When a dog goes missing on a walk, especially somewhere you’ve driven to, your car can become a powerful anchor point. Dogs recognise its scent and even its engine sound, associating it with safety and home. Returning to your car, staying there, and using it as a guide can significantly increase the chances of your dog finding their way back.

Warm weather increases the risk of dogs going missing more than most owners realise. Changes in routine, open doors and windows, new walking locations like coastal paths, and increased stimulation all create opportunities for dogs to slip away unnoticed. Understanding these small seasonal changes can help prevent incidents before they happen and keep your dog safe.

Every professional dog walker hopes a dog never goes missing in their care, but preparation is essential. In this article we explore key risk factors, common mistakes made when a dog disappears, and why having a clear emergency plan matters. Learn how better risk awareness, route planning, and understanding dog behaviour can help prevent incidents and protect the dogs you walk. Discover tools and training designed specifically for dog walkers.

Insights from real search experience with Eye In The Sky Every year, families contact  Eye In The Sky  after a dog goes missing during what started as a completely normal walk. A familiar field. A regular woodland route. A park visited hundreds of times before. Based on our experience supporting lost dog searches, dogs do not “just run off.” There is always a trigger. Understanding that trigger is one of the most important parts of planning a safe and effective search. Below