Many dogs go missing from their own home while an owner is on vacation and a pet sitter is looking after the family home and pets.   The pet sitter may be a seasoned professional who is charging a fee, or she may be a family member or friend who is doing a favor for the owner.

Owners may presume that their normally friendly, obedient dog will act exactly the same way with the pet sitter as he does with them.  This is a recipe for disaster that we see play out time and time again.  Whether the pet sitter is a stranger or not, the dog will be in a heightened state of awareness with the change in schedule. Somebody new is coming into the house, perhaps through a different door, perhaps struggling with a key, and their beloved owner is nowhere to be seen.   Even though it may seem a minor change, it may still be very stressful for the dog.  Countless times we have heard the story about the normally friendly dog who slipped out on the pet sitter or who was let outside to go potty without a leash and bolted in fear.

How can you prevent this from happening?  Set  your dog and your pet sitter up for success.  Here are a couple of simple tips to prevent your dog from going missing:

1. Under no circumstances allow the pet sitter to take your dog out without a properly fitted collar or harness and leash. Visible id tags should be securely attached to the collar.  Double leashing (one to the collar and one to the harness) is even better.
2. Add an extra layer of security.  Ask the pet sitter to enter the house through a door that comes through the garage or a fenced yard.  That way if your dog does slip out, he will still be in an enclosed area.
3. Check your fences and gates before you leave. Ask your pet sitter to make sure that the gates are always securely latched. Also ask her to monitor the condition of the fence regularly.

Prepare a “Just in Case” Packet

Make sure your dog’s microchip is up to date.  Leave clear full-body photos of your dog, his vet records, his licensing information and his microchip brand and number in an easily accessible spot for the pet sitter in case they have to quickly file a missing dog report.  Make sure the pet sitter understands that they have the authority to act quickly on your behalf. They should not be embarrassed or afraid to ask for help. Time is of the essence and getting that report filed quickly is really important. We have heard too many horror stories about pet sitters who delayed filing a report because they were embarrassed that they had lost the dog and they didn’t want their reputation to suffer.

Your pet is relying on YOU to keep him safe until you are home from vacation. Check references and credentials for pet sitters carefully.  Make phone calls and ask tough questions.  Don’t ask a  family member,  friend or teenager to pet sit if you think they won’t take the responsibility seriously.   Make sure you take every precaution when using a pet sitter.  Nobody wants to see a vacation end in tragedy. But if your dog does go missing, we are here to help!

Create your free lost dog flyers and social media links from our partner, Pet FBI at www.petfbi.org.  One of our volunteers will post it to the Lost Dogs Illinois Facebook Page.

The neighbor’s husky pup can’t get past the buried landscape timber. An hour later he made his way into my yard. He found a spot where there was no barrier. 

by Barb McDonald, LDOW Volunteer and Founder of the Lost/found Husky Dogs Facebook page

Here are some ways, many cheap and still very effective ways to keep your dog from getting through the fence and getting lost. Dogs that jump over, climb over, dig under, squeeze through gaps, etc. Some ways can also help keep coyotes and other animals out of the fence as well. Most of these will work for almost any type of fence

DOGS THAT CLIMB THE FENCE– Use Coyote Rollers or Lean Ins. Coyote rollers are mounted at the top along the entire fence and they literally roll so it’s impossible for your dog to get a grip on it to get over the fence. If you’re a handy man you can make these out of PVC pipe for cheaper. Just make sure they ROLL and that you place them high enough to keep your dogs paw from getting stuck but low enough to keep your dogs head/body from getting stuck. These can be installed on pretty much any type of fence and also work great for keeping coyotes and other animals out of your fence and keeping your animals safe.Lean ins are simple and cheap. You can use welded/chicken wire for these. It’s just angled fencing attached to the top. This makes it impossible for a climbing dog to keep a grip to get over the fence. Both of these methods are used at wolf hybrid rescues to keep them from escaping. Both can also be taken down and moved if you ever move to a new place.

DOGS THAT DIG UNDER THE FENCE– Use a “no dig” fencing/L-footer system. For no digging wire/fence you can use welded wire literally dug into the ground and buried at a slant but enough left out to connect it to the fence. If you have to cut the wire for any reason be sure to keep the sharp edges facing where the dog won’t come in contact with them or you can dull the ends of them. You can also use welded wire and lay it directly on the ground along the fencing still connecting it to your fence though like an “L.” To secure it to the ground use lawn staples. You can always use concrete to make a no dig “fence” or footer too. Same concept but with concrete.

