Has your Dachshund gone missing? Are you panicking about what to do first? A missing Dachshund is every owner’s worst nightmare, but there are many ways to increase your chances of being reunited. This is what you need to do if your Dachshund goes missing.
What To Do If Your Dachshund Goes Missing:
- Contact the police
- Rally friends and family to help you search
- Report your Dachshund as ‘missing’ on the microchip database
- Check your contact details are correct on the microchip
- Inform all vets in your local area
- Inform all dog rescues or shelters in your local area
- Contact your local dog warden
- Search your local area
- Check local CCTV camera footage
- Register your Dachshund on ‘missing dogs’ websites
- Consider offering a reward
- Give out ‘missing dog’ posters in your local area
- Create a Facebook Page to find your Dachshund
- Post on Facebook Groups
- Check ‘dogs for sale’ adverts
- Consider using a Pet Detective
- Contact your pet insurance company
Read on to find out exactly what to do if your Dachshund goes missing, and how to increase your chances of being reunited.
This article is based on research and personal experience as a Dachshund owner of 10+ years. I’m not a Vet, qualified dog trainer or dog behaviourist.
What To Do If Your Dachshund Goes Missing
If your Dachshund has gone missing, you need to act fast! The sooner you start taking action to find your Dachshund, the greater your chance of being reunited.
This Is What To Do If Your Dachshund Goes Missing:
Contact the police
If you think your Dachshund has been stolen, contact the police immediately and get a crime number.
Reporting your Dachshund as stolen will also alert the police to any dog theft problems in your local area.
Rally friends and family to help search for your Dachshund
Ask friends and family to help you search for your Dachshund and spread the word online.
When you’re feeling stressed, anxious, upset and overwhelmed, you’re going to need all the help and support you can get.
Report your Dachshund as missing on the microchip database
If your Dachshund is microchipped, you need to report his ‘missing’ status on the microchip database.
Locate the number of your Dachshund’s microchip. Perhaps you have it stored on your phone or with your Dachshund’s original papers.
Most microchip databases allow you to report your Dachshund as ‘missing’ via their online platforms.
But, if you’re in the UK and not sure which database your Dachshund’s microchip is with, check with your vet or use Check A Chip to find out.
If your Dachshund has been stolen, it’s possible he may be resold to a new owner. If this happens, the new owner may try to register his microchip at the vets.
By reporting your Dachshund as ‘missing’ on the microchip database, this’ll show up when the vet scans his microchip.
So updating his status to ‘missing’ ensures that if someone tries to re-register his microchip, the vet will be notified.
The vet can then access your contact details and let you know that your beloved Dachshund has been found.
Check your contact details are correct on the microchip
When you’re reporting your Dachshund as missing to the microchip database, make sure your contact address and phone number are up to date.
This means that if your Dachshund’s microchip is scanned by a vet, they can get hold of you immediately by phone.
Most microchip databases allow you to update your contact details online.
Report your Dachshund as missing to all vets in your local area
Make sure you inform all vets practices in your local area that your Dachshund has gone missing.
Remember to leave your contact details so the vets can contact you if your Dachshund is found locally and handed in by someone.
Some vets may allow you to put up posters of your Dachshund at reception too, so you could ask if that’s possible.
Report your Dachshund as missing to all dog rescue charities or dog shelters in your local area
Make sure you inform all dog rescue charities or dog shelters in your local area that your Dachshund has gone missing. You can do this by phone, email, or in person.
Some animal rescue charities or dog shelters post pictures online of all the dogs that are brought in.
So keep checking for updates online to see if your Dachshund has been found.
Contact your local dog warden
In the UK, you can report your Dachshund as ‘missing’ on the Council’s dog warden service. You can also find the telephone number of of your local dog warden here.
Animal Wardens collect any stray dogs that are reported by members of the public and keep them safe in kennels before reuniting them with their families.
So let your local dog warden know that your Dachshund is missing. They’ll then listen out for any reports of stray dogs that meet your description.
Search your local area
If your Dachshund got spooked and ran off while you were out on a walk, he may try to make his own way home.
So check the areas all around your home to see if he’s made his own way back.
Check any regular walking routes too and anywhere else close-by that your Dachshund is familiar with.
Ask neighbours to check their gardens or yards and around their houses as well.
Check local CCTV camera footage
To find out exactly what has happened to your Dachshund, check CCTV to see what direction he has gone in.
Depending where you were when your Dachshund went missing, check CCTV from your home, any neighbours, local shops, restaurants, businesses, schools, and any other premises nearby.
If your Dachshund has run off, you’ll know which direction he has gone in.
If he was taken, you may be able to see what the dog thief looks like and can pass this information to the police.
Register your Dachshund on ‘missing dogs’ websites
There are numerous ‘missing dog’ websites that are there to help reunite owners with their lost or stolen pets.
All you need to do is register your missing Dachshund on the site. Then describe him and where he went missing in as much details as possible.
You’ll need to give your contact details along with your Dachshund’s name, age, coat colour, sex, size, weight, and any distinctive features or coat markings that could help someone to identify him.
You’ll also need to upload clear photos of your Dachshund that show any distinctive features he may have. For example, a wonky tail, an overbite, or patch of different coloured fur.
If your Dachshund is neutered or spayed, you should definitely mention this.
If your Dachshund is not neutered or spayed, it may be best NOT to mention this or it could put them at further risk.
One of the most commonly used ‘missing dog’ websites in the UK is Dogs Lost. They offer free advice and support and many other services too.
