Mabel the Rescue Dog

3 min read (Articles narrated by Mabel)

I’m sure every dog parent’s worst nightmare is losing their dog. Most dogs don’t want to get lost or run away, but sometimes we just get easily distracted or confused. So, it’s important for our humans to take extra precautions to keep us safe. Here are some tips on how to prevent your dog from getting lost.

Get Them Microchipped

The best way to keep your dog safe is to have an updated microchip for them. Oftentimes, they will already be microchipped when you adopt them from a shelter or rescue, but if not, a vet can microchip them for you.

It sounds scary, but the microchip just goes into the surface of their skin. If they get lost, it can be scanned to reveal you or the rescue’s information. It’s good to have just in case they’re not wearing identification tags when they get lost.

Have a Collar and Tags

Even if you walk your dog using a harness, you should still keep a collar and tags on them whenever they’re outside. Make sure their tags have your current information just in case they get lost. That way, if anyone finds your lost dog, they can easily contact you through the information on their tags.

Keep Them on a Leash

A lot of people prefer to keep their dog off-leash if they’re well-behaved, but this is risky, especially in public areas. Even if your dog is trained really well, there’s always a chance that they could run off or get distracted. Not only could they get lost, but they could accidentally run into the road. Therefore, it’s always safer to keep your dog on a leash outside just in case.

Always Supervise Them Outside

If you have a fenced-in yard or an invisible fence, you probably just let your dog outside to do their business. While it’s good that your dog is fenced in, you should still keep an eye on them while they’re out there.

As much as you trust your dog, there’s always a chance that something could go wrong. What if they dig under the fence, run through the invisible fence, or even get stolen while your back is turned? Therefore, it’s best to keep an eye on them while they’re outside.

Spay and Neuter

Believe it or not, spaying and neutering can actually prevent your dog from running away. You probably already know that spaying and neutering can greatly help with the overpopulation of dogs, but it can also benefit your dog’s behavioral habits too.

When male dogs aren’t neutered, they will often wander off in search of a female. For female dogs, it’s more likely that male dogs will approach them if they’re not spayed. Therefore, this could cause your female dog to run off in fear. Spaying and neutering prevents these issues, so as I’ve mentioned before, you should always spay or neuter your dog!

Secure Them in the Car

Sadly, a lot of dogs get lost because they aren’t secured in the car. If the window is down and you’re stopped at an intersection, there’s nothing preventing your dog from jumping out and chasing a squirrel. Plus, if you get into an accident, your dog will be safer and they won’t be able to run off in fear afterwards. As usual, your dog’s safety should always come first.

Work on Training

The better trained your dog is, the less likely they’ll run away. “Sit”, “Stay”, and “Come” are all commands that your dog should know. That way, if they get distracted and try to run off, you can use those commands to bring them back to you. An untrained dog is more likely to just go off and do their own thing.

When it comes to your dog, it’s always better to be safe than sorry. A lot of lost dogs never find their way home if they’re missing tags and a microchip. So, make sure you do everything you can to prevent your dog from wandering away from you.

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