If they get lost

· A squeaky toy, or the sound of their food bin or treat bag
· Car keys and an open car door - many dogs load themselves out of pure habit
· Another familiar dog from the household, on leash
· A calm, happy, everyday voice - not the panicked shout, which sounds like trouble

· Search close first - most lost dogs are found near where they went missing, not miles away
· Leave a gate or door open and put their bed plus a worn, unwashed shirt of yours outside; scent draws dogs back
· Set a food and water station at the last-seen spot and check it - not once, repeatedly
· Recruit people to stay put at spread-out fixed points rather than everyone roaming and pushing the dog outward
· Search again at dawn and dusk, when it's quiet - a hiding dog often moves only then

· Call the microchip company and report them missing - confirm the number on file is yours TODAY
· File a lost report with every shelter and animal control within a wide radius, and go IN PERSON - descriptions get mismatched, and staff turnover means your phone report may not travel
· Return to the shelters in person every day or two; hold periods are short and mistakes happen
· Post to local lost-pet networks, Nextdoor, neighborhood groups, and lost-pet services; ask vets and emergency clinics to note it
· Check 'found dog' posts as actively as you post your own

· ONE huge clear photo, the word LOST, and your phone number in numbers big enough to read from a car
· Add 'DO NOT CHASE - call this number' if your dog is shy; well-meaning strangers push frightened dogs further away
· Post at intersections facing traffic, at eye level from a car window, plus vets, feed stores, parks and schools
· Be careful with reward amounts - naming a large sum attracts scams; 'reward' alone is enough

A truly frightened dog may need a humane trap and a feeding station on a predictable schedule rather than any human approach at all - approaching can reset weeks of progress. Some areas have volunteer lost-dog networks and scent-tracking teams; ask your shelter who they recommend.

· Microchip registered to your CURRENT number - the single highest-value thing on this page
· A physical ID tag with a phone number; a stranger with a phone is faster than any scanner
· A GPS tracker on the collar if they're an escape artist
· Fix the actual escape route - most escapes are gates left ajar, not fences (see fences_and_dog_parks)
· A reliable recall and a long line while it's still cooking (see the recall guide)

Vet check for injuries, ticks, dehydration and pad damage even if they look fine, keep them leashed in their own yard for a few days, and expect a period of clinginess or exhaustion. Then update that microchip registration.