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Though the number of animals that end up in local shelters and are reunited with their families varies by community, Best Friends Animal Society surveyed more than 2,000 shelters nationwide and found that in 2021 only 21% of lost dogs got back home.

“It’s terrible. There’s a huge percentage of pets that probably could be returned to their owners that are not getting returned right now,” says Marc Peralta. He is the chief program officer for Best Friends and has run shelters and animal control departments across the country.

Experts say while many well-run, well-meaning databases, social media pages and missing pet websites exist — no centralized, “official” site exists that all shelters, animal welfare agencies and the public use to report lost and found animals nationwide.

“It’s kind of a free for all,” Marc says. “Everybody’s independent. It is ineffective.”

Without a central pet reporting system, your lost dog could be in someone’s home five blocks away or in a nearby community’s shelter and you may not know.

“It definitely is frustrating that there isn’t a system that everyone uses. There is a gap,” says Jessica Simpson, senior public policy specialist from the Humane Society of the United States.

That communication gap could leave you at risk of never seeing your dog again. “We have to find better solutions to make it easy for people to find their pets,” Marc says.

Steps to find a lost dog

Given the disjointed system, if you’re looking for your lost dog, the burden is on you to do all you can to find them. Experts say here’s how:

Call in favors — you’re going to need assistance. Mobilize a small army quickly.

“Get your neighbors, social media friends and other people to help. There are so many things that need to be done it becomes an impossible task for one person to try to do this alone,” says Kat Albrecht-Thiessen, a police officer turned pet detective who runs the Missing Animal Response Network and trains people and dogs to find lost pets.

Look for your dog in their favorite places, like parks, neighbors’ homes or your local store that gives out treats.

If your dog is fearful, don’t sound panicked when you call them, they’ll pick up on that.

“Don’t call their name; instead, sing,” Kat says. “It helps to calm everyone down. The dog is still going to hear you.”

• Try food, cameras and traps

If your dog took off in the woods or a specific neighborhood, put out food and a motion-activated camera. If it captures pictures of your dog, then you know they’re still in the area.

Contact a pet detective team or animal control officer to set up a humane trap to try to catch your dog.

Dogs have remarkable senses of smell, so leave familiar ones for them to find. Put out your dog’s bedding, carrier — or your clothing with your scent.

“We’ve seen a lot of cases where the owner is out there for hours trying to find the dog. It gets dark, they leave and when they come back the next morning, the dog is in the parking lot where they’ve left a crate or blanket,” Kat says.

If your dog ends up in a shelter, you must find them quickly. Some facilities only hold dogs for a limited number of days. If you don’t claim your dog, they could be adopted to a new family or euthanized. “You’ve got to beat the clock,” Jessica says.

Report your lost dog to every veterinary clinic, animal control department, and shelter in your area and surrounding cities or counties. Go to your local shelters every day. Be relentless.

“You’re going to have better success finding your pet if you are driving and checking (the shelters) yourself, and not just filing a lost report and waiting for the universe to do what it’s supposed to,” Marc says.

• Notify your dog’s microchip company

Immediately tell your dog’s microchip registry your dog is lost. Make sure your contact information is up to date in their database. Some companies will help look for your dog.

“They’ll send email notifications to people in the immediate area to highlight the fact that there is a missing animal,” Jessica says.

• Go big with lost dog signs

Don’t post measly flyers. Think big: 2 feet tall and wide, neon-colored poster boards that people can’t miss.

Post them where your dog went missing with only keywords and your phone number.

“Use five words people can read in five seconds when they’re going 55 miles an hour. ‘White poodle. Red collar. Lost.’ Make the letters big,” Kat says.

Kat points to this television show video as an example of how people may see a lost dog flyer, not pay attention to it and even walk right past the missing dog.

• Make your car a mobile billboard

Use washable markers to write your dog’s description on your windows. Add your dog’s picture then drive around.

Did you lose your dog in a newsworthy way? Is your story compelling? Email local media outlets with details and ask them to do a story or share your dog’s information on their website or social media pages.

Post your lost dog on community websites like:

1. NextDoor
2. Craigslist

Use social media and lost and found pet sites like:

1. Pet FBI
2. The Center for Lost Pets
3. Lost Dogs America
4. Petco Love Lost

If someone says they have your dog, ask them to send a picture to prove it. Be cautious if they ask for money, even if you’ve offered a reward.

