Due to a background in search-and-rescue searching for lost people , Kat understood the critical connection between behavior and the distances that people travel when lost. It made sense to Kat that the lost dog behavior and cats would also influence the distances that they travel. That cat must be lost! That dog must be lost! This means that in the majority of lost dog cases, you are actually looking for people βpeople who found your dog and have him in their possession or people who have seen your dog and know the area where you should be searching.
You need to mass market your missing dog because you need to get the information to as many people as possible that your dog is missing. If you need help, check our Pet Detective Directory page to see if you can find a local resource volunteer, paid professional, or a Facebook team that can help you in your effort to recover your missing dog. Below is a small sample of what Kat has learned about lost dog behavior and now teaches the consultants and pet detectives listed in the Pet Detective Directory.
We hope that this info helps you to recover your missing dog! Many dogs, even dogs that normally are not fearful at home, become terrified when they become lost. While some dogs will ultimately calm down and then approach people, other dogs will continue to run from everyone, including their owners! One of the worst things that you can do is CALL a stray, loose, or panicked dog.
We know. Your instinct, when the dog runs, is then to chase after the dog and this is the WORST thing that you can do! The three most common reasons why dogs become separated from their families are opportunistic journey, wanderlust, and blind panic. Opportunistic journey is when a gate or door is accidentally left open. Although these dogs might not actively attempt to leave, their noses just lead them on a journey that can take them blocks or even miles from home.
Wanderlust is a common problem in intact male dogs of any breed as well as certain breeds like hounds. These dogs will actively attempt to escape by climbing, digging, or wiggling to escape their yards. They will also bolt out a door or pull to get away from their handler if the opportunity presents itself. Wanderlust is responsible for the displacement of many dogs and a major contributing factor to the stray populations in our shelters. This can happen for three reasons: xenophobic skittish temperament, loud noises thunder, gunfire , or traumatic incident involved in car accident, explosion, etc.
