Dognapping advice

Sadly dog theft is a common occurrence and is rife all around the country so it certainly pays to be extra vigilant with your dogs. If you do notice anything out of the ordinary or suspicious please report it to the police and the range warden. However there are certain things that we do already and that you can do too to help keep your pups as safe as possible. Try to keep your dogs close when out on a walk and don’t let them approach strangers. Try to vary your walks so that you are not following the same routes and times every day. Pay close attention to what is going on around you so you are aware of any other people and vehicles in the vicinity. Don’t leave your dogs unattended anywhere, even in your own garden, a surprisingly high number of dogs are stolen from their gardens. Know your breed, some breeds of dog are simply more at risk of being stolen. Certain pedigree dogs have a higher re sale value for thieves and working gun dogs are another common target. Make sure your dogs are microchipped and details are kept up to date at all times. This gives you the best chance of being reunited with them should the worst happen. Work on your dog’s recall. Here at Contented Dogs this is something we practise on every walk with every dog. Your dog needs to reliably come back to you even if a friendly stranger with treats is calling! Make sure you have lots of up to date photos of your dog including any distinguishing marks. Most importantly enjoy your walks with your dogs, it’s important to think of security but equally important to enjoy the time together.