Repeat the steps above, but instead, search the sites for your dog.

Petco Love Lost allows people to search by location. The site also uses facial recognition to match photos of lost pets with found pets and works with more than 1,800 shelters.

The nonprofit hopes to partner and integrate with other missing pet websites and create that one official, free, central reporting site.

“We are determined to make this work because we know the incredible impact it will make on the lives of pets,” says, president of Petco Love.

Frolicking freely through the open wilderness is every dog’s dream. But it can quickly turn into a nightmare, so safety is top priority. Start off-leash training early, and make sure you know how to teach a dog recall.

Since most public spaces have leash requirements, check for safe spaces for your dog to run free. Vigilant monitoring is also key: Know where he is and what he’s up to, so you avoid mishaps, confrontations and injury. And, definitely train a solid check in and recall to make off leash experiences safe and fun.

When to start off-leash training

Since being off leash is largely about teaching your dog “Recall,” you can start off-leash training at any age. However, first consider whether your dog should be off leash and can safely handle the freedom. Here is what you should look for:

• If your dog is overreactive or aggressive to either humans or other animals, it’s too risky — keep the leash on. Unsure? Err on the side of caution and get your dog rewards-based behavioral help first.
• Dogs with strong prey or scent drive (such as Terriers and Hounds) are not good candidates for off -leash time, since their instincts could likely surpass even the most solid training under truly tempting circumstances.
• Does he know basic cues or is he a wild child oblivious to you and your pleas for better behavior? Get a good grip on basic manners, especially a solid Sit and Down for when, not if, things come up off leash.
• Off-leash dogs should be spayed/neutered, up-to-date on vaccinations and flea and tick treatment and easily identified (microchip or ID tags with current info).

Teach a check-in cue first

Once you’ve decided your dog’s a good candidate for being off leash, teach a solid check in; which is invaluable for off-leash training since it encourages your dog to keep tabs on you.

Teach it:

• Start inside the house first and wait for your dog to look/glance at you (yes, it’s that simple).
• When he does, mark (verbally or with a clicker) and reward generously.
• Repeat several times.
• Once your dog’s rocking that, try other rooms in the house.
• Once he gets the hang of it inside, leash him up and take him outside.
• Work check ins into daily activities, walks etc.; make it a part of your routine.

Check-in cue tips:

• Be patient! DON’T say his name or try to get his attention.
• DON’T reward for every check in after the first few — vary the rewards and give out randomly to keep your dog interested, not expectant.
• There’s no cue for this: it’s voluntary, so reward well and often to make it a habit.

How to teach a dog the recall cue

If you want to train your dog to be off leash, he must have a rock-solid recall. Not mediocre or “he comes most of the time” or “when he wants to.” Commit to teaching your dog to respond consistently and reliably. Lightning-fast recall doesn’t happen lightning fast: it takes work and time.

If the learning history with the word Come is ho-hum or even poisoned (to the dog it predicts something uncool), use a different word such as Here! or Front! or something more fun like Banzai! or Jackpot! or any other word you like. You could even try using a dog whistle in place of a word to teach recall.

Teach it:

• Break out the million-dollar treats; experiment to see what your dog really loves (like cut-up turkey franks or freeze-dried meat treats for dogs).
• Start inside a large room or garage with little-to-no distractions with your dog on leash.
• Stand only a few feet from your dog, say your cue (Here, Front, Jackpot or use a whistle) and immediately sprint a short distance away from your dog.
• Mark as soon as he starts following toward you; treat once he gets to you.
• Immediately pay well with treats. No skimping! Slowly dole out several snacks in 3 to 5 second intervals.
• Slowly increase distance and distractions inside but not both simultaneously!
• Once reliable, venture outdoors with your dog on a long line/leash. Repeat the game (short distance, low distractions first).
• Practice in a variety of environments with various levels of distractions.
• Once he’s consistent and reliable, practice in safe (contained) environments off leash.
• Periodically (10% of the time) clip the leash on your dog when he arrives to you, so he gets used to coming and not bolting as soon as you reward. After a second or two release him to resume his previous activity. Increase the duration of the on-leash time slowly up to 10 seconds or so.
• Work into your daily routine/walks/play time etc. so he becomes consistent and reliable in a variety of situations.

