Lost 11 yo GSD, advice please!! - Page 1

Two weeks ago today a young man lost his GSD, he was working locally and had left the car door open.  Two weeks ago yesterday I spotted the dog walking right by my house, I was coming home so I opened my car door and invited him for a ride.  He took one look at me and kept going!  I got in touch w/his owner and he camped out on my lawn. No more sightings until I spotted him sunning himself in a gravel parking lot not far from my house, I tried to keep him in view until his owner could arrive but he got up and started to walk away, I called out to him from some distance and he just kept walking into the woods.  His owner arrived and did see him, he also called out to him and the dog never slowed down and slipped away from him.  This was last Monday, he has not been spotted since.  I just got off the phone w/the young man and he is very discouraged.  At this point he feels like he is looking for a needle in a haystack.  Any advice I can pass along?  It has been a long time and the last time I spotted the dog, he appeared stiff when he got up.  I am really worried as hunting season begins soon, as a matter of fact bow hunting I believe is now started.  This dog is blk/tan w/long legs about 100#.

Hi Zookeeper,

If the dog will not come to his owner, that is a poor prognosticator of the dog being returned. The dog is unlikely then to come to a stranger if he will not come when called by his owner.

Do you have a local animal control who has large traps that food can be put in? Has any kind of signage been placed on trees, fences, street signs? Did the man camp out with smelly food where the dog was last seen? Is there a newspaper and if so, have ads been placed? I would be putting out large wire cage traps if at all possible, but be prepared to be catching other dogs and critters as well. Also, drive around the area, for five miles in all directions and see where there are other dogs present. Often dogs will migrate to where other dogs live.

Good luck.

Hi Hodie!,

Yes posters have been put up, and he did have a trap placed on my lawn for days.  I advised him to set up feeding stations and monitor them, I also told him to set out some of his worn clothing and to keep laying tracks in the area.  He has offered a reward but the dog won't go to anyone.  It seems that everytime he is spotted he moves on to a different area, but not too far.  The poor kid, I feel so bad for him and his dog!  My dog escaped from a breeder once and was missing for 6 days, but when she spotted my husband she came to him!  I did the tracks but no feeding stations, her feet were blistered from running but she gained 3 pounds!!  He has a friend w/SAR dog, but the dog is cadavar certified, I'm not sure he can track?

Zukeeper,

A properly training SAR dog ignores animal scents - so that would n't help him. He can try a pet tracker. Not sure where you are located - but you might try karenthepi.com and she can suggest resources. Finding the dog doesn't seem to be as much the problem as capturing him. :( Shannon

I had a bitch many years ago who had a vestibular disorder, suddenly became very confused and would not come when called. She escaped and did not return home for three (3) days. I know that it is a very remote possiblity that this occurred with this dog, but I thought I should bring it up.

Good Luck,

Bob-O

It took me 5 weeks this past winter to find my Shepherd Duke, after a truck accident.  I hit black Ice slid into a tree, then rolled down a bank and Duke was thrown thru the back window.  I was certain that he'd been injured so badly he died, but went thru the motions of putting up signs and putting an add in the paper.  a week later he was sighted.  We established ONE feeding station in a sheltered area, and I placed used bedding from my other dogs in the same place.  I went every day. We got a good idea of the area he ranged, set a trap and so forth.   The good news was after 5 weeks I actually did get to the same place he was and he came to me.  Duke was a feral dog for a couple years prior to my owning him, and had reverted.  Thanks to the people who kept eyes out for him He's now home laying @ my feet.  So tell your friend not to give up... but to be there every day even when if feels hopeless.  On a number of occasions we found that he'd located my tracks and followed me after I searched for him. 

<<On a number of occasions we found that he'd located my tracks and followed me after I searched for him.  >>

That is heartbreaking to think you might not have found him after that, but he was looking for you too.. I love these dogs.

Where is this at??

The dog won't come to it's owner who left a car door open?

Why wouldn't the dog come to it's owner?

The dog will go to the right person, they do it all the time.   Some little ole lady with a sugar cookie. 

Just post some flyer's and a reward, alert local animal control and vet's.

There's something strange about a dog who won't come to it's owner.   It might have a good reason.

JMO.

Was the dog in good health when he was lost? From the description of his behaviour I would think maybe he is not in good health at this point...just a thought....jh