What should I do if the dog has run away?

Dogs are wonderful animals, but sometimes they behave unexpectedly.

Although it’s rare, it’s important to know the steps to take if your Petbnb pet sitter dog runs away. Here’s what you should do if your Petbnb dog takes off or chases something.

If you can still see the dog:

If the dog is still in sight, use these simple tricks (and treats) to catch it. The most important thing is to stay calm: if you start chasing the dog, it will think it's a fun game and will keep running.

Approach the dog calmly.

Don’t run: instead, crouch a bit and start walking backward, so the dog can follow you. If the dog gets close enough and you’re sure you can grab it, catch it.

Follow the dog slowly.

Walk slowly enough so you can keep an eye on the dog without it running away.

Call the dog.

Use a calm voice to call the dog to you. Or use a more excited tone, as if you have great treats or are about to do something fun, like going for a car ride or to a park or forest. Never yell at the dog to come to you. 

Lure the dog.

Let them smell or see something tasty. If you have treats, try tossing them near the dog and gradually closer to you.

If you can’t see the dog:

If you truly can’t find the dog, it’s important to call the pet owner immediately. The good news is that the owner might have a good idea of how to get their dog home. Letting them know as quickly as possible increases your chances of finding the runaway dog.

If there’s water nearby, always check there. Dogs that are panicked may be thirsty!

Here’s what we ask you to do:

• Call the owner right away. If they don’t answer, text, email, or message them through Petbnb. In your message, let the owner know that it’s urgent and that you need to speak to them as soon as possible.

• Give the owner about an hour to respond. If they haven’t replied by then, send another message via Petbnb with details about the incident and the actions being taken to find their dog.

What to ask the pet owner:

Once you get in contact with the dog’s owner, we recommend asking the following:

• Has this ever happened before, and how did the dog behave? Did they try to follow the way home? Did the dog hide in a neighbor’s garage or yard? These questions will help you figure out where to look, in case the dog has a favorite spot when it runs off or leaves the premises.

• How does the dog respond to food? Will searching with a treat increase your chances of getting the dog to come?

• Does the dog respond best to a certain type of person? Or is the dog scared of certain types of people?

• Does the dog respond to nicknames?

• Does the dog respond to a command like “come”?

• Is the dog microchipped?

• Can the owner send you a photo of their dog? Use the photo to create flyers.

After contacting the dog owner:

Even if you haven’t reached the owner yet, take action. Here's what you can do:

• Go out and search as much as possible. Bring something smelly like bacon to attract the dog.

• Use other dogs to help. If the dog responds well to other dogs, try bringing a dog along to help with the search.

• Ask family, friends, and neighbors to start a search for the dog. Also, work with the owners to see if there are family or friends nearby who can help.

• Ask neighbors if they’ve seen the dog.

• Create flyers to distribute and post in the area. Add a photo and a brief description (breed, sex, collar) and your phone number.

• Print extra flyers to hand out. Spread them in your neighborhood or where the dog was last seen.

• Contact:

  • Waar is onze Angel?
  • www.amivedi.nl
  • www.dierenambulance.nl
  • www.dierenasiel.nl
  • Other organizations dealing with missing animals.