What to Do with a Stray Dog
By Brittany Sorgenstein
At one time or another while driving, we have all seen a dog wandering hopelessly around a street. He could have gotten out of his yard, or perhaps was dumped by his owner. Either way, if you are a caring person, your first thought is to try and catch him. Here are a few tips that can make it easier and safer for you to catch a stray dog.
Have a slip lead and offer treats
Make sure you have a lead handy, as a stray dog may not have a collar. A slip lead is the best tool. Treats would also be helpful. If a dog has been wandering for a while, he may be very hungry and more willing to approach you if you have food. Try throwing a few treats toward the dog and then turn sideways so as not to frighten him.
Some dogs may come right up to you, happily accepting your help, while others might be frightened and run in the opposite direction. Do not grab at a loose dog, as some will be very scared and sudden movements may frighten the dog even more. Instead, move slowly and don’t try to immobilize the dog.
Run away from the dog
A common mistake people make when trying to catch a dog is chasing him. Have you ever noticed that when you chase your own dog he just runs away and acts like it is a big game? That is exactly what a loose dog will do as well. You are actually better off running in the opposite direction in the hopes the dog will then chase you.
Calling to the dog or patting your legs in an attempt to get the dog to come to you is another frequent error. If the dog is in a heightened state, this could cause him to react negatively. He could bolt in the other direction and possibly run right into a dangerous situation.
Use calming signals
While dogs don’t understand the English language, they do understand body language. You should use calming signals to show the dog you mean him no harm. A few of these signals include yawning, blinking and moving from the side instead of head on. In addition, you should approach slowly and lower yourself to the ground. You are less likely to look intimidating if you are on the dog’s level.
Use a magnet dog
As dogs are pack animals, they could be more likely to trust a four-legged friend over a two-legged one. You can use what is known as a “magnet dog” to lure the wandering dog to you. The magnet dog should be friendly and playful. This may entice the dog to come closer to you so you can safely catch him.
Trap him in a confined area
Finally, if possible, you should attempt to use a yard or a gate to fence the dog in. This will trap him in a confined area until you can call animal control to come rescue him.
While your intentions are good, you can’t really know how the dog is feeling about your rescue mission. Remember that safety must be your main concern—yours and the dog’s. Make sure to call animal control to assist with the situation.
I would have never thought about running away from the dog to have him chase you! My dogs always run away from me if I run at them so this makes perfect sense. If I ever need to catch a dog I’ll have to keep this in mind.
A couple of years ago I read how t0 rescue a runaway dog. One day I actually needed a friend’s dog to come to us so I tried what I had read….and it was wonderfully successful. All you need to do is lay down on the ground and he will come right over to you. Very clever and it works. (If you can’t get down on the ground have a younger friend do it for you.)
I never thought to use a second dog as a way to attract a stray dog. I think that it is important to make sure that stray dogs can either make it into a shelter or into someone’s home so that someone can take care of the dog. Just as humans don’t like to live alone, animals do not and should not live alone.
Bout a month ago, a group of strangers came together to try an rescue a suspected abandoned mongrel who was roaming the city town for weeks. Took us hours to track him down and finally we were able to lure him into a barricaded area with the help of 2 dogs that one of them brought down. The mongrel followed the 2 dogs in and we closed the barricade. It was a successful mission.
We have a dog that is sorta coming into our driveway. How can i call him/her to check if it has a collar, and possibly call the owners. i am not allowed to actually go LOOKING for the dog, but i wanna help it!
I’ve fed this stray dog for 2 months now, hoping she’d develop trust and start approaching me. She stays in the same general location and i leave the food in the same place. She won’t eat until I’ve left. She plays with a neighbor’s dog and has come within 15 to 20 feet of me. But without the other dog, she stays 30 to 50 feet away. Yet when i arrive, she comes out from hiding; watches intently; eats when i leave.
Sue has anything changed with this dog at this point ? I am dealing with similar situation
I have a dog that is street smart lives in the the woods been trying to catch him for 2 months tried a animal trap Benadryl no luck any ideas
Interesting nearly in same shoes. My rural vet and experience over last month is establish yourself as a dependable food source for the dog. Consistency in routine matters. Leave it in the same place or meet them to deliver it at same time. My neighbor had just adopted a special needs / high anxiety dog with humans …. within 24 hours she had jumped their fence and ran to edge of woods in our neighborhood. She is terrified of people ( amazingly common for shelter or stray dogs ….bad things have happened to them)….. so their new adoptee escapee then will only come out of night when people aren’t around …. I started going out 2 weeks ago and walking around our neighborhood and krinkling a bag of potatoe chips …. Lo and behold she appeared out of the shadows ! Scared me to death !she had no history of aggression. So that began our relationship. We are 2 weeks down the road. I have met her every night same routine. And she shows. And grows her trust. Tonight she came wagging her tail…..when she engages me I establish the same spot where we sit. And I bring food for her ( chicken , salmon, she likes cheese!). …. I put my back to her. Facing a dog is threatening if skiddish. Hunch over in a ball and don’t look at them in the face ( also sign of aggression). It’s a slow process of building trust. We have made great strides. Hoping she will come my way near term…. in the meantime she is fed and increasing her comfort around people
Okay, I’ll try this again because it is so important. Several years ago I read how to bring your dog to you if he wants to roam free. I tried it with a friend’s runaway dog and it worked perfectly. All you need to do is lay down on the ground! That’s all. The dog will come over to you. Lay down, don’t move around and here he comes! Of course if you are not able to get down on the ground have someone do it for you. There is no need to call the dog ~ the dog will see you and wonder if you are alright and to be sure he will come over and check on you. Remember, Dog is God spelled backward!