5 Reasons to Prepare Pets for Natural Disasters, Tornados, Hurricanes, Floods

Here are six reasons you should prepare for disasters with pets, along with some tips on how to do so:

My Bloodhound Daisy who was the inspiration for this site and books. 

Preparedness with pets is not only good for them, but also for you. By following these tips, you can reduce the risk of losing or injuring your pet and yourself, plus have peace of mind in case of an emergency.

1. Pets are part of your family and you don't want to lose them in a crisis. Make sure you have a collar and a tag with your contact information for each pet, as well as a microchip if possible. Keep a recent photo of your pet in case you get separated.

2. Pets can provide comfort and support during stressful times. They can help you cope with anxiety, loneliness, and depression. Keep your pets close to you and try to maintain their normal routine as much as possible. 

3. Pets may need special care and supplies that are not readily available in an emergency situation. Prepare a pet emergency kit that includes food, water, bowls, leash, harness, carrier, litter, toys, medications, and veterinary records. Store it in a safe and accessible place.

 4. Pets may not be allowed in some shelters or evacuation centers, so you need to have a plan for them. Research pet-friendly hotels or motels in advance and keep a list of their phone numbers and locations. Ask your friends or relatives if they can take care of your pets in case of an emergency. You can also contact local animal shelters or rescue groups for assistance. 

5. Pets may get injured, sick, or lost during a disaster, so you need to have a first aid kit and identification for them. Learn how to perform basic first aid on your pets and keep a manual or a guide handy. Check your pets for signs of injury or illness and seek veterinary help if needed. If your pets go missing, contact local animal control agencies and post flyers with their photo and description.

Learn how to prepare your dog for evacuation and disasters with my book

 Evacuate with Your Dog's Help

From that link you can find the Family Disaster Dogs book with over 60 easy do at home lessons to help you be prepared.

All photos are copyrighted and my own.

Be Ready for Wildfire Season with Pets

 

click here to Check out the Book on Amazon  and Audible 

Get an author signed book directly from me at fddk9books.company.site

This book explains how-to evacuate with pets.

How-to make a bug-out (survival) bag for owners and dogs to carry.

Every dog of any age or size can help its family evacuate. Be prepared for disasters with your pets.

Learn what to expect at disaster shelters and from pet rescue during disasters.


Included is a detailed expanded list of survival items for pets and owners with step-by step instructions to train your dog to carry a saddlebag to hold items to evacuate and "bug-out" with.


Plus Pet CPR instructions and how-to calm a frightened pet.

How-to find a lost pet.

USA Evacuation Law for pets.

From the author of Family Disaster Dogs, books, blog and lessons.

Here's a no cost preview of this small valuable book.

Please leave a review, thank you for helping others to learn what to do too!

Make a Shelter From 3 Items and Survive the Storm

To make a shelter from 3 items

Make a fast emergency lean-to shelter

Items needed

You’ll need at least one item from each list below

1. Tarpaulin or Plastic Sheeting or Large Leaf Garbage bags (all of these items are on the list above and should be rolled tightly and packed in the Bug-out bag)


2. Twine or light rope, shoelaces work in a jam

3. A tree branch you can reach that is long enough for the shelter roof. Or a rock wall overhang or 2 to 4 long poles about 6 to 8 foot long cut from tree saplings

Find a tree branch or rock overhang that is tall enough to reach and has a flat open area on the ground below.

To Make the Shelter

Open the tarp or plastic, lay flat on the ground.

Using the twine, tie 2 of the corners of the opened flat tarpaulin or plastic sheet to the tree branch or use a heavy rock to tie to and set on the rock overhang then use rope or twine to secure the rock in place.

Long poles cut of tree saplings also placed against the rock wall will work. The poles can be put in the ground to make a lean too if the ground is soft enough.

Stretch the tarp out and to the ground for a sloped roof lean-to shelter. Use stick stakes or heavy rocks to hold in place.

Make as secure as possible with extra twine, rocks or stakes.

Lay another tarp, plastic sheet or garbage bags on the ground for a protective waterproof barrier.

Make the underside into your camp.

Hint

Face the doorway or open side away from prevailing winds and storms; usually they come from the west. South facing to the east is a good choice for most parts of the USA.

Learn more in my book 

Evacuate with Your Dog's Help-Survival Bag List

Visit www.Familydisasterdogs.com for more cool ideas !

