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How To Find A Lost Gun Dog
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October 16, 2009
How To Find A Lost Gun Dog
As bird season ramps up all over the country it’s inevitable that some dogs will get lost. Nowadays, high-tech, dog-tracking systems have helped to curb wayward pups but not always. And not everyone has the dough to fork out for these fancy electronics. But according to Steve Snell, owner of Gun Dog Supply, the most important tool for getting your dog back home is its collar, specifically the brass nameplate on its collar.
Snell should know. Gun Dog Supply has shipped thousands of collars to dog owners across the country. And he’s got a pack of his own gun dogs that he also keeps tabs on. In short, the man knows dogs. Here are his rules for nameplates and what belongs on them:
No Name: Never put a dog’s name on the nameplate. Why? Because there’s no need for it. As Snell says, once someone is close enough to read the nameplate there’s no need for them to call your dog by name. Also, omitting it leaves room for more valuable information (see below). Besides, a dog can be stolen more easily if the dog-napping punk knows its name.
The Essentials: It’s crucial that you list your name, at least two phone numbers, and your hometown and state. Your street address and zip code aren’t necessary. “How many people are going to drive your dog home,” says Snell. “They’re going to call you.”
Double Up: The most innovative thing Snell does is put two nameplates on each collar. This allows him to fit a load of information on a collar.
More Phone Numbers: With two tags, Snell puts more phone numbers on the nameplate. For example, include your cell phone, home phone, office phone, and even the phone number of a close relative or hunting buddy who will know what to do if they get a call about your lost dog.
Offer Something: With more room on the nameplate it’s not a bad idea to list REWARD IF FOUND. This helps add some urgency to cause at hand…which is getting your dog back. And besides, says Snell, “No one has ever taken the money I’ve offered when they’ve found my dog.”
I’ve had a dog or two lost before and I sure as heck don’t want it to happen again. I’m sure some of you have had the same experience. Here’s hoping we keep ‘em close this season.
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Comments (16)
Excellent write up! I've come across a huskie out in the forest that a runner lost. I ended up just letting the dog follow my companions and I around until we caught upthe the runner. No tags, collar, or body harness...I bet the guy learned his lesson about keeping his dogs on leash.
Lost one on a backpacking trip years ago. Looked for hours and hours before deciding that we were just going to have to trust in that phone call or get back to civilization, start contacting people, then head back out. Stumbled into a couple who were using the john at the traihead late that evening, who had happened into the dog 15 miles away at 11 a.m. and delivered her to a ranger. They weren't looking for us, just using the facilities before heading home after a day of crusing around and sightseeing. Ranger was 2 minutes away when we got to the outfitters where our car was parked and got hold of him. Ridiculously lucky. We lived in the city at the time and she wasn't a hunting dog. Our home phone number was on the collar, which helped not at all when we were in the woods 200 miles away. My hounds now both have my cell number first, my home number second. I don't know if keeping the name off of their tag would help. They'd answer to the smell of a potato chip.
As a follow up to that, the gentlemen who'd found her was a rabbit hunter who wouldn't take anything and laughed it off saying "I run beagles, someone drops one of my dogs off at the house about 5 times a season." Hunters are the best of us.
jcarlin- You're right about that...hunters are the best of us. -D
Fredd, what on earth is that in your picture?
I know with my dogs I always have requires Meds Daily. This puts urgency if someone finds them. It also makes people less likely to steel your dog if they think they require expensive medication.
DuckslayerWillis--That's a great point...and one that Steve Snell mentions, too. -D
Jcalin, that is taken from a bad taxidermy site a while ago. It is what happens when you try and save a few bucks. The animal in questions is a bobcat...can't you tell?
Fredd,
How many times does it make now that someone has asked that question? LOL
Gun Dog Supply great company!
Fredd, I thought you'd bagged the Cheshire Cat.
Dave D,
Did you get any information on electronic options. Just curious...
TF
Springer,
I have quite a bit of info that I'm going to use in a late post but for now check out this link to Gun Dog Dog Supply. Steve Snell has a fair amount of good info on the topic.
http://www.gundogsupply.com/dog-tracking-collars-and-radio-telemetry-sys...
Yea that way that the person did it was awsome exspetaly when he did that one thing to the other thing and it really made me go wow that was the best ever
Don't cheap out on Taxidermy. It brightens my day everytime someone asks about the bad Stuff job.
My beagle was returned to me this past weekend by a nice gentlemen who picked her up wandering up to people the next lot over in a state game land. I normally don't hunt him until after the regular deer season and I think the constant whistling and shouting of bird dog owners in the adjacent fields confused him when he lost the line on the rabbit. I could tell as that pickup eased up to me on the road I was walking and calling on that this guy had at least seen a lone dog, I couldn't have been happier when my beagles head popped out the window.
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As a follow up to that, the gentlemen who'd found her was a rabbit hunter who wouldn't take anything and laughed it off saying "I run beagles, someone drops one of my dogs off at the house about 5 times a season." Hunters are the best of us.
jcarlin- You're right about that...hunters are the best of us. -D
Fredd, I thought you'd bagged the Cheshire Cat.
Springer,
I have quite a bit of info that I'm going to use in a late post but for now check out this link to Gun Dog Dog Supply. Steve Snell has a fair amount of good info on the topic.
http://www.gundogsupply.com/dog-tracking-collars-and-radio-telemetry-sys...
Excellent write up! I've come across a huskie out in the forest that a runner lost. I ended up just letting the dog follow my companions and I around until we caught upthe the runner. No tags, collar, or body harness...I bet the guy learned his lesson about keeping his dogs on leash.
Lost one on a backpacking trip years ago. Looked for hours and hours before deciding that we were just going to have to trust in that phone call or get back to civilization, start contacting people, then head back out. Stumbled into a couple who were using the john at the traihead late that evening, who had happened into the dog 15 miles away at 11 a.m. and delivered her to a ranger. They weren't looking for us, just using the facilities before heading home after a day of crusing around and sightseeing. Ranger was 2 minutes away when we got to the outfitters where our car was parked and got hold of him. Ridiculously lucky. We lived in the city at the time and she wasn't a hunting dog. Our home phone number was on the collar, which helped not at all when we were in the woods 200 miles away. My hounds now both have my cell number first, my home number second. I don't know if keeping the name off of their tag would help. They'd answer to the smell of a potato chip.
Fredd, what on earth is that in your picture?
I know with my dogs I always have requires Meds Daily. This puts urgency if someone finds them. It also makes people less likely to steel your dog if they think they require expensive medication.
DuckslayerWillis--That's a great point...and one that Steve Snell mentions, too. -D
Jcalin, that is taken from a bad taxidermy site a while ago. It is what happens when you try and save a few bucks. The animal in questions is a bobcat...can't you tell?
Fredd,
How many times does it make now that someone has asked that question? LOL
Gun Dog Supply great company!
Dave D,
Did you get any information on electronic options. Just curious...
TF
Yea that way that the person did it was awsome exspetaly when he did that one thing to the other thing and it really made me go wow that was the best ever
Don't cheap out on Taxidermy. It brightens my day everytime someone asks about the bad Stuff job.
My beagle was returned to me this past weekend by a nice gentlemen who picked her up wandering up to people the next lot over in a state game land. I normally don't hunt him until after the regular deer season and I think the constant whistling and shouting of bird dog owners in the adjacent fields confused him when he lost the line on the rabbit. I could tell as that pickup eased up to me on the road I was walking and calling on that this guy had at least seen a lone dog, I couldn't have been happier when my beagles head popped out the window.
Post a Comment