Your Dachshund will be automatically added to their ‘dogs lost’ forum and they’ll create a ‘missing dog’ poster specifically for you.
You can print the poster and also email it to friends directly from the site too.
Dogs Lost will also email your poster out to all their helpers within a 30 mile radius of where your Dachshund went missing.
They also have a huge online network to spread the word quickly for you.
Other ‘missing pet’ websites around the world will offer similar kinds of services. You just need to search online.
Consider offering a reward for safe return of your Dachshund
If you’re going to offer a reward for safe return of your Dachshund, don’t say how much it will be.
If you do, you may be targeted by hoaxers who will tell you they have your Dachshund, even when they don’t.
Not only is this heartbreaking, but it could also put your Dachshund at greater risk in future.
If unscrupulous people believe you will pay out if your Dachshund is stolen, they could sadly target you for dog theft.
Give out ‘missing dog’ posters around your local area
Print a stack of your ‘missing dog’ posters and start handing them out.
Go door-to-door in your local neighbourhood and to any areas where you regularly walk your Dachshund.
Visit local stores, cafes, restaurants, pubs, shops, schools, supermarkets, village halls and other local businesses near to the area where your Dachshund went missing.
Some may even allow you to put posters up on the wall. However, don’t put any posters up without permission (even on lampposts!) as that could be classed as a criminal offence.
Create a Facebook page specifically for finding your Dachshund
It’s a good idea to create a public Facebook page specifically for finding your Dachshund, rather than using your own personal profile.
You want to have all information in one place and for people to share from the same page and post new updates or sightings there too.
Another reason to do this is because a memorable page name will stand out more than just using your own name on Facebook.
All your friends and family that are helping you with the search can share from the same Facebook page too.
Post your ‘missing dog’ poster on Facebook Groups
Post your ‘missing dog’ poster graphic on Dachshund Facebook Groups or Local Area Facebook Groups.
Ideally, you want to ‘share’ the post from your ‘missing Dachshund Facebook page’ (if you set one up).
That way, people can always click back to the original source and contact you with any news.
Facebook has many ‘dogs lost’ groups you can join as well as a huge local and national Dachshund community.
It’s best to speak with the Admin of each Dachshund Facebook Group because they can often be really supportive in helping to spread the word.
Target all local groups and national or state groups too, just in case your Dachshund has been taken and has now moved areas.
It’s probably not worth posting on international Facebook Groups right away. If similar looking Dachshunds are spotted in other countries, it could confuse the search
Remember to post on local village Facebook Groups too. These can be really valuable and may even rally local people to help you with the search.
Ask people to share your post as much as possible. The Dachshund community is very strong – so use it!
Check ‘dogs for sale’ adverts
If the worst has happened and your Dachshund has been taken by someone, the dog thief may try to sell him online.
Check for new posts on the ‘dogs for sale’ sites and get others to help you do this too.
Consider using a Pet Detective
Using a professional Pet Decretive service to reunite you with your Dachshund could be a smart move.
Pet detectives have all the latest equipment and knowledge to help track your Dachshund down. This can be especially helpful if your Dachshund has run off and got lost.
The types of services Pet Detectives may offer are:
- Area searches
- Search strategy
- Satellite surveys of the area
- Drone surveys of the area
- Tracker dogs
- Thermal imaging
- Pet behaviour profiling
- Bionic listening devices
- Night vision surveys
- Humane trapping
Obviously, Pet Detectives can be costly, so you’ll need to do your research and check online for reviews of their services.
Contact your pet insurance company if your Dachshund goes missing
Depending on your policy, some pet insurance companies will cover some of the costs if your Dachshund goes missing or is stolen.
If you’re not sure whether you’re covered or not, contact your pet insurance company to find out. Let them know your Dachshund is missing and see what they say.
They may contribute towards the cost of putting up posters and with the reward for finding your Dachshund too. It just depends on your individual policy.
Beware of frauds
Sadly, some people that contact you may not be legitimate. They may say they have your Dachshund, even when they don’t. They do this to try and extort money from you.
Don’t hand over any money without seeing your Dachshund first. Keep your wits about you and follow the advice from sites like Dogs Lost (if you’re in the UK) and the police to get your Dachshund back home safely.
Once you’ve been reunited with your Dachshund – let everyone know!
Once you’ve been reunited with your Dachshund, retrace your steps and let everyone know. You don’t want people to continue searching for him!
For example, you may need to:
- Tell the police your Dachshund has been found
- Tell all friends and family
- Inform the microchip database company
- Let all the vets in your local area know
- Let all dog rescues or shelters in your local area know
- Inform your local dog warden (if you contacted one)
- Let your neighbours know (in case they’re still searching)
- Update the status to ‘reunited’ on any missing dog websites like Dogs Lost
- Remove any posters that were distributed in your local area
- Update your Facebook Page and post so the word gets out quickly
- Let all the Facebook Group Admins know so they can update the group
- Let your Pet Detective know (if you used one)
- Inform your pet insurance company
Each ‘missing dog’ case will be individual, so there may be more or less people to contact than this.
Just make sure you inform everyone so that people stop searching for your Dachshund. It’s just as important to get the word out when your Dachshund has been found.
To find out how to protect your Dachshund from dog theft, click here!
So, there you have it. Some Dachshunds that go missing may sadly never be found. However, others will be happily reunited with their owners in no time at all. The Dachshund community is really strong and, by spreading the word quickly, you’ll increase your chances of finding them. Don’t ever give up the search. Even if your Dachshund isn’t found right away, the Dachshund community won’t give up searching until they are.
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