How to Get A Skittish Dog to Come to You | Petco Love Lost (2024)
By Andrea Quarracino | October 5, 2021
Just like people, every dog has a personality, and how that pet behaves in and interacts with the world can impact how they find their way back home when they've gotten lost. If you're looking for a shy, scared, lost dog, it helps to know where to look and how to best approach them so they aren't triggered to run away.
How Can I Tell if a Dog Is Skittish?
According to pet detective Kat Albrecht, alost, scared, or shy dog may avert their gaze, flatten their ears, tuck their tail, cower, or walk and run in a way that looks nervous and unsure.
If you've spotted a lost, scared dog, try to take a picture — even if you have to zoom in from a distance — then visit Petco Love Lost andreport the found dog. Posting the pet to our database will help connect the lost dog to avast network of lost and found petsacross the nation.
You'll also want to give your local animal shelter or animal control office a call to report the sighting. "Sometimes the best help you can provide is an accurate location, the direction of travel, and description of the lost pet so responders can quickly contain them," says Amy-Jo Sites, director forFort Wayne Animal Care & Control.
Try Albrecht's, using a crinkly food bag (like a potato chip packet) and a soft, tempting treat.This may work to lure the dog to you or help get them into your car.
Where To Find a Lost, Scared Dog
You'll likely notice a lost dog around the edges of your community, not too far from a source of food or water. If a dog is scared or shy, Kathy Pobloskie of Lost Dogs of America says that you can oftenfind them on hiking trails, slightly off the beaten path (they may have sore feet from running), and they will often hide in areas like:
Decks, old cars, old machinery, boats – especially with overgrown grass
Junkyards
Untidy yards and farmyards
Abandoned barns and sheds
Wooded areas behind restaurants, bars, grocery stores, and convenience stores – anywhere food is sold or served
Anywhere that outdoor cats are being fed
How To Catch a Dog That Ran Away
When you're helping to catch a lost dog, Sites says safety should always be the top priority. "While you may have a dog at home, it's important to understand that dogs are individuals, and how you handle your dog may not be how to handle the dog you come across."
Be sure to educate yourself onhow to catch a lost dog, including the warning signs of fear and aggression in dogs so that you can keep yourself safe. "Never push an animal beyond their threshold," says Sites. "It's okay to step back and call for help."
If you're out looking for a lost and scared dog, try not to go in a big group of people. "We understand that people want to help, but their efforts should be used for flyering, not searching," Pobloskie says. "Don't be the reason a dog is pressured out of their safe area, or worse yet, into traffic."
Setting a Humane Trap
Trapping a dog can be an effective way to catch a skittish or scared lost dog. But it's essential to fully understand how to trap a dog before you get started. "You want to select the proper location, set the trap up correctly, and bait it properly," says Danielle Robertson ofLost Pet Research & Recovery. "Most importantly, you want to make sure that you monitor the trap adequately."
You'll need a humane trap that is large enough that the dog's whole body can fit inside before the trap shuts. If the trap injures the dog or allows it to escape, it'll be harder for them to go into another trap again. According to Robertson, failure to take these critical steps can reduce the chances of catching a dog, and worst case could result in seriously injuring the pet. Get on-site assistance from an experienced animal rescuer if you're unsure how to proceed.
You can even fake like you're eating food on the-ground, and we suggest that you have a baggie of smelly treats like pieces of hotdog or liver treats. Sit down on the ground, or even lay flat on your back and pat your chest. Do anything other than staring straight at your dog while walking towards him!
You can even fake like you're eating food on the-ground, and we suggest that you have a baggie of smelly treats like pieces of hotdog or liver treats. Sit down on the ground, or even lay flat on your back and pat your chest. Do anything other than staring straight at your dog while walking towards him!
Slow your pace, and use a gentle tone. If you know the dog is shy or fearful, change your body language. Approach toward the side of the dog, not head on, and avoid direct eye contact. When you are close, begin to make your body “smaller.” Lower the shoulder that is closest to the dog.
Sit down in their presence, and avoid any sudden movements. Think about projecting calmness and steadiness as you would want anyone around you to do in a frightening situation. Be gentle in every interaction and move slowly. Avoid wildly waving your arms around as you talk.
A feeding station is one of the most important tools in the recovery a lost dog. To set up a food station, put stinky food on the ground that will help attract your lost dog back to a location where it was sighted. Smelly food, such as hot dogs, canned dog food, Vienna sausages, chicken... the smellier the better.
Dogs learn from positive association. The best way to help a shy or fearful dog gain confidence is to expose them to what frightens them at a low intensity. Pair this exposure with something positive, like a tasty treat.
Praise your dog calmly to help keep them relaxed if they are managing to stay settled despite a scary noise or sight. If your dog is worried at first, let them hide if they need to and give them lots of praise once they're calm. Always stay calm. The more worried you get, the more worried your dog is likely to get.
If they value food, find the tastiest treat they enjoy. If they enjoy praise, lavish it on them. If they like toys, provide a favorite toy and offer an intense play session as a reward for good behavior. Anxiety is deeply rooted, and it can take a lot of effort, and considerable rewards, to even try and overcome it.
Fear and anxiety can take a long time to resolve, and in some cases may never fully resolve (even if great progress is made). So it's important to understand that it may take a long time to help your pet, and that fearful dogs can still have a happy life. And it's important to celebrate the successes along the way.
First, many dogs become triggered into the “fight or flight” mode when they become separated from their owner/guardian. This means that the slightest movement or sound can trigger them to bolt and run in panic.
Often fear comes from a lack of exposure. Dogs are naturally afraid of new things, and dogs that grew up in a deprived environment might be jumpier around “normal” things like traffic cones or men in hats.
Live traps can be a great option for scared dogs. Stinky food and a t shirt or something that smells like you are great things to leave in the trap. Be sure to check it OFTEN especially in very hot or cold conditions. If you aren't able to check it often do not leave the trap set.
First, put out some water, food and a familiar-smelling blanket at the last place your dog was seen. The smells may attract it back. As you scan the neighborhood, call your dog's voice in a high and excited voice. Bring a leash, a toy and treats with you so you can quickly grab it when you do find it.
Patience is paramount – it may take days or even weeks for the dog to feel comfortable enough to approach you. Sit quietly nearby while they eat, gradually reducing the distance over time. Extend your hand slowly, allowing the dog to sniff you when they're ready. Avoid sudden movements to prevent startling them.
Food is a great motivator -- even if you don't have food, use a crinkly bag or the like -- pretend to eat the food (“Yummy-Yummy-Yummy”) and “drop” some on the ground and kneel pretend to be looking for it. Check out Pawstruck's uber-popular chews and treats.
Try throwing a few treats toward the dog and then turn sideways so as not to frighten him. Some dogs may come right up to you, happily accepting your help, while others might be frightened and run in the opposite direction.
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