This dog has gone missing and is living at large. It includes all dogs that remain at large and are not able to find their home or some circumstance is keeping them living on their own.  The most likely pets in this category are dogs that are displaced or have become lost in an area that is not their home territory. They may have recently moved to the area and are unfamiliar with it, may have been on vacation with their owners or are being taken care of by a caregiver and escaped. The other culprit can be the escape artist who tries to get out all the time to go on walkabout because it is fun and exciting.

Profile

Shy, skittish dogs lost in an unfamiliar place are more likely to end up in this situation but other personality types do find themselves in this scenario on occasion.

•       Dogs that are skittish, xenophobic, lacking in trust towards humans and the explorer types are the most likely to pursue this situation.
•       The most common situation is the pet that is displaced for one reason or another. This pet may have been on vacation with the owner, being boarded at a kennel, groomer or veterinarian’s office, staying with some one other than the pet owner, recently moved to a new home or myriad situations that result in the dog being in a place that is not its known home territory. The dog does not have a bonded interest in the location which causes him or her to wander and ultimately learn to survive on its own.
•       My experience is that dogs in the herding group are more likely to achieve survival on their own and may choose it more often than the other breeds. This may be because of the loyalty bond that these breeds tend to establish with their owner or family. Other breeds that more commonly choose this are the Jack Russell Terrier, Beagles, whippets, greyhounds and herding group crosses. Any dog can choose this but some breeds are more susceptible and successful at it.
•     Dogs that may have been feral or were captured when they were younger may also revert to this when the presented with an unknown situation.
•       Males, both neutered and unaltered seem more likely to stay at large and not seek human help than do females but it does happen with females but just not as often.
•       Environments with an open space, wooded area, farmlands or greenbelt access with creeks or drainage ditches seem to encourage this behavior.

Characteristics, Clues, Leads and Sightings

•   At first: maybe no sightings other than the first or second day. This is generally because the dog has traveled outside the pet owner’s search area quickly. Many pet owners believe that their pet would not cross busy streets or go near a shopping center or school, etc. Many times this is not true and the dog behaves out of character and travels farther than expected and into situation that would normally be considered unusual for him or her.
•     Later: Many sightings covering various locations; sometimes all in one area and sometimes they jump around over a large area. If the pet has settled into any kind of routine and territory, the sightings will be in a recognizable, patterned area. If no routine, the dog may continue to travel aimlessly.
•   Pet owner responds to sightings immediately and feels the pet is in the area and should be able to hear their calls but is not responding. This is perhaps the most surprising condition to many people but it is so common as to be considered the norm in this situation. As the dog continues in his quest for survival, most will stop responding to their domestic training and familiarity. They do not respond when called and may even bolt away from their owner if approached. This is very common even if the pet is a very friendly and bold dog. This behavior is what makes this situation so difficult in the recovery of the pet. Many times we humanely trap the pet and other times we use a magnet animal or pet to lure the pet in as well as a sundry of other techniques to achieve getting Fido home.
• Sightings may happen in the early morning and in the evening and rarely during the day. Many pets in this situation will return to a more feral survival pattern and forage for food and water at night and near dawn when fewer people are around.
•       People who routinely feed cats on their front porch or in a public access area experience the food disappearing at a faster rate than normal. Many dogs at large eat cat food and forage through the trash as a food source.
•  When the pet is seen he maybe trotting along as if on a mission, or maybe drinking or eating. Some witnesses have even said the dog looked like he was having a good time. Which I think may happen for some dogs. These that enjoy the life style may not even lose weight during their travels.
• When and if the dog settles into a territory, an individual or group of individuals may report seeing him or her frequently.
•    Sightings may be all in one area and concentrated in areas where there are woods, creeks, fields. Sometimes can be in a very remote area depending on the dog’s personality.
•   Common feeling for pet owner, “I just can’t seem to catch up with him or be there at the same place at the same time” The pet generally keeps moving.
•   Displaced dogs may continue to travel farther and farther away from the point of escape leaving some to believe that the dog is trying to find its way home. In my experience this is relatively rare and although Lassie always made it home on her own, most dogs do not.
•  Stolen pets, rescued pets and those intentionally or unintentionally displaced can eventually end up in this scenario.