OT: - Any advice on finding a lost dog? | The Boneyard

OT: Any advice on finding a lost dog?

87Xfer

87Xfer

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Ugh. We were visitng people in a pretty remote area - mostly large working ranches, and our 1 year old dog, who is not a wanderer, dissapeared. It's been about 10 hours. We've done the obvious stuff - contacted all nearby neighbors, posted on social media groups, contacted the local humane societies and animal control. She was wearing a reflective collar with ID and our phone numbers.

The whole family is pretty distraught. She's a really sweet dog, and I'm sure she's scared to death. And it's been getting down into the 20s here overnight. I gave up searching about an hour after dark. But I plan to head back out there at first light. Anyone have any tips on searchnig for a lost dog in a rural area?

I realize this is a long shot, but worth a try. I'd really like to see our dog again.
 
87Xfer said:
Ugh. We were visitng people in a pretty remote area - mostly large working ranches, and our 1 year old dog, who is not a wanderer, dissapeared. It's been about 10 hours. We've done the obvious stuff - contacted all nearby neighbors, posted on social media groups, contacted the local humane societies and animal control. She was wearing a reflective collar with ID and our phone numbers.

The whole family is pretty distraught. She's a really sweet dog, and I'm sure she's scared to death. And it's been getting down into the 20s here overnight. I gave up searching about an hour after dark. But I plan to head back out there at first light. Anyone have any tips on searchnig for a lost dog in a rural area?

I realize this is a long shot, but worth a try. I'd really like to see our dog again.
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I have no idea if this works, but I've heard of people leaving their dirty laundry or anything with as much of your sent on it as possible outside in hopes they can catch a whiff of it.
 
If you're not using your car leave 2 doors open and maybe your dog will show up and jump in. It's the only familiar Item that will be outside while you're in. Another animal might also but I'd take the chance. Leave some scent or blanket. Then check every hour or 2. Good luck.
 
I feel for you. I was watching my son's 1 year old lab and he ran out the slider when I went out to grill (it was dark already) and he ran into the woods. My heart was pounding I was so worried but I went inside and got some of his food and put it on the deck and within a minute he came back.

Might be too late for this but put some of his food out. Similar to the scent of your clothes, dogs will smell food.

Also, is there a dog in the house you're visiting? If there is then if your dog knows that dog then take that dog with you on your search. Dogs attract other dogs.

Good luck.
 
Jimdish255 said:
If you're not using your car leave 2 doors open and maybe your dog will show up and jump in. It's the only familiar Item that will be outside while you're in. Another animal might also but I'd take the chance. Leave some scent or blanket. Then check every hour or 2. Good luck.
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If you're not comfortable leaving your car open put some blankets next to it with a worn t shirt or similar.
 
.-.
87Xfer said:
Ugh. We were visitng people in a pretty remote area - mostly large working ranches, and our 1 year old dog, who is not a wanderer, dissapeared. It's been about 10 hours. We've done the obvious stuff - contacted all nearby neighbors, posted on social media groups, contacted the local humane societies and animal control. She was wearing a reflective collar with ID and our phone numbers.

The whole family is pretty distraught. She's a really sweet dog, and I'm sure she's scared to death. And it's been getting down into the 20s here overnight. I gave up searching about an hour after dark. But I plan to head back out there at first light. Anyone have any tips on searchnig for a lost dog in a rural area?

I realize this is a long shot, but worth a try. I'd really like to see our dog again.
Expand ...
Yep, post on every social media site possible and call the cops. Fliers all over the area with your contact info.

I'm so sorry this happened to you and hoping she turns up.
 
superjohn said:
Yep, post on every social media site possible and call the cops. Fliers all over the area with your contact info.

I'm so sorry this happened to you and hoping she turns up.
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Thanks, will do all of the above. This hurts.

Senna1.jpg
 
So sorry. They’re part of the family.
I don’t know how far you are from your house but we had a dog about 10 years ago breach from the doggy day care and 2 days later showed up at our house that was 2 miles away. Don’t know how but there she was.
 
HooperScooper said:
I feel for you. I was watching my son's 1 year old lab and he ran out the slider when I went out to grill (it was dark already) and he ran into the woods. My heart was pounding I was so worried but I went inside and got some of his food and put it on the deck and within a minute he came back.

