What to do if you lose your dog
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Leave food, water and your dog’s bed or an article of your clothing at the point your dog escaped. There is a good chance they may return. If they escaped from home, make sure somebody stays at the house in case they come back.
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Get the word out. Use Facebook or other social media sites to raise awareness that your dog is missing and appeal for sightings.
Contact the GSPCA 01481 257261 to check if your dog has been picked up or handed in.
Instruct everyone who is helping to search for your dog not to call or chase them. This could prolong the search. Ask them to call you, the GSPCA or educate them on how to sit or lay down with no eye contact and gently try to lure the dog in.
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Make posters and flyers. Distribute in the area your dog was last seen. Check your phone regularly!
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Contact Search Dogs Guernsey on 07781 140602 or email searchdogsguernsey@gmail.com. We can help give support and advice on the best way to find your lost dog.
How to catch a panicked dog
What do you do if a dog has suffered from a traumatic event and is on the run? Some dogs are easily scared by fireworks, thunder, gun shots or other loud noises and become so terrified that they will not even respond to their owners voice. Most of these dogs will eventually calm down and once again approach people, but unfortunately other dogs will continue to run from absolutely everyone. These dogs remain in flight mode and are very difficult to catch if not approached in the correct way.
Do not call a stray or panicked dog!
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Calling the dog’s name is a common mistake that is made on nearly every search we see. If too many people have already tried to capture the dog by shouting their name it will become a trigger and the dog will automatically take flight in fear, this includes running away from their owner. People believe they are helping, they will call the dog, look directly at them and walk towards them, these actions come across as intimidating and frightening to a dog who is in the "fight or flight mode".
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Do not fixate on the dog or give them too much attention.
If they are in flight mode, they will become even more terrified and it will ruin your chances of catching them. Focus on getting their attention and use the food or a toy to entice them over to you.
Instead try to:
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Make a noise like a sneeze or clear your throat, this will alert the dog to your presence. Remember do not to be tempted to call their name.
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Look away, do not look directly at the dog. This will help calm them.
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Sit down or lay on the ground with your body turned slightly to the side so you are not directly facing the dog. Keep all movements slow.
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Pretend to eat food, have a bag of tasty (smelly) treats and pretend to eat them. Make rustling sounds with the packaging. Drop the odd piece of food on the floor and see if this captures the dog’s interest!
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Try playing with a toy, play a game of catch with a ball or throw a frisbee while ignoring the dog.
Understanding “Flight Mode” or
“Survival Mode”
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​Many lost dogs will already be in flight mode when they run off or will gradually shift to survival mode over time. Survival mode is where they use their natural instincts to survive and everything becomes a threat. The time it takes to switch over will be individual to each dog depending on their temperament, the amount of time they have been missing and the circumstances of their disappearance. It could happen instantly, or it could take days. These dogs will be incredibly stressed and very scared.
When a dog is scared, adrenaline and other hormones will be flowing and the olfactory section of their brain will close down. Panicked dogs will not always take food and they do not always recognise the scent of their owner; this will depend on the level of panic the dog is suffering.
Dogs in flight or survival mode will be too scared to come close to anyone, they will keep their distance and ignore calls. Every strange noise and person will be seen as a threat and they will often bolt if someone notices them. They are simply trying to survive by focusing on food, water, shelter and safety. The situation needs to be handled delicately so the capture can be successful.
Scent Article
You will be asked to provide a scent article for the dog handler if a tracking dog is going to be used to help find your pet. A scent article is something that smells like your pet such as a collar, a harness, a brush, a toy, a blanket or their bed. We can also collect scent from larger items like furniture by using a sterile gauze pad. To preserve the article we recommend you use gloves to handle it, the item should be sealed in a plastic zip lock freezer bag or a clean glass jar if it will fit. Larger items can be placed in an unscented plastic bag. This procedure is to avoid the article being contaminated during transport.
If you have multiple pets in your household it can be challenging to find something that only has the missing pet’s scent on it. It is important that the article is not contaminated with the scent of the other pets or the search dog could follow the wrong scent trail. Taking the time to find a good quality scent article that has not been in contact with other animals will increase the chances of a successful trail. There are some occasions where a mixed scent article can be used but it will depend on the area your pet went missing and if the other family pets have been in that area.