It slips out of the harness, a door gets opened, a firecracker goes off. It happens in a second, and what you do in the next hour has the biggest influence on how it ends.
The first sixty minutes
- Stay where you lost them. The instinct is to run off, but many dogs go back to the spot where they got separated from you. If you're not there, you lose the best chance of finding them.
- Don't run after them. A frightened dog sees being chased as a threat and speeds up. If you spot them, crouch down, turn sideways and call them in a cheerful voice, or even walk away a little: lots of dogs will follow someone who is leaving.
- Leave something with your scent. An item of clothing you've worn and a bowl of water at the exact spot where you lost them. It's one of the most effective things you can do and almost nobody does it.
- Send someone home. If you're nearby, have someone wait at the front door. Many dogs turn up on their own.
- Ask around right there. Neighbours, bars, shops, people walking other dogs. People who live in the area notice things.
Who should you let know?
- Local Police in your town, who are usually the ones who pick up stray animals.
- Guardia Civil if it's a rural area or a road.
- Animal shelters and municipal dog pounds in your area and the neighbouring ones.
- Nearby veterinary clinics. If someone finds your dog, that's where they'll take them to have the chip read.
- Local Facebook groups for lost animals. They work surprisingly well. Post a clear photo, the area and the time.
The three things to have in place beforehand
1. The microchip, with up-to-date details
In Spain, microchipping is mandatory for dogs, and it's what proves the animal is yours. But it has a huge flaw that almost everyone overlooks: if you changed your phone number or address and didn't update it in the registry, the chip is useless. Whoever scans it will call a number that no longer exists.
Check today that your details are correct in your region's animal identification registry. It's free and takes five minutes.
2. An ID tag with your phone number
The microchip can only be read by a vet or the police, using a scanner. Anyone can read a tag. A neighbour who comes across your dog in the street can call you straight away, without moving from where they are.
Put your mobile number on it, and nothing else. There's no need for the dog's name or your address.
3. A tracker, knowing which kind to choose
It's worth understanding the difference here, because they're sold as if they were the same thing, and they're not:
- Bluetooth trackers (the AirTag type). They don't have GPS: they're picked up through the phones of other people passing nearby. In the city they work very well because there are phones everywhere. In the countryside, with nobody around, they won't give a signal.
- GPS trackers with a SIM card. They have their own connection and show the location anywhere with mobile coverage. They cost more and usually come with a monthly fee, but they're the ones to get if you head out into the hills.
If your dog lives a city life, a Bluetooth tracker is more than enough. If you go out into the countryside, the mountains or the beach, you need GPS.
Preventing what can be prevented
- Check the harness. Many escapes happen with a loose harness that the dog backs out of. It should fit snugly: two fingers between the strap and the body, no more.
- Firecrackers and storms. They're the number one cause of dogs running off. On those days, always use a lead, keep the windows closed and set up a quiet spot inside the house.
- Keep a recent photo of your dog, full body and in good light, saved on your phone. The day you need it, you won't be in the right frame of mind to go looking for one.
In our identification and trackers section you'll find engravable tags and collars compatible with trackers, and in dog walking, escape-proof harnesses with double adjustment.