What to Do if You Lose Your Dog

Anytime a pet dog goes missing, the chances are that they might still be lurking somewhere in the vicinity as dogs don’t usually go far. It just might be that they got distracted by a passing kitty, or the temptation to just roam around in search of food became too strong, and in the process, the dog may have gotten disoriented. Conversely, it might be possible that your canine friend got spooked by rumbling thunder or even a loud noise which pushed it to seek safety in a neighbor’s garage or garden. Whatever the case might be, this article offers a good insight into what to do if you lose your dog.

Below are many strategies on how to find a lost dog.

Get Word Out Early

Never assume that your pup is likely to come home in its own time; that’s why the first action to take immediately you notice that your canine companion has gone missing is to inform other people in the vicinity.  It’s vital to get the word around swiftly as this is one of the most effective ways of getting your pup back, safe and sound. To do this, you will first need to have a clear picture of your pet dog handy as well as your dog’s full collar ID tag  – many pet owners have been known to leverage on microchipping for this purpose.

As you continue making others aware of the situation with your dog, you are most likely to touch a sensitive chord, especially with pet parents who have found themselves in similar situations in the past. You will be surprised that many of them will make it their business to carry out a nightly check in their barns, sheds or any hidden corner in their homes, and thus, call you if they spot any dog that looks like your own. Check out our guides on dog LED collars and dog collars for more info.

Produce Posters

Make plenty of posters with your dog’s picture and remember to keep the message as simple as possible; for instance, the caption “Lost Dog” should be the headline, and should be bold enough for passersby to read – even for people in a moving vehicle. Next is to add a few words in the description of your pet dog like “Light brown Daniff” or “black and white Pitsky.” You should not assume that people will know the breed of your dog from the photo, hence the need to include a description. The description should also include your dog’s name – this makes it possible for any interested person to simply call the dog over, and in the process, capture him or her. It also gives people the impression that this missing dog is a valued family member and not just a figure to top the lost animal statistic. Rewards should be offered, but try not to state the amount on the poster, the bottom of the poster should also display your phone number in bold letters.

Distribute Flyers and Ads

Another way to go is to construct several flyers displaying similar information and distribute them to every house insight, especially from the particular site your dog was last seen. Give the flyers to people or stick them under their doors or even on their windshields. You can also stop and have a chat with every passerby – the chances of finding your dog quicker will increases as you talk to more people about it. And remember to ask them to please, check their sheds and barns, especially during the night.

Another important measure to take is placing an advert in a local newspaper. Don’t allow it to take too long before placing a missing dog advert. However, note that these types of ads come free of charge in most places.

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Organize a Search Party

Organize a search party that will work together and search the neighborhood whilst calling out to the missing dog by its name. Enlist the help of both family members and close friends. Make sure to search in every possible direction and avoid predicting where your dog could have gone or where it wouldn’t dare to go; this might turn out to be a big mistake – you never can really know what made your pup go missing.

Additionally, the best time of the day to call out to a missing dog is at night or even at dawn. If it happens that you are conducting the search from a moving vehicle, drive slowly with all windows rolled down, make stops here and there and turn off the car radio and engine to listen thoroughly.

Check in Other Locations

When the search in your neighborhood is proving to be futile, then, don’t waste any more time checking other locations like the veterinary clinic or dog home. Place a call through to every animal shelter you know, including animal control as well as dog control offices and all state and local police troopers. Other locations include the local kennels, canine training clubs, the highway dept, as well as grooming shops, and local dog pounds.

Don’t Give Up

Pet dogs have been known to wander away from home and engage in things that you wouldn’t believe that they are capable of. So, don’t leave any stone unturned in the search for your missing dog. Look everywhere, try everything possible, tell every available person and it might surprise you how supportive people can be in situations like this.

When you do find the dog, it might appear a little traumatized and terrified of people. Your beloved pup might also run away from you; in such situations, the best thing to do is to let it run and don’t chase after it as this will only scare it more. What you need to do is to come down to the dog’s level by sitting on the ground and talking to your pet in a normal tone of voice, continue repeating its name and some phrases you know that it is familiar with. The fear will only last for some time, but your dog will definitely come back home with you in time; you only have to apply caution.