I’ve seen a few threads about doorbell cameras and understand they’re allowed under THS policy. We’re currently on a sit where the homeowner texts us in a way that makes us feel like they’re watching our comings and goings in real time on the doorbell cam. The dog has I think an airtag on the collar (although I’m not totally sure what those look like) which made a kind of beeping chirp last night. It’s all making us quite uncomfortable even though we aren’t doing anything wrong. Anyone had an experience like this? What did you do? It kind of feels like the homeowner is looking for mistakes.
1 Like
A real airtag has the Apple logo, but there are similar products.
I think it should show up on the wireless network of the home (or maybe on Bluetooth).
If it is something like that, it would be good if the HO gave the app or similar to the sitter, so that they could trace the dog if it would escape.
At the doorbell - I would be tempted to wave at them and to wear silly masks 
It’s in some kind of case but I did a scan with my phone and it is an airtag! So clever, I don’t even have an apple phone and it ID’d it straight away.
Yes, that is the feature that Apple added so that people can find out about tracking and stalking.
First, the tag is for the dog. If it’s beeping in the house what does that mean? I don’t know. If I were taking care of a dog, I’d want to discuss this with the owner. Is it normal for it to beep? Is it beeping because they are checking on where the dog is? Are they aware that you can hear that it might seem annoying or even frightening? Have the conversation. Also regarding the doorbell. If they are actually commenting on your comings and goings, what is the context? Did you leave the pets alone for a long amount of time? Are the settings so that it wakes them when they come home? Find out what is going on exactly, and let the homeowners know that while you are aware of the ring camera, maybe they should change the settings so they don’t receive an alert every time you come and go from the house as that feels invasive to you – because it is and it does.
Can you leave the property without going past the ring doorbell? Is there another exit?
Also ring doorbells don’t work when the WiFi is off. Routers often have a button on them that turns the WiFi off and on. Routers have been known to get switched off. Just saying.
I’d definitely reach out to the owners about tge beeping. We sat for a dog once who had a tracking tag on her collar, but the owners were friends so we’d make jokes about them knowing where we were taking her. But also the owners had us download the app on our phone so we could track the dog if she got out. The app also gave stats on how much exercise the dog was getting and what not.
Most likey the ring is alerting the owners about comings and goings. On one of my last sits the owner texted me because she got notified that someone was at her front door. She thought it was a delivery, but the camera showed her chickens! She was amused.
It is a bit disconcerting that they might be tracking your comings and goings. But if they just might be checking just because they get alerts. I always give people the benefit of the doubt.
If you are doing nothing wrong, no worries. Or wave at the camera to let them know you know they can see you. Or perhaps ask them if they do get alerts and apologize for goingbout the door so much.
Unless the owners have gave you indication that they are monitoring the airtag, then just ignore it. It will be there for if the dog goes missing, it has nothing to do with you sitting at all, it is simply so that if the worst case scenario happened even when they are with their dog, they can find their dog quickly.
They’re definitely monitoring it to see how long and when they take the dog out.
If it were in case the dog got lost they would have told the sitters about it and set it up on their phone.
Thanks for the replies. Yeah it’s a funny one. We aren’t doing anything wrong like leaving the pup for ages or not taking her out. It’s just e.g. a reminder to lock the door weirdly timed as we’re leaving the house. I think the owner doesn’t see it as an issue and tbh I’m nervous to raise it because I don’t want to cause problems. Good suggestion on the alternative exit. Unfortunately there are none. I’ve snuck past these door cams before! Again not even because I’m doing anything out of order - I just don’t like the principle of them! In future maybe I should not do any sits with door cams unless the owners tell me they won’t be monitoring them.
The airtag I don’t know. It’s only ever pinged when we’ve been at home
Good tip @cawosey I will remember that if I feel like I am being spied on by homeowner . ( Not happened yet )
It takes a while for the WiFi to come back on if you just turn the power off and on. You would have a minute to get out the door and out of sight. Would be interesting to see if any strange messages came back if he was monitoring you. He wouldn’t see you leave and only see you come back 
The airtag is tracking all the time. You can access historical data on its location to ß where it has been and when. The ping it made is probably a periodic noise to stop people hiding them or because he triggered it while accessing the location (you can make it chime so you can find it if you attach it to your keys for example)
It communicates through Bluetooth so turn your Bluetooth off may help. You could just take it off but then he may accuse you of not walking the dog.
@Junipers I live right on a city street in the city center. We all have some form of home alarm which usually includes a doorbell camera. When I’ve had a sitter I have them download the app so they can use it to see who is at the door without opening it. It’s also useful to see when someone is at the door when the home is unoccupied. I don’t look at it when I’m away, its for personal and home security and the sitter is there.
2 Likes
@anon42826925 that sounds much more reasonable! I don’t object to them but I do think they shouldn’t be used to keep an eye on sitters or intimidate them.
@cawosey interesting! Maybe I should give it a go with the wifi
I am finding many places have cameras by the door and I always assume they can monitor your comings and goings. Don’t know that much can be done about it. If I am going to be out for several hours I just notify the HO so I don’t have to worry if that is a problem to them.
1 Like
Maybe turning off the wifi isn’t a particularly good idea as certainly in our house it links to things like the alarm systems and would set this off immediately and also the cats’ trackers etc but not the ring door bell as that is battery operated! 
Hello, I don’t want to stop the flow of this discussion and everyone supporting the OP, but just a quick reminder that before changing anything in the owner’s home check with the owner, communication is always the key if you have any concerns and Membership Services are always on hand to help advise!
It doesn’t get power from the WiFi just a connection. No connection - nowhere to send video. I would test it but my video doorbell isn’t ring.
I wouldn’t do this to be honest! Wifi is tempramental and I’m not particularly tech savvy. I think I’ll just chalk this up to a live and learn situation. I did have that classic slightly bad feeling about the sit that I ignored.