How to Find a Lost Dog

Our dog is a very important part of our family, which is why we need to know how to act if it gets distracted and gets lost, or runs off for whatever reason, usually during heat cycles.

By following these guidelines, we'll have a better chance of finding a lost dog, though prevention is always the best option. That's why we'll also share some very useful, simple tips.

Why Do Dogs Run Off or Get Lost?

Dogs are very curious, impulsive animals — sometimes they simply pick up a scent trail and get distracted trying to follow it. Other times, their instincts take over once heat cycles arrive.

These are the main reasons a dog runs away from home, or simply gets lost while out on a walk with its family.

The Heat Cycle

Both males and females go through a lot during heat cycles, which is why we always recommend sterilization — besides preventing many illnesses, it spares dogs from the discomfort of going through heat.

A female can have two or three heat cycles a year, during which she gives off a very distinctive scent that strongly attracts male dogs.

A male will try to escape from home to find the female's scent, follow her trail, locate her, and try to mate. Females will do the same, feeling a strong urge to reproduce toward the end of their heat cycle.

Getting Distracted by Smells and Games

A dog's most developed sense is its sense of smell, which is why they spend the day sniffing things and trying to follow scent trails from other dogs, animals, or people.

It's not unusual to see them follow a food trail on the ground either, especially if we're walking through towns or cities. Add to this how much they love playing with anything, like a stick, and you have the perfect recipe for getting distracted.

Owners are also partly to blame, since we assume our dog is paying attention to us and will know how to find us... which often doesn't happen. Especially if we're walking in new places, mountains, hills....

Hunting Instinct

It's not the first time a dog has taken off faster than lightning, trying to chase something it saw move, from a simple mouse to a cat, a bird, or anything else that catches its attention.

Sometimes its hunting instinct is so strong that, even if we call it, it won't listen, so it could very likely end up lost or disoriented once it decides to stop chasing its prey.

Running Away From Its Family

Dogs are faithful, loyal, but also intelligent. Someone who doesn't take care of their dog, doesn't take it for walks, doesn't worry about it, doesn't feed it properly, or even keeps it tied to a chain all day.... doesn't deserve to have a dog.

A dog with above-average intelligence that's being mistreated will, sooner or later, try to find a better home, running away if needed.

My Dog Is Lost. What Do I Do?

Yes, we know you're nervous and about to enter "panic mode," but don't lose your calm, because then you won't know how to find a lost dog.

We'll explain everything you need to do, step by step, to increase your chances of getting your dog back safe and sound. Remember time is essential — finding our dog within the first forty-eight hours is our goal.

Notify the Authorities

It might seem obvious, but we often overlook the most important step: notifying the police that our dog is lost. This way, if they see it, they'll know it's lost and can notify us.

Similarly, if someone finds a lost dog and notifies the police, pound, or animal shelter, they'll be able to contact us — especially if our dog has its mandatory microchip.

Use New Technology

There are trackers that can tell us exactly where our dog is if it gets lost. These are small GPS locators that attach perfectly to the dog's collar, causing no harm at all.

These GPS locators will give us our dog's exact location, so it'll be a matter of very little time to reach where it is and bring it back home.

Tractive is possibly the leading company in the dog GPS sector, offering several high-quality GPS locator models for dogs at affordable prices, which has made them the go-to option in this field.

They can be recharged with a simple charger, so you don't need to keep buying and replacing batteries. They're waterproof, so they won't break if it rains or the dog gets wet in a puddle, and they're also very, very small, weighing barely forty grams.

Don't Leave the Spot You're At

That's right — stay exactly where you are and call it by name loudly, shouting if needed, for as long as necessary.

When dogs get lost, they usually try to retrace their own steps, trying to go back the same way. They generally think of the last place they were together with you, and there's a good chance they'll pass by there.

If you can't stay in that spot for whatever reason (for example, searching for your dog in the area), leave someone the dog knows in that spot. Have them call the dog and wait right there.

Watch Your Home's Door

The same instinct we mentioned can make the dog run toward a place where it feels safe, meaning home. That's why many lost dogs follow familiar scents until they reach their house.

It's very important to have a friend or family member watch and wait at your front door, in case your lost dog comes back.

Ideally, both the person at the last known spot and the one at the front door (yes, waiting outside, not inside) should stay in touch by phone to notify each other if they spot the dog.

Search Around the Area Where It Got Lost

Leave one person at the last spot, another at your front door, and you, along with as many friends as you can gather, sweep the area where your dog got lost.

Call it by name in a friendly tone, as if you were about to give it a treat, food, and so on... This way, it'll feel drawn in if it hears you and will come when called. If it's a skittish dog, only have people it knows search for it, since it won't want to approach strangers.

Look for Other Dogs Nearby

It's possible the reason our dog got lost is that it's in heat, or curious about meeting another dog living relatively close by.

Go to areas with more dogs, like neighbors' houses, dog parks, nearby farms, and so on... in case your dog passed by and someone saw it (don't forget to ask around).

Tips to Prevent a Dog From Running Away or Getting Lost

Common sense is our best ally when it comes to preventing our dog from running away or getting lost by accident. With these simple tips, we'll not only prevent it from getting lost — we'll also be able to find it very easily if it does.

Get Your Dog Microchipped

At any vet clinic, they can microchip your dog — it's affordable and lasts a lifetime. In many countries, it's even completely mandatory.

The chip is placed via injection — it doesn't hurt, and it'll keep all your contact information on file for your dog in case it gets lost.

If someone finds the dog and scans it with a chip reader (something police, animal shelters, vets... do), they'll know who the dog belongs to and can return it.

Use a GPS Locator

If you're a hunter, or your dog is an expert escape artist, if dogs are in heat, or you simply want to prevent rather than regret.... use a GPS locator with your dog.

Its price is so low, you'll probably spend more on a single meal out with friends... So you have no excuse — be proactive and equip your dog with a GPS tracker so you can locate it in seconds if it gets lost.

Simply attach it to its leash/collar and that's it — your dog will be tracked at all times, and an alert will even pop up on your phone if it wanders too far (you can configure this option, setting the distance you consider appropriate).

We have a lot of experience finding lost dogs, and trust us, no dog with GPS has ever stayed lost, since with our phone, we can pinpoint its exact location.

Make Good Use of the Walking Leash

There are half-meter leashes and five-meter leashes — if your dog is in heat or you know it's likely to run off.... use a leash for walks and don't let it off-leash. It's the best way to prevent it from getting lost.

Above all, we stress, during heat season. Because dogs become very instinct-driven and literally run off looking for a mate. That means, if it's not sterilized, there could be puppies....

Dogs sterilized from a year old barely show these urges — those sterilized later in life will take a few years to fully clear testosterone and eliminate these urges.