Start small, work tall. If your dog can’t respond to you reliably when distracted by a delivery driver, the neighbor’s dog barking or a squirrel on leash walk, he’s not ready for off-leash time!

Tips:

• DON’T take shortcuts. Practice, practice, practice!
• DON’T increase distances and distractions simultaneously.
• DON’T try to do too much too soon.
• If you lose your dog’s attention, go back to where he was last successful and practice more there.
• Are you using those million-dollar treats? He needs to know coming to you is better than anything else on the planet.
• DON’T repeat your dog’s name or the cue. You need your dog’s attention every time. Back up a step (or eliminate a distraction or decrease distance) and practice more. Use clapping, whistling, clucking your tongue, whatever to get your dog’s attention instead.
• DON’T call your dog for anything he might not like in the beginnings of your training and ruin the rockstar reaction. Cuing your dog needs to predict awesomeness so your dog automatically gets the good feels when he hears it.
• DO practice daily, especially with high level distractions specific to your dog.

A word on e-collars: Don’t use them. Despite the wealth of information regarding the detrimental effects of using them, some trainers and training franchises market a “guaranteed off-leash dog” and a “guaranteed recall” with e-collars. Don’t fall for it. Behavior cannot be guaranteed! Besides, no sense crushing your dog’s trust or spirit.

To leash or not to leash

So where can your dog be legally, and appropriately, off leash? Dog parks and dog beaches are two top choices, or you might try looing on Sniffspot.

Even if there are no posted signs or rules on the books, keep in mind that even with a rockstar recall you have no control over the environment and who — or what — is in it.

Potential uh-ohs when dogs are off leash:

• Vehicles
• Hunters
• Wildlife
• Environmental hazards
• Property owners
• Other dogs
• Liabilities (knocking over a child, senior citizen, disabled person)
• Anyone who doesn’t want to be approached by a strange dog

Very few dogs are truly dog social, just like very few people are 100% cool with every person they meet. Don’t put your dog — or someone else’s — in that situation.

Beware environmental hazards, especially in unfamiliar areas. Scope out the scene first before letting your dog run.

Even if you’re in a designated off-leash area or area you believe is safe for your dog, check out his body language. Is he stressed and less able to respond to you or potential situations that arise? Or is he calm and good to go? Are there too many distractions around that your dog might not be able to manage? Set him up for success.

Still unsure whether to leash up? Dog trainer Jenny Williams created this super helpful flow chart to make decisions a snap.

Taking off-leash training on the trail

Ok, so you’ve taught your dog a solid check-in, you’ve got a rockstar recall, you’ve nailed down a safe spot and you’ve evaluated your dog’s current mood, so you’re ready to hit the trails.

Use your leash

Walk with your dog to gauge his reactions to the environment and his demeanor. If he’s giving you the green light, unclip and proceed, reward check-ins and use your recall. Clip the leash. Walk for a bit, continue to reward check-ins and if all is well, unclip for a bit longer. You get the idea. Watch for potentially unsafe or uncomfortable situations (for you, your dog or for others) and help your dog navigate the freedom.

Behavior isn’t guaranteed. Dogs aren’t robots and they, like us, don’t always make the best decisions. Even with the best training it’s possible your dog will make a decision you’d have preferred he didn’t and next thing you know you’re going viral for an off-leash mishap. And everyone appreciates a responsible pet guardian who keeps her dog from acting willy-nilly or invading someone else’s space. All system’s go? Be safe and have fun!

Deafness and age-related hearing loss in dogs (presbycusis) is common. While we don’t have exact figures, most experienced veterinarians will tell you the majority of dogs over age 10 appear to develop some hearing deficiency as they grow older. In fact, many veterinarians say age-related deafness is one of the more common geriatric changes in dogs.

The most common symptoms of hearing loss and deafness in dogs are

• decreased response to voice or clicker commands
• startles easily (especially after sleeping)
• difficulty to awaken
• inability to locate or track sounds
• disorientation and inattention

Young dogs with hearing deficits may be more vocal and play more aggressively.

Hearing loss in dogs from chronic ear infections

In dogs with chronic ear infections, head shaking, scratching and rubbing the ears, ear discharge, redness and swelling and head tilt or stumbling may be observed.