Look for us on Facebook! Family Disaster Dogs (page and group)

My Puppy Can Find Me book and blog

“Does your child know what to do if they are lost?”

“Do you know what to do if they are missing?”

My Puppy Can Find Me picture book is your child’s first step on an exciting learning experience that will teach them what to do if they are lost or find themselves alone.

By reading this picture book with your children the whole family will learn what to do if they are ever separated or missing and how the family dog can be of assistance during emergencies.

This new concept of dog training teaches search dog skills to family dogs for in-home family rescue and missing person emergencies.

Your children will learn valuable lessons by doing these fun exercises that reinforce and teach the pet dog and family to work together during crisis situations to overcome fear and survive.

The whole family learns how to use the family dog to the full advantage regardless of the age, size or breed of the dog.

As a family member and part of the pack your dog always knows where each member of the pack is at, this is natural for the dog to know and we as dog owners only need to learn how to take advantage of this natural instinct our dogs possess.

Illustrations by UK dog cartoonist Helen "Scotty" King

Get a copy of  "My Puppy Can Find Me" by Amber Higgins for every child and parent from Waldorf Publishing so all dogs can help their families.

Pre-order your copy today which helps this book get into the major large bookstores so all children can learn, plus be included in the book's launch and 1st printing!

Only 14.95 !

You might save a child's life.

Visit Family Disaster Dogs online for more books and lessons that show you how any pet dog can rescue and help friends and family in disasters and emergencies.

Your dog finds you everyday and every dog knows how to find a family members for play,food and walks so why not ask your dog to find a lost loved one?

I show you how easy this is in my books.

Find us on Facebook at Family Disaster Dogs

Twitter at URDogCanFindU

Your Puppy is a Hero Dog

book centerfold-copyright protected

Scent Articles for Dog to Find Missing Family Members

Prepare to find loved ones with your dog ahead of time 

by gathering scent articles.

Blue Boy Homer
by A.Higgins

One of the easiest ways to find a lost person is to give a dog the person's scent and watch him find the scent. 

The dog is only looking for the smell and not for the actual person. 

The dog dose not necessarily associate the scent with the person unless the person is somebody they know with that scent. 

To a dog, a scent is a scent.

Therefore, the fastest and surest way to teach or ask a dog to find a person is to use the person's scent to show them who we seek and no two people smell alike. Everybody smells different and we smell different at various times during the day or if we are sick.

To teach your dog to search for a lost or missing family member or friend you have to prepare first by gathering a "scent article".  Click to Read more about Scent and how a dog follows its nose.

It is wise to gather one sock from each person you love or do not want to lose before you start training your family pet and to store these as instructed below for later use in training sessions or if a loved one is lost.

Also you can collect a item from each family pet as well, a old collar or brush would do. Store this item as outlined below use it as a scent article for a dog to find the missing pet

  For now and for training;

       Place one dirty sock from each family member in a one freezer bag each sock. Do Not Mix or touch the sock to anything, only the bag, use a hanger or stick to pick it up.

Warning:

DO NOT touch the sock yourself, have the person drop the sock from their foot to a new brown paper bag (lunch bag size) or a plastic freezer bag ( zip lock natural non chemical bag is best).

You will learn more about scent article collection at a scene in other articles.

This is the most important part of using a search dog. 

Do Not Contaminate that sock.

Reminder, Do Not Put 2 socks from different people together, each sock gets its own bag.

Store sock in the freezer until a few minutes before use.

This is called the "Scent Article"

The “scent article” tells your dog who they are looking for.

Handle with Care.

Keep one for each family member for use if a disaster ever strikes.

Amber and Bo getting ready to train to find a Lost Person.

Bo was 5 months old at the time of this picture in 2001. 

He later went to volunteer in California and then Georgia with his half sister Sambo. 

Side note: 

As a parent I use to remind my teenagers if they stayed out to late or ran away from home, the dogs could find them...smile and ya know,,,it worked too,,, wink to other parents, mine are all grown now.

Get all the lessons in the Family Disaster Dogs Books

Click the book cover below for a Free Copy and preview

If you would like a signed printed copy from the author use the contact form or sign up for new lessons, articles and events at www.familydisasterdogs.com 

Disaster Expo-Book Fair Events

click to get the book

Thank you for visiting the Family Disaster Dogs booth at the Florence Be Ready Disaster Expo !

Thanks to all who came to hear my talk about evacuating with our pets ! I had a great time visiting with everyone and learned a lot myself. Go Florence !

