Losing your dog is undoubtedly a terrifying experience; however, it happens more often that a lost dog is found rather than never meeting him again. It is very important to remain calm so that you can carry out your research with clarity. Take a deep breath and follow the tips in this article to find your furry friend.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Search by Home
Step 1. Ask family members
If you haven't seen the dog for some time, ask your family. It is possible that the dog is hiding in some room or that someone has taken him out for a walk. In addition, you will be able to establish who saw the animal last.
Step 2. Get him out of his hiding place
Dogs love food, so you could attract the animal by shaking the container of its favorite food. As you do this, walk around the house so the dog can hear the noise.
Step 3. Search methodically
Once it is clear that the dog is not in plain sight, he begins to search the house systematically. Check carefully in each room, looking under the beds or in the built-in wardrobes. Look in all the rooms in the house, none excluded, and don't forget to look behind the furniture.
Step 4. Check in the most unlikely places
A frightened dog can hide anywhere. Look behind or even inside large appliances, as a dog may very well hole up behind the refrigerator or crawl into the dryer. Also look behind the access panels and in unthinkable places, such as the water heater cabinet. Smaller dogs can hide under recliners (behind the footstool) or behind books on a shelf.
Step 5. Call your dog
As you search, say your dog's name aloud. He may be sleeping soundly in the corner or may not have heard your call.
Method 2 of 4: Starting the Research Outside
Step 1. Get started as soon as possible
You will be more likely to find your dog in the first 12 hours after they go missing. Many experts believe that nearly 90% of pets are found if the owner searches for them within this time frame.
Step 2. Repeat the dog's name often
The animal knows its name and could answer the call. In addition, the sound signal tells him your position.
Don't forget to use his nicknames too. If you sometimes call it "Beautiful", and other times "Small", alternate the two nicknames as you search for it
Step 3. Bring a box of kibble with you
Food is an important stimulus for any dog, so bring a box of kibble with you. Shake the container as you walk, and use the lure you normally use when you feed it.
For example, if you usually call the croquettes "biscuits", yell: "Fido, do you want a biscuit?"
Step 4. Take advantage of the surrounding silence
The best time to look for your dog, calling him and using treats as bait, is when there is silence on the street. Try early in the morning, when the dog feels less threatened by the surrounding environment; he may already be out looking for food.
Step 5. Investigate carefully
While searching, try to find any traces left by the dog. See if he has left footprints in the mud or feces on the street and look for any remaining fur he may have lost. These clues may point you in the direction to go.
Step 6. Look everywhere
The dog may have climbed onto the roof of a car, holed up under a porch or hiding behind a shed. Check every nook and cranny, as dogs are able to get into very tight spaces. Use a flashlight to illuminate dark areas. Don't forget to look in the bushes.
Step 7. In addition to talking, listen
You should hear any sounds your dog makes, such as a yelp, bark, or rustle. The dog could lead you to him if you listen.
Step 8. Leave your favorite items out of the house
Putting a toy outside your front door can bring the dog back to you. Also, leave an object outside that smells like you, such as a dirty shirt: the dog could be attracted to it.
Step 9. Consider if anything special has happened nearby lately
Look in an abandoned or newly built house, as the dog may have holed up inside it. If your neighbor has recently moved, the dog may have even hid in the moving van.
Step 10. Get in the car
To search around the house and check every nook and cranny it is best to go on foot but, if the search does not pay off, jump in your car and take a walk around the neighborhood. Drive slowly and check each road systematically. Keep the window down and call the dog while you drive.
Step 11. Start looking around, then walk away
During the escape, many dogs start running. The first day of research you should cover an area of 2-3 km in radius, although some dogs can travel up to 8-15 km in a short time. It is quite rare for a dog to run away and run for 15 km, but extending the search area can only be useful.
Step 12. Get help
The more people participate in the search, the more likely it is that the dog will be found. Ask your family, friends and neighbors for help and coordinate search operations. Establish an area for each to search in order to cover as much area as possible.
Step 13. Talk to your neighbors
Neighbors are an important resource to turn to. They may have seen the dog flee in a certain direction, or one of them may have let the animal into the house after the latter has lost the collar. Go to each house and take a picture of the dog with you to show to the neighbors.