Chronic ear infections are perhaps the most common cause of hearing loss in older dogs. Many dogs suffer from persistent, even lifelong, otitis externa and media (outer and middle ear infections), that eventually cause permanent damage to the anatomical structures that enhance hearing. We speculate that this type of acquired hearing loss may be similar to human age-related hearing loss, with gradual decline in sensitivities to frequencies and volume over time.

Hearing loss in dogs inherited condition

Canine hearing loss is often an inherited condition, perhaps a close runner-up to complications of chronic ear infections. In many dogs, congenital deafness may be related to coat color (pigment-associated deafness), specifically the dominant merle or dapple color genes. Often associated with color-associated deafness are breeds such as:

• Collies
• Dachshunds
• Great Danes
• Shetland Sheepdogs

Studies have shown almost 5% of merle dogs were deaf in one or both ears.

Australian Shepherds and other breeds have been documented to suffer from “white hair deafness.” In fact, white coloration on and around the ear is associated with deafness in many breeds of dog, although this trait is not a guarantee of hearing loss.

Other breeds reported to have a higher incidence of deafness include:

• Dalmatians
• Russell Terriers (commonly referred to as Jack Russel Terriers)
• Australian Cattle Dogs
• Bull Terriers
• English Setters

Note that any dog can have congenital deafness, and the researchers have identified at least 104 breeds with inherited deafness. It is a common myth that dogs with two different eye colors (heterochromia) have a higher incidence of deafness, but research shows that is not the case.

Dog dysfunction syndrome

In any dog experiencing symptoms consistent with hearing loss, lack of attention or motivation, lethargy or loss of training (including housetraining), we next need to assess her cognitive abilities. Over the years I’ve been fooled by cognitive decline in a variety of cases, and I’ve learned to rule out the big diseases first and then carefully analyze a declining dog’s mental status.

Cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CDS) in dogs affects approximately 14% to 35% of all dogs, and strikes most commonly over age 9. Spayed females are more commonly diagnosed with CDS, and the condition seems to progress faster in neutered males, suggesting certain hormones may also be involved.

The clinical signs of CDS can be similar to those of hearing loss, making an accurate diagnosis more challenging, but even more important in terms of prognosis. CDS often progresses until a dog is unable to function normally and her quality of life is severely compromised, while hearing loss can be accommodated with simple lifestyle and environmental changes.

My checklist for common CDS symptoms:

1. Noticed any aimless wandering, staring into space or general confusion?
2. Loss of housetraining, particularly simultaneous inappropriate urination and defecation?
3. Sleeping and waking at unusual times?
4. Irritability, decreased interaction or withdrawal?
5. Failure to respond to known commands or vocal cues, even when you’re certain she hears you?
6. Loss of appetite?
7. Excessive or unusual vocalization?

To definitively diagnose hearing loss in dogs,  your dog needs to be referred to a specialist for a brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAER) evaluation. This test looks for brain response when sounds are played.

Are there hearing aids for dogs?

Although hearing aids have been developed in the past for dogs suffering from age-related hearing loss, the reality is none of these devices are economical or practical. Years ago, researchers tried to develop hearing aids that could be worn in the ears and anchored to their collars, but found few dogs tolerated them well. Other researchers tried to anchor the hearing aids in bone, but that also turned out poorly. While cochlear implants are feasible, there haven’t been any developed for dogs. If possible, experts estimate a canine cochlear ear implant would cost about $25,000 to $35,000.

How to help a dog with hearing loss

For dogs with hearing loss or deafness, lifestyle and environmental accommodations are the best treatment. Affected dogs can be taught hand-signal commands. In addition, many dogs become highly sensitive to vibrations and can be trained to respond to tapping the floor or other resonant objects.

Dogs with hearing loss also seem to focus on facial expressions and gestures to gain clues on what you’re saying. Maintaining eye contact is an essential key to communication.

I’ve also had success with trying different types of whistles (high- and low-frequencies), increasing your volume when issuing commands (“CHEESE!”), and even responding to flashlights. I once had a client train her dog to different colors of lights (red was food, green was walk and blue was “come here”).

If you have a dog who has hearing loss, follow these tips:

1. Keep away from traffic or other potentially dangerous situations where the inability to hear a threat could be harmful.
2. Fenced yards, leash walks and play with known dogs and people is important to keep them safe.
3. I’m also a fan of placing a “medical alert” collar tag identifying your dog as being deaf.
4. Some dog owners place a bell on their pet’s collar to help find them when they can no longer respond to “Come here! Cheese!”