Don’t be too hasty to dismiss a possible match! As shown below, a dog’s appearance can change over time It is always best to go in person to confirm.

Although we never say never, about 90% of the dogs that are still missing will fall into one of these three categories. A great deal will depend on the breed, appearance and personality of the dog.  Is he large or small? Shy or friendly?  Common-looking or distinctive-looking?

We often hear the comment “If my dog were missing, I would never give up.”  But, the average bystander doesn’t realize the enormous pressures that are placed on the lost dog owner. Today we are going to discuss some of the factors that make an owner give up the search before their dog is recovered.

We often get asked about tracking dog services for missing dogs.  Some of these services are good, some are not so good and some are out and out scams.

What many people do not consider is that there are actually some cases when you should NOT try to use a tracking dog to find a lost dog.  In these situations a tracking dog is not only a waste of money, but they can actually be detrimental to finding and catching the lost dog.

But now let’s get back to the dog that was picked up by a well-meaning passerby. The type of dog most likely to get picked up is the small, friendly dog lost in an urban or suburban area. They may get picked up within minutes of going missing, especially if they are seen near a busy road. Larger, friendly dogs may get picked up but are more likely to have travelled a farther distance before they do.

Rollie, your  friendly dog is missing. He was in the fenced backyard sniffing around and enjoying himself while you just stepped inside for a minute to get a cup of coffee. The phone rang and you were longer than you meant to be. When you came back out he was nowhere to be seen. Then you saw it, the side gate was open. It must have blown open in the wind last night! Rollie must have used the opportunity to check out the neighborhood.

Today we are going to talk about the larger friendly dog that was having a good time but ended up a long ways from home. (In particular, think hounds, labs, huskies, spaniels, setters, pointers, German shepherds and other working and sporting breeds). Whereas, shy lost dogs will often stay within a five mile radius of where they went missing, friendly lost dogs may travel in a linear fashion, zig zagging across the countryside.

Effectively coordinating your volunteers in the search for a lost dog is what we call harnessing the energy;.  When everybody is on the same team and pulling in the same direction, great things can happen.

In this final segment of our series for shelters and rescues, we will focus on some of the common mistakes that can lead to a prolonged search or unfortunately even the death of the missing dog.

Your team of volunteers has worked hard at flyering and posting signs and now you're getting some sightings! This article will cover what we have found to be the best method for handling these.

There are more lost dogs now than there have ever been.  Pet ownership is up and we, as a nation,  are saving more dogs, with many more people choosing adoption as their option. This is a great thing but it comes with its challenges.

One of our long-time volunteers coined a clever name for some of our missing dogs. She affectionately calls them “dandelions” because they are common and they all look alike. The problem with dandelions is that they can present a real challenge to their owner when they get lost.

Using a portable grill can be very helpful in catching a shy, scared dog. If you are getting sightings of your dog in a general area, we recommend setting up a feeding station. This can help to keep a lost &hellip; <a href="https://lostdogsofwisconsin.org/2015/02/08/luring-a-shy-lost-dog-using-a-portable-grill-2/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&rarr;</span></a></p>

Many dogs go missing from their own home while an owner is on vacation and a pet sitter is looking after the family home and pets.   The pet sitter may be a seasoned professional who is charging a fee, or &hellip; <a href="https://lostdogsofwisconsin.org/2018/08/22/hiring-a-petsitter-here-are-a-few-words-of-advice/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&rarr;</span></a></p>

In the early hours and days of the dog going missing; volunteers, friends and family may want to rush to a sighting location to “search”. This is almost always a bad idea. Their energy should be used for quickly flyering &hellip; <a href="https://lostdogsofwisconsin.org/2017/12/18/do-not-allow-family-friends-or-volunteers-to-search-for-your-dog-ask-them-to-flyer-instead/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&rarr;</span></a></p>

  We have seen some internet advice that suggests owners should create a sense of urgency about their missing dog by including a statement on the flyer that says the dog needs medicine for a serious medical condition (whether it &hellip; <a href="https://lostdogsofwisconsin.org/2016/10/05/crying-wolf-is-a-bad-idea-if-your-dog-is-missing/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&rarr;</span></a></p>

At Lost Dogs of Wisconsin, we never say never.  We have had too many surprises and unlikely scenarios play out in the last few years.  But, that being said, we have learned a few things from the thousands of successful &hellip; <a href="https://lostdogsofwisconsin.org/2013/05/12/probability-vs-possibility/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&rarr;</span></a></p>

When trying to match lost and found pets, be aware of potential problems when comparing photos. Lighting conditions, exposure, subject position, camera angles, the age of photos (of lost pets), the pet’s condition, the position of eyes or ears, etc. &hellip; <a href="https://lostdogsofwisconsin.org/2017/03/16/is-this-a-match-are-both-photos-of-the-same-dog-yes/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&rarr;</span></a></p>