Dogs are able to hone in on one specific smell (a familiar person, animal, pee marked tree) and follow it for long distances. They rely on overlapping circles of familiar scents to find their way back home, much like we can rely on cell phone pings on towers to find specific locations.
Dogs are well known for their ability to backtrack to a beloved home — or person. Most animal behavior experts attribute their navigating ability largely to a hypersensitive sense of smell.
Among the key findings: Only 15 percent of pet guardians reported a lost dog or cat in the past five years. Percentages of lost dogs versus lost cats were nearly identical: 14 percent for dogs and 15 percent for cats. 93 percent of dogs and 75 percent of cats reported lost were returned safely to their homes.
If it is an outgoing dog, it will be looking for other dogs and for other humans who are friendly and likely to comfort, feed and shelter it. Neighbors' yards and public parks are spots it will like. If it is a shy or older pet and not trusting of strangers, it will hide. Bushes and under cars are good spots.
Even a small dog or a cat can cover a distance of 24 miles in just 8 hours--that is, if he runs non-stop for 3mph. So, take out your map, consider how fast and how long your dog may have run away, and then narrow down the radius of the areas where you'd be conducting your search.
How far a dog smells depends on conditions such as wind and type of scent, but they have been reported to smell objects and people over 12 miles away. Dogs' olfactory systems work so well that they can be trained to pick up odors as little as a pictogram which is a trillionth of a gram.
Many dogs, even dogs that normally are not fearful at home, become terrified when they become lost. While some dogs will ultimately calm down and then approach people, other dogs will continue to run from everyone, including their owners! One of the worst things that you can do is CALL a stray, loose, or panicked dog.
When a dog loses a companion, two- or four-legged, he grieves and reacts to the changes in his life. Dogs alter their behavior when they mourn, much like people do: They may become depressed and listless. They may have a decreased appetite and decline to play.
Ask friends or family to help you search. Bring your dog's favorite treats or toy with you to lure them out of hiding. Place your dirty clothes or your dog's bedding outside to attract your dog using familiar scents.
If they've only been gone for minutes, chances are they're still close by. Open yard gates and put food out to entice them back. Use positive recall words to lure them, like “peanut butter.” Or if your dog loves car rides, start your car and gun the engine a little.
If a dog is scared or shy, Kathy Pobloskie of Lost Dogs of America says that you can often find them on hiking trails, slightly off the beaten path (they may have sore feet from running), and they will often hide in areas like: Houses that back onto wooded areas or parks. Tall grass or marshy areas. Cemeteries.
A small and active dog can travel for between 5 and 6 hours a day, which equals between 12.5 and 15 miles a day. Larger dogs may be able to walk further, but older and small dogs likely can walk less.
If you find a lost dog
Take the dog to a vet so it can be scanned for a microchip if the dog has no tag or you can't contact the owner. Otherwise, contact us. The information on the microchip will help us contact the owner and return the dog to them.
Statistics indicate that most lost pets are recovered within 30 days. But the time varies greatly depending on whether it is a cat or a dog. Most people will notice a stray dog and even try to help it. Lost cats are inclined to be furtive and they are harder to spot.
There are times when a dog runs away from home. If you live in a rural area with forests, then there is a fair chance that the dog has run into the forest. Your dog is after all the latest in the long line of tamed wild animals, with a residual surviving instinct inside. It can survive in the wild.
Although those are some of the dog breeds that have the best sense of hearing, all dogs can hear very well—much better than any human can. Regardless of the dog breed they belong to, most dogs can hear sounds anywhere between 80 feet and one mile away.
The most important rule to understand when the lost dog you are looking for is sighted, is not to chase. By chasing the dog – even a dog you know – you scare it away from familiar ground. A lost dog is in flight mode – if they don't respond and come to your voice, chasing the dog will only make matters worse.
Always approach stray animals slowly and cautiously while speaking in a calm, gentle voice. You can also use food to coax a frightened animal into approaching you. Try not the scare or chase the animal when around traffic as this will sometimes result in the animal running into traffic and becoming injured.
The most common causes of pets going missing or running away are natural instincts, which can drown out any training, including your pet's sex drive, fear or anxiety caused by an unexpected event, hunting instincts, inquisitiveness and longing.
Psychologist Julie Axelrod has pointed out that the loss of a dog is so painful because owners aren't just losing the pet. It could mean the loss of a source of unconditional love, a primary companion who provides security and comfort, and maybe even a protégé that's been mentored like a child.
However, the loss of that companion can be devastating and traumatic. Humans develop a lasting attachment with their pets, which breaks at the loss of the pet. Regardless of the manner of death, a pet owner may perceive the death as traumatic and experience distress or exhibit posttraumatic stress symptoms.
It's not unusual for dogs to grieve the loss of a person they've bonded with who is no longer present. While they might not understand the full extent of human absence, dogs do understand the emotional feeling of missing someone who's no longer a part of their daily lives.
An outgoing dog will actively seek out other humans and make it well aware that they are lost, hungry, and anxious to return home.
The good news is, when a pet runs away, they seldom go very far – which makes it more likely to reunite with them. According to a 2012 study, 59% of lost cats and 20% of lost dogs return home on their own after being lost. But there are always additional steps you can take to help ensure a happy reunion.