Do you want to know how to react if your dog is lost? This is an unpleasant and stressful situation that can, unfortunately, happen to any dog owner. A moment of inattention, a thoughtlessness, an open door… and your dog can run away quickly and easily, without you having time to react. In such a situation, it is necessary to react correctly and conduct an efficient and organized search. We explain to you what is the right behavior to adopt and what are preventive solutions, such as the GPS collar, to put in place to avoid losing your dog.
- I lost my dog: what you should do
Notify the competent bodies and authorities
- The first thing to do if you lose your dog is to notify the relevant organizations and authorities. We strongly advise you to notify:
- the city pound;
- the SPA in your geographical area (which is sometimes in the same place as the pound);
- nearby veterinarians;
- the I-CAD (Identification of Domestic Carnivores), if your dog is identified, on 08 10 77 87 78;
- the gendarmerie or the city police station, to identify you as the owner if someone brought your dog to the authorities.
- Circulate information
Once you have notified the organizations concerned (SPA, pound, gendarmerie or police, veterinarian, and I-CAD) you can share the information as much as possible. This is a fairly time-consuming method, but it can pay off! To circulate information, you can distribute posters in the nearest businesses, at veterinarians, in commercial areas, and on public signs. You have the right to go door to door, asking neighbors if they have seen your dog or heard of a stray dog. If you wish, you can pay to publish classified ads in local newspapers. We especially recommend that you post on social networks (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.). This is a good way to circulate information quickly and efficiently. There are also specialized sites, such as Pet Alert or Sos lost dog.
Preventive solutions to avoid losing your dog
Use a GPS Collar
It is important to put a collar with your contact details around your dog’s neck (a medallion collar, for example). It is a simple but effective way to be contacted in the event of a runaway or loss of your dog. But today there are much more advanced collars: GPS collars. Like the mini format and very well-designed model from Weenect for example, this type of collar incorporates a GPS tracking system.
A collar is connected to an application on your mobile, which allows you to locate your animal, even if it has run away. This is a great way to avoid losing your dog! With a GPS tracker for dogs you know where your companion is, wherever he is, without any distance limit. Indeed, this type of device covers 99% of the territory (it even works in the forest) and can be used throughout Europe. It has a good battery, is discreet, small, and usually very light (around 25g), so your dog won’t be bothered and noticed. You can be alerted when your dog goes beyond a perimeter you have predefined in the settings or when he approaches a dangerous road or intersection.
You even have the activity history option which allows you to view your pet’s activity, playtime, rest time, and daily distance traveled! On the other hand, check the level of waves and do not leave your dog all day with this type of equipment, we do not know what continuous waves can do to the health of our companions. But for occasional use and only when your dog may have to run away (walking, vacations, etc) it is a great tool!
Recall training your dog
It is essential to train your dog to recall to avoid a situation of this kind. With a good reminder, you’re much more likely to have your dog return to the sound of your voice. Your reminder must be regularly reviewed, so that the order is always effective, especially in a situation of escape or loss of the animal. By using the GPS collar mentioned above, you can also train your dog to recall and perfect his education. This tracker has a “call” function, a vibrator, or a ringtone that replaces the clicker in the education of your dog to recall. It’s a great way to teach your dog to come home quickly, and therefore avoid losing your adorable companion as much as possible. Much easier to find than a lost cat that would do as it pleases!
Losing his dog is a very scary moment. But you should not panic: it is possible to find it by adopting the right behavior. The appropriate reactions are to notify all the authorities and competent bodies and to circulate the information as much as possible around you and on social networks. To avoid this kind of situation as much as possible, you can train your dog to recall and you can bring a GPS tracker, which allows you to find your dog, even if he is lost!