Also, ask those people who walk the streets of the neighborhood far and wide, like the postman, for example
Step 14. Contact your local kennel
Inform the kennel operators that you are looking for a missing animal, so that they can help you in the search; making contact with private companies can be equally useful.
In addition, in the two days following the disappearance of the dog, visit the kennel at least once, the animal could be there. Review every two days to check
Step 15. Contact the veterinary offices
Call your vet, especially if the dog tag has his name on it. You should also get in touch with other clinics in the area to make sure your dog hasn't been transported to one after suffering an injury.
Step 16. Be cautious when searching
Don't search alone at night and take a flashlight and cell phone with you when on the road.
Step 17. Keep searching
Pets can survive away from home for a long time; you may find your dog after a few months, so keep searching and checking in kennels.
Method 3 of 4: Place Ads
Step 1. Hang flyers
Print flyers with the image of your dog, its description, its name and your phone number. Do not forget to add the area where it disappeared (giving the precise address is not necessary) and the date of disappearance.
- Put the main topic at the top. Write "DOG DISAPPEARED" in bold at the top of the flyer; use a legible font and express yourself concisely.
- It is better to put a color photo than a black and white one; choose one where the dog's face and its distinctive features are clearly visible.
- To attract more attention, use colored sheets; to motivate people, you can also offer a reward.
- If possible, hang flyers in shops, restaurants, trees, or telephone poles. Arrange the flyers within a 2-3 km radius starting from the place of the disappearance (going further is not bad, of course). Places that have to do with animals, such as pet shops and veterinary clinics, are particularly suitable, but consider any busy places, such as self-service laundries or gas stations. Always ask for permission before hanging a flyer in a store.
- Keep a distinctive trait hidden. Do not mention a characteristic of your dog, such as, for example, a heart-shaped birthmark on the hind leg; in this way, you can ask those who respond to the ad to provide a detailed description of the animal and discard the reports of those who perhaps only intend to cheat you.
Step 2. Place an advertisement on the Internet
You can post it on a site dedicated to finding missing animals or on local websites that feature ads. Take advantage of social networks; send an ad to your friends and ask them to share it with others. The more people you can engage, the more likely you are to find your dog.
Don't forget to make your post public, so it can be shared; on certain social networks it is possible to make a post public without necessarily having to change the general settings of your profile
Step 3. Place an ad in the local newspaper
Write your message concisely, using the same information as on the flyer.
Step 4. Beware of scammers
If someone contacts you and says they found the dog, meet with them with a friend. Ask this person to meet you in a public place and don't give them any rewards until you get your dog back.
When someone calls and tells you they have found the dog, ask them to describe the animal in detail. Pay attention to the feature you didn't mention on the flyer
Step 5. Check the find notices
On the sites where you have reported the disappearance of your dog, consult the section dedicated to the findings; do the same with the local newspaper.
Method 4 of 4: Prevent the Dog from Going Lost Again
Step 1. Have your dog wear an ID tag
The tag should indicate the dog's name and your phone number, so that whoever finds the animal will be able to contact you. If your information changes, please remember to update your information.
Step 2. Have him put a microchip
A microchip is a harmless device that is inserted into the back of the animal's neck; contains an identification number (ID) that can be scanned at any veterinary clinic or kennel. The ID can be used to retrieve your contact information and notify you in case of discovery.
- Remember to update the data if necessary; incorrect information will not be of any help to your dog!
- It is advisable to equip the dog with both a microchip and an identification tag; the collar could loosen and fall off during the movements of the dog and, without its tag, the animal would no longer be identifiable.
Step 3. Block any possible escape routes
Make sure that there are no holes in the fence of your yard for the animal to sneak into to escape. Be careful when you open the front door, your dog may be nearby, ready to throw himself out!
Step 4. Try using a GPS tag or microchip
You can buy a tag equipped with a GPS tracking system and use your mobile phone to locate the dog when it gets lost. There are also microchips that make use of the same technology; they have the advantage of being implanted in the dog's body, so it is impossible for them to get lost.
