Thread: Advice Wanted: How to Find Dog Lost in Bush

Hi all

I took a dog I'm looking after for a short tramp with my children and partner only to have it take off and not come back. One minute close by, the next gone.

It was in Waianakarua DOC reserve while walking to Kahikatea hut. I walked back to the car and returned to the hut a couple of times calling and blowing the whistle. I left food and my jersey for him and I have contacted the local council as well as the neighbouring farmer.

He's been gone overnight.

I know shouting and tearing through the bush may only make matters worse.

If anyone has any suggestions of what to do, it would be greatly appreciated!

I think its owner now needs to be involved - walk the same route - dont go off it -leave something like a coat belonging to the owner at car park - hopefully it will allow itself to be caught

take an article of the owners clothing to where last seen. leave water but not food

Thanks, unfortunately the owner is out of the country, but I can get some of his clothing.

yep, dogs are very scent driven, hope it works

Originally Posted by Barry the hunter

I think its owner now needs to be involved - walk the same route - dont go off it -leave something like a coat belonging to the owner at car park - hopefully it will allow itself to be caught

Originally Posted by Waitati Hunter

Thanks, unfortunately the owner is out of the country, but I can get some of his clothing.

It's a bit of a nightmare situation since it's not his dog.
Jezz, do you inform the owner? They are probably overseas on a holiday, and if you tell them you lost their dog in the NZ Bush, it might ruin their holiday.

Keep going back....then go back some more.talk to all farmers nearby..keep going back...take food with you..keep going back.nightmare situation for sure.

Sorry to hear you are going through this. Agree with Barry, best thing to do is inform the owner. Better they find out now rather than if it's still missing when they get back. Most critically, they may be able to advise how to get it back or where it might have gone. You weren't negligent, and it's not your fault the dog didn't come back to you. I dog-sat for a known bolter, and they weren't at all surprised when I told them I'd lost him for a few hours - they were really apologetic. Just think forward to what answers you will want to give when they get home, and remember you were doing them a favour. If they're reasonable people they'll understand. Sounds like you've gone above and beyond already. Best of luck! Please keep us updated, there'll be plenty of support for you here.

Watch for the wind directions at the time of the walk and in the next few days and see if there is a chance that the dog could catch the scent of the owner on the next ridge or next valley.
Also I have beard in the bush lost dog howling in the early hours of the morning. I am not saying that this is a true rule regarding the time or for any other dog but after a few days and hungry he might start to make noise.

I recovered a dog from local beach that had been lost for three weeks despite lots of searching by owners etc. .... I was out walking my two with shotgun when this very bedraggled poodle cross appears.... Dogs did the sniff bums thing,I said hello( no I didn't sniff bum but may have been sniffed) then carried on a bit further shooting another hare or two before returning home with three dogs instead of two. Because I was relaxed and my dogs were relaxed the extra was happy to tag along and come home for feed and bath before being reunited with owners( my wife recognised dog off Facebook post).... Keep going back to area and tracks close by.photo and description on here would be great. Print out a few posters,stick on collection control box's at nearby dairy farms too.us tanker drivers may spot hungry dog in wee small hours.

Thanks everyone for your advice. I talked to the owner last night (my dad) and he's philosophical about the whole thing. Ted's 12 years old, and he's done a runner before, so it's not unexpected that something would happen.

I got hold of a man in Nelson who tracks lost dogs who's been in the news for his skill and he said he'd give me a ring today and give me some advice.

I'll be heading back for another look soon.

Is Ted entire??? Eg still has his nuts??? If so find a bitch in season to lure him out via scent.... Pretty sure any owner of said bitch would help out .

You dont usually find them, they find you...

Put notices and pictures of him up in the area.
And on Facebook. It's like a runny shit, it gets everywhere.
I had a old huntaway bugger off.
Someone picked him up and thought they were helping by taking him to a vet an hour away, nothing wrong with him, just thought a big center an hour from where they found him they would know who owned him. The vet had the smarts to put him on a local(to here) Facebook page. My kids were in Canada and one of them was on Facebook and up pops a picture of my dog. So I get a message from Canada saying "if you are looking for Toss, he's in Taupo".
So it works.

Facebook....runny shit!!!!! That made my day thankyou.