Many pet owners enjoy taking their pet
dogs out with them on an adventure, whether it’s the beach, the park, or hiking
up the mountains. Some canine breeds just love to explore and chase after small
creatures, that it sometimes can’t be avoided for them to get lost in the
woods. If you ever find yourself missing a dog in a dense forest or the woods,
“distressing” couldn’t even begin to describe just thinking about your pet
being out there with no food or shelter. So, how to find a lost dog in the
woods?
First Things, First
Before you begin to brave the woods,
there are steps you must take to increase your chances of finding your lost dog. For
starters, you need to spread word to as many people as possible. This way,
you’ll have more people on the lookout for a missing dog of your pet’s
description. In case he turns up anywhere, you’ll be alerted immediately.
Spreading information starts with creating and putting up a missing pet flyer
with your missing pet’s description and your contact details.
Report your missing pet to PawMaw.com, where you can also generate a missing pet flyer in minutes. You can print the flyer and ask family and friends to put them up in strategic locations. You can also spread information by posting on lost and found sites, putting an ad in the local newspaper, and reporting your lost pet to vets and animal shelters in the area.
Best
Way to Find a Lost Dog in the Woods
Before we go any further, you also have
to be aware about how a dog copes when it gets lost, particularly in places
like the woods where various threats abound.
Canines who are suddenly separated
from their owners would sooner or later switch to what is referred to as
“survival mode.” This is a flight mechanism wherein your dog would revert to
its primal instincts, seemingly forget about domestic life, and focus on
nothing else but food, safety, and shelter. Some dogs would switch to survival
mode instantly, while others might take weeks.
What does this mean? There’s a
possibility that upon getting lost, your dog won’t instantly head towards your
voice when he hears you call. If he’s in survival mode, your dog would also be
wary of people and run immediately if spotted. Survival mode, however, isn’t a
permanent state. When you find him, it might take time but your dog will
eventually recognize you.
So, how to find a lost dog in the
woods, especially if he might be on survival mode?
Get a piece of clothing with your scent.
In the area where your dog was last
seen, leave an item of clothing with your scent on it. The longer it’s been
worn, the stronger the scent would be and the better chance of your dog finding
his way to it. You can also leave his
crate in the same location and leave some water as well. Check back every day
and you just might be lucky enough to find your missing pet waiting for you.
Try luring him with his favorite food.
It’s not the best idea to leave food overnight in the same location where your dog was last seen as it can attract stray animals or predators. But on days when you can spare a few hours, try going to the spot, sit, and wait with your pet’s favorite food to see if you can lure him. Hopefully, he will detect the scent and follow it back to you. Avoid calling out his name as he might be frightened if he’s in survival mode.
Set up traps.
Safe and harm-free traps would be
helpful in capturing a lost dog in the woods. See if you can borrow a trap from
a nearby shelter or animal rescue center and set it up on the location where
your pet was last seen. Check the traps frequently to see if you caught another
animal or if it’s your missing dog! If unsuccessful after a week or two, try
setting up in another location.
Use bloodhounds.
Finding a lost dog in the woods could
be a job for a professional. You may consider hiring a pet detective to track
your dog’s whereabouts if the situation seems desperate. These pet detectives
typically use trained bloodhounds to follow the scent of and locate a missing
dog. See if there are pet detectives in your area.
Get his favorite things ready.
In the event that you receive a report
of a sighting, take your dog’s favorite toys and other familiar items like his
blanket or his crate and leave them in a safe, secure corner within that area. Leave
a bowl of water too in case your dog is thirsty. Check back every few hours or
the next day to see if he comes.
Stay calm when you see your dog.
When you see your dog, but he doesn’t
immediately run to meet you, you must remember to stay calm. Don’t try to move
towards him, but rather, wait for him to come to you. This could take time, so
you need to be patient. Don’t make
sudden movements. Sit on the ground with food or his favorite toys and wait for
him to register and process the scents of home. And when he finally recognizes
you, it would definitely be the most wonderful reunion.
We know
it’s difficult to just sit and wait by the phone while you worry about what
your dog may be facing alone out in the woods. But the sooner you take action,
the higher the chance of getting reunited with your lost pet. Don’t forget to
notify your neighbors about your missing pet. The more people helping you look,
the better chance of your pet returning home safe and sound. Report your lost dog to PawMaw.com and spread the word to the growing community. Finally,
remember these useful tips for finding a lost dog in the woods.
