Everything you should do if your dog gets lost one day

Certainly, if your dog gets lost, it could be a situation you aren't prepared to face. However, the key in these difficult times is to remain calm and take action to recover your faithful friend as soon as possible.

From DOGKING we give you some tips on what to do if your dog gets lost one day and how to avoid facing this sad problem.

• First of all, it is vital that your dog is correctly identified with a microchip, and that we register it with the veterinary association of our community. This way, if your dog gets lost, it will be much easier to find the animal.

• Check the areas closest to your home and those you usually walk with your dog, but make sure that someone you know stays in exactly the same place where the animal got lost, in case it decides to go back there.

• If your dog has a microchip, go to the nearest shelters and leave your contact details so that they may contact you in case someone finds your dog and takes it there. This way you are ahead of the situation and it will be even easier for them to locate you. 

• Spread the word. It may seem silly, but the more people who know that you have lost your dog, the more people will be able to help in the search for it. Nowadays, social networks are a great loudspeaker that allows us to reach out to many people quickly. Use them to your advantage.

• Design and print flyers with recent, high-resolution pictures of your pet, clearly explaining its physical characteristics, the animal's name or any other information that you think may be useful to find your lost dog.

• If you suspect that your dog may have been stolen, don't hesitate to file a complaint at the police station (Local or National Police).

• Visit the veterinary clinics near the area where the dog got lost in case someone found it and decided to take it there. Remember that if you are unsuccessful in your search within the perimeter closest to your home, you should widen the search radius, as dogs may wander quite far away from home when they get lost.

However adventurous and curious your dog may be, there are a few things you can do to prevent it from getting lost. Remember that, even if your dog ends up coming home, you are putting the animal in danger with every "escape", as it could encounter multiple risky situations in the street.

• Good socialization in the first stage of your dog's life is essential for many reasons. One of them is to make your dog interact with other people, animals and stimuli in a calm manner. In this way, when it is an adult dog, the animal won't overreact to these situations during its walks outdoors, so it will be safer in all circumstances.

• Training is vital to get a well-behaved dog that listens to your signals. At DOGKING we work on training our Australian Cobberdogs from puppyhood, adapting the process to each stage of the animal's life, starting with a good socialization which helps us to build the foundations for future training. In this way, if the dog has been trained correctly, it will always come to your call even if there is a great stimulus in front of the animal.

• Don't let your dog walk off leash, you should always keep the animal on a leash if you are unsure about he situation. Ideally, your pet should be properly socialized behaving very well even in the presence of the most tempting of stimuli. But if this isn't possible and while you are trying your best to solve the problem, you should always walk your dog on a leash. In areas where your dog can explore because they are safe places, change to loose-leash walking and your dog will have more fun while you may rest assured that you won't lose your dog.

• Neutering your dog isn't only a great way to prevent dog overpopulation, abandonment and other associated problems, but it may also help to prevent your dog from getting lost. In many cases, a lost dog is a dog that has gone after a female dog in heat. By eliminating dog's excessive sexual appetite, we get rid of this risk.

• Microchipping your dog is compulsory. You can also attach a tag to the collar with your contact details on it. This second option is very convenient and may be quicker if your dog gets lost.

• Dog collar with GPS. This may be a good option, if we are dealing with a very restless dog that hasn't been properly socialized, you should use a dog collar with a GPS tracker so that your pet can be located at all times. It is important, however, that this type of collar remains comfortable for the animal.

• Last but not least, we remind you of the importance of maintaining a positive and stimulating environment for your dog at home. If your pet feels cared for, amused and entertained, it won't go out in the street so "hungry" for excitement and will be less likely to run away chasing something that catches its attention. Make sure your pet has constant exercise adapted to its age and characteristics, as well as toys and other stimuli that make its life more interesting.

If your dog gets lost, remember: try to calm your nerves and think of all the actions that may help you find the animal. Although this is no reason to be overconfident and we must always keep an eye on our dogs when out and about, we would like to finish with a positive fact and is that according to the ASPCA, 93% of lost dogs end up being found. And if your dog is slow to turn up, don't forget that some can survive for weeks or even months by finding food and water along the way. Whatever the case, don't give up and remember that, in your day-to-day life, there is a lot you can do to prevent your dog from getting lost.