Behaviour
There are three common reasons why dogs become lost, the opportunist escape, wanderlust and panic.
Opportunist escape
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This is where a garden gate or front door gets left open. Some dogs will stay safely within their normal boundaries, but others will naturally be tempted to go out and explore. They simply follow their noses and go on a journey.
Wanderlust
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Often seen in intact males, these dogs look to escape and will go to drastic measures to find their freedom. Dogs like this can dig, climb, bolt out of doors, wriggle through gaps in fences and even pull away from their owners in an attempt to break out.
Panic
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This occurs in a situation where the dog’s “flight” response kicks in which makes the dog run in pure panic. Nervous dogs can be prone to responding in this way as well as dogs that are scared by loud noises such as gun shots or fireworks. Dogs that have suffered a traumatic event such as a car accident are also likely to take off and behave in a similar way. This is the group of dogs that can be the hardest to catch as they tend to travel great distances and move at speed, they will avoid all human contact.
Distance Travelled
​The temperament of each individual dog will influence the distance that they travel.
Friendly (gregarious) dogs – These over friendly dogs who love people are likely to be picked up quite close to home. This will depend on where they became lost and how many people are around the area at the time.
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Aloof dogs – These dogs are wary of strangers and tend to avoid human contact at first. Aloof dogs will often accept contact over time if they can overcome their fear issues and when they begin to get hungry. These dogs can travel great distances, but an experienced rescuer will be able to entice and lure them with food if they have the correct knowledge, skills and the patience.
Fearful (xenophobic) dogs - These dogs are officially known as xenophobic dogs which mean they have a fear of anything that is perceived as foreign or strange. Fearful dogs will travel much greater distances and have a higher risk of being hit by cars. These dogs are most likely to run from humans and even their owners in panic. There is an increased chance of needing to use humane baited traps to capture a fearful dog.
Circumstances
The circumstances surrounding the disappearance of a lost dog will also help determine how far the pet will travel and how long they will remain missing. A dog that follows a scent trail out of the open garden gate and is meandering around a nearby field is less likely to travel as far as the dog who bolted out the front door in the middle of a thunderstorm.
Weather – Extreme weather will play a part in how far the lost dog will travel. A dog lost on a sunny spring evening could travel much further than a dog that goes missing during a snowstorm.
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Terrain – A dog that escapes in a residential area will not travel as far as one who escapes in the middle of the countryside. Fences and walls create physical barriers which stop dogs travelling in straight lines, a similar situation can happen in the countryside with stock fencing, cliffs and even the shoreline influencing the direction of travel but is more prevalent in urban areas.
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Appearance – The appearance of the dog can influence how quickly they get picked up. A people friendly Labrador wandering down the road is more likely to be approached than a loose bully type breed. Little dogs tend to look vulnerable and are much easier physically to pick up and carry than a giant dog that you might struggle to fit in the car. Pure breed dogs are also more likely to get picked up more quickly than a scruffy looking mixed breed dog that appears quite street savvy and is travelling with purpose.
Population – The population density of the area the dog was lost in will play a part in how far they travel. If an area has a higher number of people the dog’s chances of being found will increase, a dog lost in a town will not travel as far as a dog lost in the middle of open farmland.
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Human Behaviour - Human behaviour can also create problems when dogs go missing. Owners can often delay asking for help and will choose to take a “wait and see” approach to the situation, believing that their dog will return home when they are ready. This can occasionally happen, but the reality is that hours of valuable search time are wasted and there are only so many hours of light in a day to search effectively. Another common issue is when the owner develops tunnel vision, this can considerably lengthen the recovery time. The owner can be adamant they know what happened to their dog and will focus on the wrong theories. Failing to listen when help and advice is offered can prolong the search considerably.