Lost Dogs – Reverse Recall to Save Lives
Allow us to save your dog's life through a reverse recall. Teach your dog to call you! Two winters ago, a distraught dog parent called Petli's dog psychologist Caroline Alupo. His dog Arrak had torn the leash from his hand and chased after a roe deer a couple of days before New Year's Eve. Arrak was sound phobic, now missing, and completely silent. Hours turned into days, and as the mercury dropped, the hope dwindled. The dog parent searched and searched. But when the nights became too many, hope faded.
Retrieving Arrak: an emotional reunion
But he found him. Eventually. Something got him to go down the overgrown old tractor path towards the lake. 300 meters down the road, he stopped. In the corner of his eye, he caught sight of a familiar shadow huddled under a tree. And even at that moment, Arrak was completely silent and still.
Step-by-step guide: practicing reverse call-in
That's where the problem lies. Some dogs become quiet when they're lost, scared or stuck. Physically or mentally. But this can be prevented. Do this:
- Go into the woods, tie your dog to a tree, and bark. You, that is. Bark. Cheerfully and loudly.
- Add pauses and wait for your dog's response.
- Continue until your dog barks back or makes any other sound. Exactly then, go and get your dog.
- Repeat. Go farther and farther away (always with the dog in sight) and bark. When the dog becomes your echo, return, untie, and move on.
Why? Because it can save your dog's life.
Why dogs go quiet when they get stuck
Dogs who run off with the leash or a long rope after them in the woods can get stuck. Sometimes the dog can chew itself free, other times not. In these situations, many dogs become silent. They hide. They lie low to avoid being exposed. For them it is a matter of survival.
There's a safety mindset behind staying quiet, not revealing themselves. But that makes them difficult to find. If the dog doesn't wear a tracker or GPS, it's a nightmare for most dog parents. But if the dog knows that when their dog parent calls out or barks, the dog should respond. This skill can literally save a dog's life.
If your dog often runs away, please read our article Dogs that like to run away: causes and solutions. If your dog has a propensity for unwanted hunting, our article on Unwanted hunting in dogs - how to deal with dogs that run after game may be helpful in dealing with the dilemma.
Written by: Caroline Alupo
Caroline Alupo is Petli's co-founder. She has a master's degree in ethology and is also a trained dog trainer and dog psychologist. She has 19 years of experience as a professional dog trainer. Read more about Caroline here.
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