your dog’s play. It gives no veterinary or behavioural advice. If you are worried about your dog’s health or behaviour, please speak to your vet or a qualified behaviourist.
Contact
For questions, bug reports, ideas and privacy requests there is one address:
Please mention the app version (1.0.0, under More → About and privacy) and your Android phone.