Help, My Dog is missing

Help! My Dog is Missing.

It is indeed a terrifying and panicky feeling when you realize your dog is gone. A thousand horrible thoughts race through your mind. But instead of wringing your hands and worrying, spring (no pun intended) into action.

As soon as you know your dog is gone, search your neighborhood. Talk to the kids. Kids see things busy adults don’t see, like a scared dog hiding under a bush or a porch. Whistle and call your dog’s name. They may surprise you and come running.

If a thorough search of the neighborhood comes up empty, expand your search area. Is there a dumpster around? Springers are food hounds and may be attracted. How about a lake, pond or creek? Put up flyers all around your area. If you don’t have a photo of your dog, get one of another springer. Most people won’t notice the markings. Offer a reward.

Contact the local school and ask them to make an announcement. Springer’s are very friendly and may have followed a kid home. Take flyers to the local vets. If your dog should get hurt, someone may take him to a vet. Go to, do not call, the local animal control and humane society facility. The people who work at these places are kind people who love animals but they do not know a springer from beagle. Look at the dogs yourself. Leave your flyer with them. Keep going back to check.

Place a “lost dog” ad in the local paper and check for “found dog” ads. Keep looking. It may take several days, even weeks, for a dog to get found by someone.

Since dogs cannot communicate their name and address it is up to us ensure identification is possible. After all, how can he get back home if no one knows where he lives? Make sure your dog is micro-chipped AND has a collar and tags with his phone number and address. Micro-chips are better than tattoos. A full grown dog may not allow himself to be turned on his back to read his tattoo and hair may obscure it.

A microchip is about the size of a long grain of rice that is inserted in the loose skin at the base of the dog’s neck. It can be scanned to reveal a number that will lead to the owners name and address. Most vets and animal control facilities have scanners.

All of the above information is regarding recovery. Let’s talk about cause and prevention.

Why do dogs get lost? They may run away when they bolt through the door when it is opened and they perceive they are free at last. When our puppies are tiny babies we take them outside off leash to go to the bathroom. They become accustomed to staying right with us. They are less likely to bolt. Take your dog to a safe area and teach him to stay with you. Obedience classes teach you how to train your dog and many kennel clubs offer classes at very reasonable rates.

Your dog may jump or climb or dig under a fence. Often dogs escape from a yard due to boredom. If something next door looks more exciting, they will try to join the fun. Kids or another dog to play with or a bitch in heat could be very tempting. Do not leave your dogs outside when you are not at home. Springers want to be with people and if they become bored or lonely, they could become destructive or try to escape their fences.

Identification on your hunting dog is imperative. They may keep running after that bird or squirrel or rabbit and lose their way back to you. More than one bird dog has been lost when hunting.

Your dog could also be stolen. This is sinister. There are people called “bunchers” who actually steal dogs from their owner’s backyards and sell them to laboratories for research “by the bunch”. Large dogs, like Goldens or Labs, with deep chests are particularly desired. Some springers would fall into this category.

It is your responsibility to ensure your dog’s safety and this means confinement and control. Build your fences and runs at least 4 feet high, 5 feet is better. Can springers climb this? Sure. But they have to be pretty motivated. Make sure the bottoms of the fence are secure and there are no holes to squeeze through. Dogs who escape repeatedly can be deterred by electrical wire in front of or on top of fences. Dogs who dig under runs can be stopped by putting chicken wire under the fence.

Don’t leave dogs outside when you are not home. Keep an eye on your dogs at all times when they are outside. Make sure your dogs all have collars and ID when traveling. Put hooks on crates in vehicles and at dog shows to ensure they are not opened accidentally by a child or by the dog.

Keep your dog’s safety in mind at all times. Remember, your dog’s very life is depending on you.

Zippy Cooper

«LenLear Pointers