'I put my foot down': Entitled sibling demands her 22-year-old sister dogsit her 130-pound Rottweiler and new chihuahua puppy `for 2 weeks while she's on vacation, despite the sister firmly telling her in advance she can't handle 3 dogs on her own

Author image for Mariel Ruvinsky
Mariel Ruvinsky • Writer and Editor
Jul 16, 2025 11:00 AM EDT

Listen, puppies may be tiny and adorable and precious, but anyone who has ever had one knows that it takes a lot of work to take care of them. It takes a lot of work to take care of any dog, really, but especially puppies during those critical beginning stages. That is one of the reasons that it is so, so important to make sure that if you're getting a dog sitter, it is someone who can actually do the job well. 

Now, things can happen, in any situation, with anyone, including dog-sitters. Dog sitters can make mistakes sometimes, dog owners can make mistakes with their dog sitters sometimes too. But we're talking about accidents - situations where things were supposed to go well and then… didn't. Because that happens. That's not the case in today's story. Here, you have someone who has been told that their regular dog sitter is not up to job this time - because she simply does not feel capable of taking care of that many dogs. And you have someone who didn't care to listen to that. 

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  • 01

    "[Am I wrong] for refusing to dogsit for my sister after she got a puppy..."

    "I am not watching 3 dogs, on my own. One of which is a 60kg handful, the other a puppy".
    via Unsplash / Barnabas Davoti

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • 02
    Basically, my sister is going on a2 week holiday in September and needs someone to look after her dog. She doesn't use kennels for a number of reasons and I have always looked after her dogs in the past when her and her boyfriend have gone away. So, if I usually look after her dogs, what has changed?
    via --clapped--
  • 03
    The last time she went away and I had to watch her dogs would have been last year. At the time she had a 3 year old Rottweiler named Dexter and, our childhood dog, an 11 year old Yorkshire Terrier named Pudsey.
    via --clapped--
  • 04
    This is fine, I used to live with both dogs when me and my sister lived with our parents; of course the yorkshire terrier since I was like 10 and the Rottweiler for a couple years before moving etc. Dexter was also our 3rd Rottweiler as a family so, I can handle the breed.
    via --clapped--
  • 05
    Since then, Pudsey has passed away and I adopted a rescue; a 7 year old Cane Corso named Roxie who is a saint. Roxie and and Dexter have met a couple times now and they get along well enough that I was still willing to dogsit for her. I WASN'T LOOKING FORWARD TO IT because, well, Dexter is a hassle.
    via --clapped--
  • 06
    He's massive for one (weighs about 60kg to Roxies 40kg) and has literally endless energy. Energy he constantly redirects towards Roxie now. It can get too much for her but, I have ways to separate them when needed. Just to give her space.
    via --clapped--
  • 07
    That was until she started seriously considering getting another dog. Not just any dog but a puppy... So, upon hearing this, I told her "I am not watching 3 dogs, on my own. One of which is a 60kg handful, the other a puppy".
    via --clapped--
  • 08
    And I was very clear, I put my foot down and outright told her and told my mum that I am not doing that. She can either wait A FEW MONTHS to get a new dog or can find a kennel for them.
    via --clapped--
  • 09
    Well, looks like they take me for a I as she now has a new chihuahua puppy. So? Looks like she's finding a kennel. Except my mum is adamant that I will still dogsit and that it isn't a big deal.
    via --clapped--
  • 10
    They think because I work from home that, I have all the time to; baby sit a puppy, make sure Dexter isn't assaulting Roxie, walk them? I can't not walk them, it's 2 weeks. I walk Roxie for about 90 minutes a day (in the cooler weather) and I can't walk her and Dexter together? Nevermind puppy in the mix?
    via --clapped--
  • 11
    "Why doesn't you mum watch one of them" In her defence, she works 2 jobs. On most days; she's out of them house from 8am to 8pm with a couple hours home in between. I see why she can't watch a dog on her own either. THAT DOESN'T MEAN I CAN WATCH 3? What about our dad?
    via --clapped--
  • 12
    Well, our parents don't live together and his work schedule is a little unconventional. He essentially spends a week at work, living in, and then a week at home. He also lives about 6 hours away from my sister and 3 hours away from me so, for a number of reasons, I am the ONLY option.
    via --clapped--
  • 13
    I'm being made out as a bad guy as my mum holds all of the things she did for me in the 22 years since I was born. Asking me to do it for her and how cruel it would be for me to refuse.
    via --clapped--
  • 14
    Cheezburger Image 10529137920
    via Unsplash / Sophie Hollies 🇨🇭🇫🇷 🇬🇧 - so_hollies

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • We don't care if this is your sister or not. Your dog sitter, the person who's first responsibility to you when you are away on vacation is taking care of your dogs, told you that she is incapable of doing it this time. Sister or not, you have to listen to that and take it seriously.

  • 15
    Tdluxon NTA All that is really happening is that she doesn't want to pay for a kennel so she's trying to stick you with her responsibility.
    via Tdluxon
  • 16
    --clapped-- OP On one hand I agree, on the other; Dexter is a 60kg mountain that is also dog reactive. To her credit, she is currently and has been for some time in training with him. Not cheap training either but, he is still young and very stubborn so progress is slow. His stomach is also very sensitive and always has been.
    via --clapped--
  • 17
    We've also both heard kennel horror stories and she treats her dogs like her child so, I see why she is so against putting him in one. However, I TOLD HER TO WAIT. I was willing to watch him before, if she just waited on getting a puppy.
    via --clapped--
  • 18
    Cheezburger Image 10529138176
    via Unsplash / Sophie Hollies 🇨🇭🇫🇷 🇬🇧 - so_hollies

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • And it really is a lot of work. The fact that the mother does not seem to understand that either is sad. At the end of the day, what matters is you standing on business. You're thinking about the dogs. Leaving them with you would be bad for the dogs just as much as it would be for you. 

  • 19
    6data NTA And you are justified, but no matter what we say, your family believes otherwise and aren't going to change their mind just because you're right. Also if you were willing to dogsit Dexter and Pudsey, I honestly don't know why Dexter and chihuahua puppy would be worse...?
    via 6data
  • 20
    --clapped-- OP The reason this is different is; when I would dogsit Dexter and Pudsey, I didn't have my own dog. Since then (3 months now) I've adopted a rescue Cane Corso - Roxie. Roxie is an angel, truly a saint of a dog.
    via --clapped--
  • 21
    So, I was okay with dogistting Dexter and Pudsey, I was okay dogsitting Dexter while also having my own dog - Roxie (they have already met multiple times), I'm not okay having my own dog and dogsitting Dexter and a puppy.
    via --clapped--

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family drama dogs puppy siblings interesting doggo story sister
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