Might be too late for this but put some of his food out. Similar to the scent of your clothes, dogs will smell food.

Also, is there a dog in the house you're visiting? If there is then if your dog knows that dog then take that dog with you on your search. Dogs attract other dogs.

Good luck.
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Good advice. She was playing with 2 other dogs at the house, one of them was her sister.

We left my vehicle there with the windows cracked open - she basically goes everywhere in it, so she should smell it if she's nearby. We also brought one of her dog beds and left it under the truck, along with some of her food (i expect some other critter will get that pretty fast).
 
FourRings said:
So sorry. They’re part of the family.
I don’t know how far you are from your house but we had a dog about 10 years ago breach from the doggy day care and 2 days later showed up at our house that was 2 miles away. Don’t know how but there she was.
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pj said:
Post on NextDoor.com.
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done. Problem is the place we were at is 20ish miles from home. I tried setting a location on Nextdoor for the post, but it looks like it still got published only to our neighborhood.
 
Jimdish255 said:
If you're not comfortable leaving your car open put some blankets next to it with a worn t shirt or similar.
Expand ...
We came as close as we could. She went missing about 20 miles from where we live, but we shuttled my car (that the dog rides in everywhere) and left it there with the windows cracked, and her bed and food underneath. I didn't leave the windows open open, because i had racoon tracks on my drivers seat a few weeks ago, and bear paw prints on the windows a week or so before that.
 
.-.
Crinkle a potato chip bag...
 
87Xfer said:
done. Problem is the place we were at is 20ish miles from home. I tried setting a location on Nextdoor for the post, but it looks like it still got published only to our neighborhood.
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Maybe the people you were visiting can post too?
 
87Xfer said:
Ugh. We were visitng people in a pretty remote area - mostly large working ranches, and our 1 year old dog, who is not a wanderer, dissapeared. It's been about 10 hours. We've done the obvious stuff - contacted all nearby neighbors, posted on social media groups, contacted the local humane societies and animal control. She was wearing a reflective collar with ID and our phone numbers.

The whole family is pretty distraught. She's a really sweet dog, and I'm sure she's scared to death. And it's been getting down into the 20s here overnight. I gave up searching about an hour after dark. But I plan to head back out there at first light. Anyone have any tips on searchnig for a lost dog in a rural area?

I realize this is a long shot, but worth a try. I'd really like to see our dog again.
Expand ...

When you get home he'll be sitting on your porch. It'll be a Disney movie in a few years. Good luck.

Not helpful for this incident, but I got one of these for my cat. She wanders.

Amazon product ASIN B09NN435JD
 
Thanks to everyone who helped us here.

My wife stayed overnight at the place where the dog went missing. Apparently she went out and called for the dog a few times during the night. Around 4:30 she jumped in our truck, which has a ridiculous LED light bar (thanks to the previous owner) and started driving around back roads again. Just before 5 she saw the dog dart across the road about 3/4 of a mile from where she was last seen, and finally managed to track her down. The dog was obviously freaked out, and tried to run away from my wife, but she finally got her into the vehicle. She's kinda banged up, but they just got home about 30 minutes ago.

Phew. Thanksgiving has been saved.

Thanks again!
 
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.-.
87Xfer said:
Thanks to everyone who helped us here.

My wife stayed overnight at the place where the dog went missing. Apparently she went out and called for the dog a few times during the night. Around 4:30 she jumped in our truck, whis has a ridiculous LED light bar (thanks to the previous owner) and started driving around back roads again. Just before 5 she saw the dog dart across the road about 3/4 of a mile from where she was last seen, and finally manged to track her down. The dog was obviously freaked out, and tried to run away from my wife, but she finally got her into the vehicle. She's kinda banged up, but they just go home about 30 minutes ago.

Phew. Thanks again!
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A Thanksgiving miracle! Are there tracker locators that can pair up with your phone so this never happens again?
 
87Xfer said:
Thanks to everyone who helped us here.

