those companies that use bloodhounds to track your lost pet, is this a legit thing? If so I think its awesome im just always a skeptic. But I suppose if they find people they can find pets? thoughts? Experiences?

If it has a scent a dog can be taught to find it.

Dogs are used for finding termites, cancer, underground gas leaks, snakes, rabbits, mountain lions, yadda, yadda. You name it, they can find it.

Some of those companies are making some pretty ludicrous claims. Is it plausible? Sure, but not the way most are promoting it. I've seen some that claim they can find a dog or person weeks or even months after they've disappeared. Just the fact that they use bloodhounds is kind of a warning flag to me.

I just checked the website of the one you were probably looking at(Petsearchers in Canada) and honestly it looks pretty legit. Looks like they take a reasonable approach with the dog just being one of many tools and strategies.

 Quote: Cathy Goessman

Just the fact that they use bloodhounds is kind of a warning flag to me.

Just curious... What about bloodhounds raises a flag for you?

I used to be pretty close with a rural constable who also worked bloodhounds for fugitive searches. I've also seen them do some incredible cadaver work. IMHO, if there is any semblance of an animal's scent in an area, a bloodhound would certainly be able to find it and trail it. I'd even put money on them to find it before you barely got started using any other method.

oh cool, ya that's the company. god forbid I ever lose a pet but that's a great service!

i'm at a loss to get the logistics of this, is this an urban thing and some lost dog is wandering the streets near (walking distance) the owners home and these people stumble across it because it has been invisible to everyone else including animal control?


these dogs can find a dog caught and transported to the pound??

these dogs find rural dogs lost out hunting in the forest???

how the actual frik are these dogs deployed??

I have imagined a few scenarios, must be my lack of imagination but this reeks of pure emotion exploiting scam???

sure I have had smash ups and lost half my dogs at any one time, they get home somehow or stay lost period, usually they make their way back to where the vehicle last was and stay put until I get back there, if they don't have that much brains the wild dogs and hogs can have them.

nobody is going to catch them no way, just aint gonna happen.

anyhoo just another mystery I have to accept.

"reeks of pure emotion exploiting scam"
When I was looking for information on best ways to find a lost dog, I ran across a guy who claimed to be able to tell you where your dog was based on topographical maps and where your dog last was seen.. for a fee, of course.

Statistically, most dogs are found within a 2 mile radius of the place they are lost. I'm sure that helps out his bottom line a little bit.

^ saves on fuel finding them.

I do not enough work at a rescue/pound, every year our local council spends a largish budget on a fire-works display, fireworks are otherwise completely illegal. the display occurs at the same time on the same day at the same place and every year dozens of dogs bolt and go missing - why on earth people don't just lock their dogs in the house for 20 minutes is beyond me but I digress.

most of these dogs are found, some get hit by cars, some get stolen, some just wander into the first place they think is friendly and never get re-united and some make their own way back home. animal control gets some and of those some get collected and surprisingly many won't pay the fee to get their dog out of jail and let it die and get a new puppy from the markets for $30, a lot a recognised by locals and the owner is contacted, there is a FB page dedicated to lost local dogs and many get taken to the vet to get their chip read and the vet holds until collection by owner. people put signs up everywhere and put pics in the paper - most dogs get accounted for - we do this dance every year.

I am sure somebody here will eventually catch on and advertise pet-finders but I will bet $100 it is BS and they use one or more of the methods above.

 Quote: Duane Hull

Just curious... What about bloodhounds raises a flag for you?

Some make extraordinary claims of scenting abilities and when you question them their first rebuttal is "But it's a BLOODHOUND!".

without any first hand experience , based on what i've read , the bloodhound is capable of some extraordinary scenting abilities . . . just what i would expect of dedicated breeders working in the best interest of the breed .

however , if i needed to find a lost child or catch a bad guy and had a hot track , i'd want a TTD GSD or mal at the business end of the line .


/end threadjack . . .