Staci Lemke 00:00:00 It’s something none of us want to think about, but unfortunately, it happens. The gardener leaves the gate open. One of the kids leaves the front door open. Your dog digs under or jumps over your fence and poof, they’re gone. Down the street, around the corner and out of sight. Your dog is now missing. Would you know what to do if this happens to you? What to do if your dog goes missing? A lost dog scenario would be every dog parent’s worst nightmare I can’t even imagine, and it’s understandable to feel panicky, anxious, or scared. Pause. Take a few deep breaths and try to stay calm. A positive mindset is one of your greatest tools in the search for your dog. God forbid you should ever lose your beloved dog, but it could happen. No matter how well trained your dog is or how careful you are. So in this episode of The Well-Mannered Mutt Podcast, I’ll offer you some tips that will hopefully help you bring your dog home quickly and safely.
Staci Lemke 00:01:00 And I’ll also talk about some ways that we can prevent your dog from getting lost in the first place. Hello and welcome to The Well-Mannered Mutt Podcast. I’m your host, certified professional dog trainer, and registered veterinary technician, Staci Lemke. Join me as I discuss all things dog, from canine wellbeing to basic training to modifying problem behaviors. Whether you’re a first time puppy parent or have had dogs your whole life. This podcast will help you have a better relationship with your best friend. My passion is to help you have the well-mannered mutt you’ve always dreamed of. Now let’s dive into today’s episode. The only published research study on lost pet rates, conducted in 2012, found that between 11 to 16% of dogs and 12 to 18% of cats are likely to go missing at least once in five years. So let’s say the unthinkable happens and your dog somehow gets lost. What should you do? First, search your immediate area. Call your dog, but keep your voice calm and friendly. If you sound panicked or angry, you might scare your dog, driving them further away or driving them into hiding.
Staci Lemke 00:02:20 Check spots you frequent with your dog, such as parks or walking paths. Bring treats and your dog’s favorite toy to help encourage them to come to you. If your dog is shy or fearful, be sure to check under porches, bushes, cars, sheds, or other sheltered spots where your dog might hide. If they’re scared, ask your neighbors if they’ve seen your dog when, where, and how long ago. If you have friends or family close by, ask them to help you look and be sure to arm them with treats and a toy. Also, put up flyers. Be sure to use a clear photo of your dog. You want the clearest, cleanest, most simple picture that shows people what your dog looks like. Now is not the time to post that cute Christmas photo of your dog wearing antlers. Make sure to provide a description of your dog, including their name, any identifying marks, and something about their temperament. Are they friendly and likely to approach a stranger, or are they skittish and likely to run away if they were wearing a collar or a harness? Include that in your description also include whether they are microchipped or not, and don’t forget to post your contact information if your dog is microchipped.
Staci Lemke 00:03:35 Contact the chip company. Many of them have 24 over seven recovery helplines to assist people in finding lost pets. Once you’ve done that, contact your local authorities, animal control, veterinarians, shelters and pet supply stores in your neighborhood. You can file a report with the shelters so that if someone turns your dog in, the shelter can contact you, and it also helps to give them one of your flyers or a picture of your dog. Check back with them regularly in case someone finds your dog and takes them in next host on social media apps such as Powerboost, Fido Alert and Petco Love. Likewise, post on community pages such as Facebook and Nextdoor. Again, be sure to include a current photo and description. Go back and check them regularly for any updates or comments on your posts. And once you’ve done all of this, keep your phone handy and check your email often. Don’t give up. Research studies found that between 86 and 97% of lost dogs in the US are found. Other information from that research reveals that 15% of total pet owners experience a pet loss.
Staci Lemke 00:04:50 15% of canines were reunited with their owners because of an identification tag. 16% of lost pets eventually returned to their owners on their own, and 90% of the time, your pet will be found in your area in less than 12 hours. However, wouldn’t it be better if your dog never got lost in the first place? With that in mind, let’s talk about some things that you can do to prevent your dog from going missing in the first place. Do you dream of off leash trips to the park or the beach with your dog? But you don’t dare let your dog off leash because you never know if they’ll come back? You’d love to go hiking and exploring with your dog off leash, but whenever you’ve tried this in the past, your dog runs off after wildlife. If you’ve ever felt embarrassed or frustrated when your dog joyfully runs away from you instead of coming when called, then you’re going to want to check out our new online course. Wait, come back rapid fire recall. Teaching your dog to come when called is one of the most important lessons in dog training.
