Instructions
Make a thorough search of your property. Sometimes a dog will explore an area under the house or behind the utility shed where you've never seen him go before. There's also the possibility that he's under the couch or behind a closed guest room door. Perhaps he was shut in the closet by mistake.
Call your dog's name loudly. Leave out his favorite foods.
Canvas your neighborhood. Often dogs don't wander far. Ask any neighborhood children if they saw your dog loose. As you walk, call your dog. Listen after each call for a response. If he's trapped somewhere nearby, he'll try to let you know.
Put up postcards. Have a current picture of your dog on each one. Print postcards with your phone number alongside the photo. Be sure to post them in your neighborhood and along the street that backs up to your property.
Give your dog a scent to follow back home by putting strongly scented items in the yard or on the porch.
File a police or missing dog report.
Contact the local animal shelter and any rescue organizations in your area. Fax the pound a copy of the postcard with a good picture of your dog on it. Check back with them often.
Place an advertisement in the local paper.
Put up postcards at any local veterinary offices, grocery stores, malls, grooming salons, or pet stores.
How to Find a Missing Dog
Losing a dog can be devastating. The uncertainty and frustration of trying to locate a missing or stolen dog can be almost unbearable. Take a deep breath. Know that there are a lot of actions that you can take to make sure that he returns home safely. Don't panic. Although the first few hours are important, many dogs are returned to their homes after being lost for weeks, months or even years.