If you have an especially skittish or reactive pet that you are having a difficult time catching in spite of sightings, please consider contacting me.
I often recommend that when making social media posts about a lost skittish dog that people don’t share the pet’s name. When searching for a skittish pet, do not call the dog. You read that right. Do not call the dog.
Do not call a lost skittish animal by name
To not call is the hardest aspect of teaching lost animal owners and their helpers how to behave. I have received a lot of angry and disbelieving responses. To help people understand, I came up with a way to explain: “Pretend you’re sitting in a dark, crowded theater. There are thousands of other people in the room. All of a sudden the spotlight is on you and you alone and someone is calling your name and asking you to come up to the stage. You know how that makes you want to shrink back in your seat and cover your face and disappear? That’s how a lost, skittish animal feels when you call its name. Exposed and vulnerable.”
Pet brain vs. wild animal brain
A lost, skittish pet has more of a wild animal brain than a pet brain. Just as bears and moose aren’t sitting in the woods waiting for us nor will they come when we call, this is the mindset of lost pet.
Hiding = Less vulnerable = Safer
When scared pets away from home hear their name called, it may make them feel exposed and vulnerable.
Lure a skittish pet with treats and get low
Have tons of treats with you and a leash at the ready, but no sudden movements when you see the dog. The best way to increase the odds of a skittish dog coming to you is to get down on the ground.
- Stop, drop and lie down. It might sound silly, but dogs find the behavior odd. When you don’t give chase and instead lie down and lie still, a dog will get curious and will often come back to see if you are okay or to see what you are doing.
- Stop, drop, and curl into a ball. This is also curious behavior to a dog. Because you are not moving and your hands are closely wrapped around your head, they see you as less of a threat and will come to check you out. This gives them a chance to sniff you and realize it’s you, their owner, or to allow you to pet them and hold their collar.
- Sit down with your back or side to the dog and wait. Again, dogs are thrown off by this odd behavior and will become curious and approach. The other advantage is that by sitting down with your side or back to them, you appear less threatening and they are more likely to approach. If you have good treats, place a few around you to draw them near.
Run away from the dog
What? Run away from the dog? That’s right. Some dogs love a good chase. Instead of you chasing them, let them chase you. Even if the dog is not up for a good chase, he may be curious about your odd behavior and follow along until you can get him into a building or car or someplace where it is easier to corral him.
Ask the dog to get in the car
Open a car door and ask the dog if she wants to go for a ride. It almost seems too simple and silly to be true, but many dogs have been fooled into hopping into a car because they were invited to go for a ride. It makes sense, especially if the dog has learned to associate the car with good things, for example a dog park.