Staci Lemke 00:05:56 A reliable recall allows your dog off leash freedom and you peace of mind that they’ll come back when you call. A reliable recall can even save your dog’s life. If you’re looking to improve your dog’s recall, then you need this course. Discover the tips, tricks and games used by professionals to ensure your dog comes racing back to you every time you call, simply go to manors for mutts.com backslash recall and sign up today. But before we get into how to keep your dog from getting lost, let’s talk about some reasons why dogs may go missing. Instincts. Dogs have inherited instincts to explore, hunt, and roam. These instincts can lead them to wander off if they aren’t managed with regular exercise and mental stimulation. Fear dogs can be startled by loud noises like fireworks, thunder, or gunfire. They can also become fearful in new environments, such as when on vacation or after a move. Separation anxiety. Dogs may get nervous and run away if you leave the house. Curiosity dogs may be curious about new surroundings and wander off to explore boredom.
Staci Lemke 00:07:09 Dogs may wander off looking for something to do. Ray drive dogs may chase after wildlife like squirrels or the neighbor’s cats. Finding a mate. If your dogs are not spayed or neutered, they may roam off to find a potential mate in the neighborhood, and stress or illness can sometimes cause dogs to run away. All right, now back to prevention. First, make sure your yard is secure. Regularly inspect your fences, gates, and any potential escape points to make sure there are no holes, gaps, or loose boards that your dog could squeeze through. Make sure gates close securely and lock. If you have a jumper or a climber, check out a product called Coyote Roller. These are long metal bars that attach to the top of the fence and prevent your dog from getting the foothold needed to get over the fence. When a dog tries to use it to jump the fence, it rolls like a rolling pin, dropping them back into the yard. And it was originally designed to keep coyotes out, but they’re equally effective for keeping your beloved dog in if you have a digger.
Staci Lemke 00:08:14 There are products that you can stake into the ground next to the fence that extend your fence below ground. Next, make sure your dog has a properly fitted collar with identification. This is probably the simplest thing to do. My dogs ID tags have their name, their home phone number, the city and their microchip number, and some people choose to add their home address, but I don’t. Just because I don’t really want people to know where I live unless I actually tell them. Be sure to update your information if you move. Also, when you walk your dog, make sure that you have a well-fitted collar or harness that the dog can’t slip out of and a leash sturdy enough not to break. Another easy thing to do is microchip your dog. All of my animals are microchipped, both dogs and cats, and even though my cats are strictly indoor cats, you never know when somebody’s going to try to sneak out. A microchip is a small electronic chip enclosed in a glass cylinder about the size of a grain of rice, and each microchip has a unique identification number.
Staci Lemke 00:09:18 The chip is activated by a scanner passed over the area, which emits radio waves. The chip shows the identification number of your dog, which is connected to your information in the system of whatever chip you choose. And the two chips that I’m most familiar with are Avid and Home Again. The chip is usually inserted underneath the skin between the shoulder blades of the pet, similar to getting any kind of injection or vaccine. And finally, train your dog to very important behaviors to teach your dog or to wait at front doors or gates when they open and to teach them a strong recall and a recall just means come when called. I teach these two behaviors to almost all of my clients. The wait means do not move forward or do not cross the threshold until you’re invited to. In other words, just because a door opens doesn’t mean you’re going to be invited to go through it. When I’m teaching my clients dogs to come when called, I have them practice allowing the dog to go out the front door, of course on a long line for safety, and then calling them back into the house.
Staci Lemke 00:10:25 This way you have already practiced for the scenario when they’ve gotten out. Okay, so I hope that you will never need to use this information, but it is here for you just in case. Thanks for joining me. See you next time. Thank you for taking the time to help your dog become a more well-mannered mutt. If you have questions about today’s episode, or if there’s a topic you’d like to learn more about, come connect with me on Facebook and Instagram @mannersformutts. You can also find any links and resources mentioned in the show over at mannersformutts.com if you enjoyed this podcast, head over to iTunes and leave us a review. I’d love to hear what’s been helpful for you and your canine friends. See you next time!