My wife stayed overnight at the place where the dog went missing. Apparently she went out and called for the dog a few times during the night. Around 4:30 she jumped in our truck, whis has a ridiculous LED light bar (thanks to the previous owner) and started driving around back roads again. Just before 5 she saw the dog dart across the road about 3/4 of a mile from where she was last seen, and finally manged to track her down. The dog was obviously freaked out, and tried to run away from my wife, but she finally got her into the vehicle. She's kinda banged up, but they just go home about 30 minutes ago.

Phew. Thanks again!
Expand ...
I (and every dog owner on this board) woke up this morning hoping to see this!
 
87Xfer said:
Thanks to everyone who helped us here.

My wife stayed overnight at the place where the dog went missing. Apparently she went out and called for the dog a few times during the night. Around 4:30 she jumped in our truck, whis has a ridiculous LED light bar (thanks to the previous owner) and started driving around back roads again. Just before 5 she saw the dog dart across the road about 3/4 of a mile from where she was last seen, and finally manged to track her down. The dog was obviously freaked out, and tried to run away from my wife, but she finally got her into the vehicle. She's kinda banged up, but they just go home about 30 minutes ago.

Phew. Thanksgiving has been saved.

Thanks again!
Expand ...
Happy Jimmy Fallon GIF by The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
 
jibsey said:
A Thanksgiving miracle! Are there tracker locators that can pair up with your phone so this never happens again?
Expand ...
When we had her spayed, the vet asked casually if I wanted them to chip her. The idea just sounded kind of weird and invasive so my immediate, hasty reaction was no thanks. I'll be looking into it today for sure.
 
87Xfer said:
Thanks to everyone who helped us here.

My wife stayed overnight at the place where the dog went missing. Apparently she went out and called for the dog a few times during the night. Around 4:30 she jumped in our truck, whis has a ridiculous LED light bar (thanks to the previous owner) and started driving around back roads again. Just before 5 she saw the dog dart across the road about 3/4 of a mile from where she was last seen, and finally manged to track her down. The dog was obviously freaked out, and tried to run away from my wife, but she finally got her into the vehicle. She's kinda banged up, but they just go home about 30 minutes ago.

Phew. Thanksgiving has been saved.

Thanks again!
Expand ...

I was waiting half the night for this post. Glad to hear the good news! Get that dog some turkey and mashed potatoes
 
.-.
87Xfer said:
Ugh. We were visitng people in a pretty remote area - mostly large working ranches, and our 1 year old dog, who is not a wanderer, dissapeared. It's been about 10 hours. We've done the obvious stuff - contacted all nearby neighbors, posted on social media groups, contacted the local humane societies and animal control. She was wearing a reflective collar with ID and our phone numbers.

The whole family is pretty distraught. She's a really sweet dog, and I'm sure she's scared to death. And it's been getting down into the 20s here overnight. I gave up searching about an hour after dark. But I plan to head back out there at first light. Anyone have any tips on searchnig for a lost dog in a rural area?

I realize this is a long shot, but worth a try. I'd really like to see our dog again.
Expand ...

I can't imagine. As Dove said the dog treats box shake or bag shake. I feel awful for you and your pup praying for a miracle for all!!!
 
DaveHuskiesFan said:
Look into an Apple Air Tag. $25 and you can attach it to her collar. Well worth it!
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^This
They are amazing.

Short of that many people microchip their dogs, but its not a locator GPS, its an ID tag that Vets and pounds can read if a dog ever gets lost and turned in. There are not GPS locators small enough to put under dogs skin, you cant "find" a chipped dog, you can have a chipped dog returned to you though if found by someone. Taping an Airtag to a collar is a great idea. I had them in all my luggage this summer when British Airways screwed us, and a 3rd of it was in London a 3rd of it was in Glasgow and a 3rd was in NYC. I knew more about my luggage than the fricking Airline who lost it did.
 
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jibsey said:
A Thanksgiving miracle! Are there tracker locators that can pair up with your phone so this never happens again?
Expand ...
YES!! we had a much less stressful event when our dog took off after a deer for about 15 min, but nonetheless scary. We got a Jiobit. It clips onto the collar, is the size of a matchbook and has real time locating when u need it. Uses both cell and Gps and it’s only $10/ mo. We don’t walk our dog in the woods without it. The real time locating is key. Jiobit.com
 
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