Where, oh where has my little dog gone? No loving dog owner ever wants to have to sing this song! Losing a pet is a terrible experience that no one should ever have to go through. Let’s take a look at a few different ways to make sure that your precious pet never gets lost.
ID Tags are a Must
Though it should go without saying, your pet should always have an ID tag hanging from his or her collar. On this tag, it should always have your contact information, such as your phone number. In regards to the collar itself, you need to make certain that it fits snugly on your dog’s neck, so it won’t accidentally fall off.
Microchip Your Pet
Getting your dog microchipped is a simple and affordable way to ensure that if your pet ever gets out of your reach, that you have a good chance of getting him or her back. Although it is not a tracking device, if your dog ever ends up at your local animal shelter, they will be able to read the identifier inside of the chip and they will know exactly who the pet belongs to.
The size of a grain of rice, the microchip is injected underneath the loose skin of your dog’s shoulder blades. Your dog will only feel a small pinch, much like a vaccination and then won’t ever even know it is there.
Secure Your Yard
Do you have an adequate fence surrounding your property? Is it of proper height? Is it sturdy enough to contain your dogs? Even if you have a physical fence, some dogs are able to jump over it or dig underneath it. What do you do if this is the case? Here is an alternative for you.
An electric dog fence is a great way to keep your dogs contained on your property, whether you have an existing fence or not. Your dog won’t be able to approach your dog fence wire without receiving a static correction. Through proper training, your dogs will learn to respect the boundaries you have set for them.
Get Your Pet Spayed or Neutered
According to the ASPCA, only about 10% of the pets that come into animal shelters have been spayed or neutered. This is no unlikely coincidence. Pets that are searching for a mate are more likely to wander off or try to escape their boundaries. As a side note, lost dogs are more likely to breed, creating more animals without a home.
Train Your Dog
Dogs who have been through obedience training are more likely to stay at home where they belong. Better behaved, a trained dog is more likely to stop on command, and come back to you when you call. In addition to this, when you and your dog participate in obedience training, he or she isn’t as likely to become bored and wander off looking for entertainment. Simply training your dog to ‘come’, ‘sit’ and ‘stay’ is an invaluable asset for keeping your dog from running away.
Invest in a Good Leash
When it comes to your dog’s safety, don’t take a chance. If you are taking your dog outdoors where there is not a physical or electric dog fence present, your dog should be on a good, strong leash. Why is this important? Let’s say that your dog sees a squirrel or a rabbit, and he just can’t resist. He could bolt out into traffic and get run over by a car, or just run away from you.
Keep an Eye Out
The best way to make sure that your pet isn’t going to become lost is logically to keep your eyes on them at all times. If your dog is outdoors in your fenced yard, don’t just assume that your dog is going to stay there. For example, how do you know for certain that a gate wasn’t left open, or that your dog hasn’t somehow breached the fence?
Or, let’s say that you decide to stop for a cup of coffee on your morning walk. Perhaps you decide that your dog should be just fine if you tie him up to a metal post outside. If you are not really watching, how do you know that someone won’t steal your dog, or that your dog won’t chew through their leash? The bottom line is this. If your eyes aren’t on your dog, there is no way to know for sure that he or she is safe.