Stay still or go and search for lost dog?

[StinkyDora]

This morning my 8 month old Patterdale shot off after a muntjac deer at the local country park. Thankfully some kindly dog walkers found her wandering after about half an hour and rang me to come and get her. Her recall is usually pretty good but no chance if there is a deer to chase. I would like to know whether it's better to go and look or just stay close to where the dog knows I was? Though we may not be going there again Photo is her current status and a bath will be happening soon!

[Floralnomad]

Well as the owner of a patterdale x I just wouldn’t be going there again , mine goes off lead everyday but only in selected areas where I know there is nothing for him to chase . If I did lose him though I would be looking not staying still as the likelihood is they will go down a hole and get stuck .

[BiteyShark]

I have trained recall to a whistle so I would stay in the area blowing my whistle in case he was trying to work his way back.

I maybe would walk to people if they were close by and tell them I had lost my dog (we kept a lost dog in one area whilst my DH found the owner because she had told us earlier on a walk).

If my dog hadn't returned in an hour I would head home and try and get help and word about to get more people to help.

[fivedogstofeed]

I think the usual advice is to stay close to where she last saw you, as invariably a dog will return to that place even if it takes a while. If you have to move then you put food, water and something that smells of you in that place.
Apparently a bottle of your own urine poured around the area is the most reliable smell to bring a dog back.

[StinkyDora]

Thanks everybody. I don't think we'll be going there again but good to know if she takes off again. Not too sure where to keep that bottle of urine though