DOGS THAT SQUEEZE THROUGH SMALL SPACES– If your dog is squeezing through small spaces such as the spaces in a picket fence you can do a couple things. You can buy a puppy bumper. They connect to the collar so as long as the collar fits correctly the bumper won’t fall off. Do not make your dog wear these 24/7 & make sure there is nothing around your dog can get caught on. Use them when letting the dog out to potty or just to run around and play for bit. They are light weight but your dog may need time to get used to it because it may be a little “uncomfortable” at first but it’s better than having a lost dog. Besides a puppy bumper you can use a Bar Harness, these are just a few dollars more but will work better with wider gaps and probably more comfortable. They make these for large dogs as well.If you don’t want to use a puppy bumper/bar harness you can always line the fence with a mesh wire, they do sell some mesh wire that is hardly even noticeable. If you don’t like the look of wire you can use bamboo rolls to line the fence with.

DOGS THAT DASH THROUGH THE FENCE DOOR WHEN OPENING IT– Simple and quick fix. Make an Airlock Fence Entrance. This is just a small extra fenced area/barrier attached to your fence entrance (inside the fence or outside the fence) so if your dog dashes out it prevents him from running off by keeping him inside the entrance. Making it easier on you to keep your dog in the yard. Also great for people that have kids that don’t always pay attention when opening the gate and causing the dog to get loose. If your fence doesn’t stay latched, buy new latches and/or locks. If you’re worried about your dog dashing through the front door and it’s a small dog a wrap around baby gate as an “airlock entrance” may do the trick for inside the home.

FENCE JUMPERS– Remove anything the dog can use to help them jump over the fence… tables, dog house, etc. Install an extension either to make the fence taller by using welded wire or to put a flat barrier to block them from getting past where they jump.

*If your dog is just squeezing under a chain link fence that has gaps under it or just isn’t secured to the ground… you can buy some lawn anchor/staples for $15-$25 and secure the bottom of the fence to the ground.

*If your fence has a hole patch it up or if it’s possible remove that section of the fence and replace it with a new section.

OTHER TOOLS: 

COYOTE ROLLERS- http://www.coyoteroller.com/

LEAN IN’S- http://www.inetdesign.com/wolfdunn/containment/barbarms.html

NO DIG FENCING/L-FOOTER-http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/resources/tips/digging_animals_fence.html

PUPPY BUMPER- http://puppybumpers.net/shop.htm (might be cheaper on Amazon)

BAR HARNESS- http://www.dog-gamutt.com/store/

AIRLOCK- (Can’t seem to find anything online explaining how to make one of these for a fence. If you look at the picture I’m sure you’ll be able to make it just fine.)

LAWN STAPLES- http://www.radiofence.com/pet-fence-staples/?zmam=59663114&zmas=1&zmac=4&zmap=SS-100&gclid=CNHNmLPg4LwCFa9FMgodlyAAJg

http://www.amazon.com/A-M-Leonard-Anchor-staples-Pack/dp/B001FA9SBG

HEIGHT EXTENSION FOR FENCE JUMPERS- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYcqVBA0WKA

With the weather becoming blustery, dog owners might consider the following safety tips:

1. Keep ID tags on your dog at all times along with a properly fitted collar – personal ID tag, Rabies/license tag, and microchip tag.  If your dog gets lost, you want the person who finds your dog to be able to easily contact or find you.
2. Make sure your dog is microchipped and the chip is registered to you.  A microchip is a tiny chip implanted between your dog’s shoulder blades; it can be scanned and used to identify your dog.  Don’t forget to update your contact information with the microchip registry if you move.  (If you adopted your dog from an animal shelter, he/she may be already microchipped. Check your adoption records or ask your veterinarian to scan your dog for a microchip.)
3. Use a sturdy, traditional leash; slip the loop of the leash over your right thumb and close your fingers tightly around the loop.  Use left hand to hold the leash further down.  This will keep the dog on your left and if she/she tries to bolt, you have both hands on the leash.
4. When children are walking the dog, they should not only be old enough to understand the safety precautions, but also physically strong enough to handle the dog if he/she attempts to bolt.
5. If you let your dog out into a fenced yard, check the fence on a routine basis to make sure it is secure.  Winds and snow can damage your fence.
6. Be extra cautious with shy/timid dogs.  When walking them, make sure they have a properly fitted martingale collar along with a harness; either hook the harness and collar together with one leash or leash separately.  Both collar and harness should have ID tags.

Bundle up and enjoy!

Many dogs are lost from auto accidents.  Sometimes this is unavoidable and if it happens to you, please read our article on how to quickly and safely recover these dogs.

Tips For Dogs That Are Lost From Somewhere Other Than Home

But prevention and good safety are key to keeping a dog safe while you are driving. We would like to share this very educational infographic with you on Safe Driving With Dogs.

fullcoverageautoinsurances.com/safe-driving-with-dogs/

Thank you to Andrew from Teens4Safety.com for suggesting this to us!