Friend ends dog-sitting early after learning dog owner was tracking her every move, constantly questioning her whereabouts: 'You're at your ex's place?'

Author image for JR Atkinson
JR Atkinson • Writer and Editor
Nov 6, 2025 10:00 PM EST

Privacy is an important thing, and it's a right that we all deserve. But in the online age, where everything we do is constantly being monitored, we don't have a lot of control over that. But what about privacy in our own lives? Apps like Find My Friends and wearable technology like AirTags make us confront these questions head-on all the time. Everyone has different comfort levels of the amount of interference we will allow in our lives. You don't have to submit to someone else's just because they're asking you to. You are allowed to draw your own boundaries and say no to sharing your location. 

When doing a favor for a friend by dog-sitting their beloved pup, one woman couldn't quite expect what she was in for. She quickly learned just how much of a control freak her friend was, and it started to get on her nerves. Then she realized she was being tracked, block by block, every single minute. Then she responded like most people would, but her friend wasn't done with her. 

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  • A person walks three dogs and check their phone on the sidewalk.
    via Robinson Greig

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

  • Is it wrong for a pet owner to be especially protective of their animals? Absolutely not. But what if that protection comes at someone else's expense, someone who also happens to be doing a favor for you? That's what came up in this story. Read on to find out what happened and decide what you would have done. 

  • Am I in the wrong for ending a dog- sitting favor early after finding out my friend was tracking me?

    So my best friend "Maddy" (24F) went on a four day trip last weekend and asked me (23F) to watch her golden retriever, Milo. I love that dog and I've dog sat for her before, so I didn't even hesitate. I picked him up from her apartment, brought him to mine, and everything was normal.
    via u/BagelBae6969
  • The second night, I took Milo for a walk and stopped by a café. While waiting for my drink, I got a text from Maddy that said, "Omg why are you at the coffee shop? | thought you said you were staying in tonight
    via u/BagelBae6969
  • At first, I laughed it off because I thought she was joking. But then she sent, "Don't let Milo drink the water there, the bowls outside are gross." That's when it hit me, she could see exactly where I was.
    via u/BagelBae6969
  • When I got home, I checked his collar and found a little AirTag hidden behind his tag. I was honestly creeped out. I texted her asking if she was tracking me, and she said, "I just wanted to make sure Milo was safe! It's not about you."
    via u/BagelBae6969
  • But it was about me, because she was literally watching where I was, when I left the house, where I walked. She kept sending little "check-ins" like, "He's been out for a while, everything okay?" or "You're at your ex's place??" (1 wasn't, I'd just walked past his building to get to the park.)
    via u/BagelBae6969
  • It started feeling so invasive that I couldn't relax. I couldn't even take Milo for a walk without worrying she was going to text me again. So on the third day, I texted her and said I wasn't comfortable being tracked, and since she clearly didn't trust me, I was bringing Milo to her neighbor (who she's super close with and who also has a key to her place). I left the dog with the neighbor, texted Maddy the update, and went home.
    via u/BagelBae6969
  • Maddy flipped. She said I abandoned her dog and that I should've just "sucked it up" for one more day. She also said I was "dramatic" and "made it about myself" when she was just trying to "be a good dog mom." But to me, it's about trust and boundaries, if my best friend doesn't trust me enough to dog sit without literally tracking my movements, that's not a friendship I feel safe in.
    via u/BagelBae6969
  • AITAH for walking away from the situation instead of finishing the favor?
    via u/BagelBae6969
  • a low section of and elegant man walking his dog outdoors in city
    via Unsplash+ (Getty Images)

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

  • Commenters gave their insights on this situation.

    WatercressNo8872 7h ago I get why she might've wanted to keep tabs on Milo, but the constant texts and hidden tracker make it clear she didn't trust you. Trust goes both ways, and you're right to remove yourself from a situation that made you uncomfortable.
    via u/WatercressNo8872
  • Character_Jello6674 · 6h ago . Nta, its okay she wants to track her dog, a hidden tracker is in case someone steals him. What's not okay are the texts, she doesnt need to watch him 24/7 and message you. Thats how you become paranoid and stressed.
    via u/Character_Jello6674
  • I put an airtag on my daughter but i dint message the people she is with about where they are. Its in case of an emergency. Not to watch you.
    via u/Character_Jello6674
  • Ambitious_Dragon_13. 6h ago the airtag was ok but the constant texting about where you were and what you were doing was not. you didn't abandon the dog, you took it somewhere it would be safe and cared for. NTA
    via u/Ambitious_Dragon_13
  • Sr_Dagonet • 5h ago Tracking her dog is absolutely okay but she must tell you before. The constant comments were creepy. NTA
    via u/Sr_Dagonet
  • LovelyLilSophie19 .7h ago I think she's obsessed tracking you without consent is a huge invasion of privacy, good thing you handled it calmly and set a healthy boundary.
    via u/LovelyLilSophie19
  • Luxy2801.6h ago My cousin had a dog that kept getting lost so she put a tracker on her collar in order to find her again. That part is normal. Following your friend who is watching your dog and commenting on every walk is more than crossing the boundaries into creepy. NTA
    via u/Luxy2801
  • unimpressed-one 6h ago . I have trackers on my dogs, but honestly If I didn't trust the person watching them, they wouldn't be watching them. Her constantly texting you about your where abouts is neurotic. I wouldn't have done what you did and dump the dog. I would have ignored her texts and when she came home, ended the friendship.
    via u/unimpressed-one
  • SpecialProfile2697 .7h ago Had she been upfront about the air tag it would have been one thing. I think she just lost her favor privileges. NTA
    via u/SpecialProfile2697
  • Goodeggboi · 7h ago • NTA. She sounds very neurotic & unstable with major control problems. If she isn't willing to even try to understand from your point of view & sees nothing off about her behavior it means she's not self aware, inconsiderate, and probably unwilling to change. I'd end this "friendship" now by distancing myself. Sadly :(
    via u/Goodeggboi
  • Haughtscot • 4h ago NTA. Its creepy as f. I put trackers on my dogs collars when I go on holiday and leave them with someone. But for god sakes I tell them the trackers are there! So that if one of my dogs does a houdini, the person watching them can go find them without spending hours panicking because they lost my dog!
    via u/Haughtscot
  • Acceptable-Tap1181 · 6h ago She sounds like she has some issues with anxiety that are making her controlling, and that is something she needs to address.
    via u/Acceptable-Tap1181
  • Choice-Razzmatazz... 6h ago • NTA For her to say "it's not - about you" is a wild as her texts made it about you, commenting about you being at the coffee shop or at your ex's place are none of her concerns but she chose to make it her business. Yes she's keeping an eye on her dog but she could have told
    via u/Choice-Razzmatazz347
  • you about the AirTag so in case something happened you could have tracked him or she could direct you if he'd run off. She should have just kept her mouth shut and be grateful to have a friend look after Milo or she'd have to pay money to put him in a kennel.
    via u/Choice-Razzmatazz347
  • EducationalQuote287 .7h ago OP, as a dog owner I have contemplated getting AirTags for my own dogs. They sell little key fob to fit on dog collars just for this purpose. My dogs are rescues and were runners at first. However, I didn't because
    via u/EducationalQuote287
  • they are microchipped. Your friend is over the top and should not be texting you like that. You are helping her out by taking care of her dog. She should have just been grateful and enjoyed her vacation instead of acting so controlling.
    via u/EducationalQuote287

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friendship relationship advice dogs aita drama AITAH best friends storytime dog owner friends listen to your friends air tag reddit story relationships friend drama friend story reddit thread Reddit discourse location conflict
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