The weather is great for next week's book fair and I hope to see everyone there.

Take care, until next time...be ready !

Stay Calm and Carry On !

Follow that dog to read the complete Bug-out Bag List posted below this  post on   FamilyDisasterDogs.com

Dog Bug-out Go-Bag List-cats too

Dog Bug-Out Go-Bag List

Evacuate with your Dog and Pets

Willie ready to bug-out

Hi everyone, 

2019 update click to The Bug Out Bag Evacuate Page for updates to the below list but please read this whole post first too!

For those of you who haven't heard of a Bug-out bag, it is a carry bag, backpack or in a dog's case, saddlebag that you pack with emergency survival gear to last a certain amount of time, 24 hours, 48 hours, 72 hours. 

It's also called a go-bag, ready pack, grab-bag or 72 hour pack and it is meant to hold what you need to survive in the event of a disaster or emergency.

When you go away from home and leave food plus necessities behind this bag holds what you and your dog need to survive no matter where you are or what happens. 

To be ready for emergencies every household should have a 72 hour Bug-out bag for each person and pet packed ready at all times. 

This bag is meant to be a grab and go-to for food, water and first aid. You either carry it to a safe place when evacuating or have the bag with you when needed if something happens no matter where you are.

The basic needs to survive are food, water and first aid but other items can make the journey or stay away from home much more enjoyable or productive and safe. 

Like packing a simple fish hook and line in the bag because that small item can feed you for days after an earthquake or hurricane and long after the food in the Bug-out bag runs out. 

While doing search and rescue work we were required to carry at all times a 72 hour backpack or pack no matter what we were engaged in or how many other people were with us, we each had to be able to take care of and provide for ourselves.

In an actually disaster or emergency, you will have to take care of your needs too. Each person will have to take care of themselves for a little while until help arrives. This can be minutes or days depending on the situation and location.

Willie G and Miss Daisy ready to "bug-out" 2014

This go-bag or bug-out list is made up from items I actually used during search incidents and also includes what is recommended by FEMA and other agencies. 

Each person and pet should have a bag of it's own.

One of the first things I realized when I started writing the family disaster dog lessons was that most dogs could carry some of our survival gear or extra first aid supplies or food along with their own pet supplies. 

Then I wondered why didn't somebody else think of this :) Why didn't my Bloodhound carry my 72 hour bag way back then, oh the backache I could of saved myself today. I actually fitted Daisy and Willie up with bags as we wrote the first article and they both loved being so much help, they were excited and wanted to wear the bags everywhere. 

Daisy pictured below was a big girl, she even had a frying pan hanging on her pack for us to cook supper with. She was 12 years old and Willie was older when he started bug-out bagging, we had fun with it.

When I looked online, I found out that all of the dog or pet bug-out bags (emergency survival bag) recommendations or lists follow a general rule of suggestions that usually contain only basic pet items. 

Not many people had thought of including the dog owner's emergency preparedness items in a dog saddlebag, along with the dog's food for disaster or evacuation purposes. 

I did find a few campers and hikers that use dogs for carrying items but no specific dog bug-out bag for people. Which is my idea if anybody wants to produce them, let me know, I'm working on putting them together and if you do not wish to make your own, I can also put one together for you at cost of items and shipping. email me 

I do sell packed Family Disaster Dog Bags at events I do...here is "Dumpster" dog getting one..

His new bag is still being adjusted when this picture was taken

I thought this was a great idea because the dog can be included in being prepared for an emergency and instead of us trying to save the dog during a flood or tornado, the dog is helping us save the family or ourselves. 

Teach just one of my training lessons to any dog and you may save a life. 

The dog doesn't need to learn all the lessons. Like people every dog is different and has abilities they can use to help themselves and others in some way.

This concept of having the dog rescue us puts the dog into disaster planning where the dog will not end up lost, left behind or in a shelter. 

The dog has a purpose to stay with the family and help too. Why not use the dog's natural age old assistance they are always willing and ready to give us? 

Everyone I talk to agrees that the dog carrying the bag is a great helpful idea.  Our dogs are proud to carry extra things we might need and this gives the dog a job so they know what to do too, instead of being scared and in distress of the unexpected.

You can teach your dog to get the saddlebags and bring them to you too which saves valuable time as you get other people and things ready to evacuate. I have the lesson in the Family Disaster Dogs book and up on the lesson page above in the menu bar, you'll find the link.

Also, I have a lesson that teaches how your dog can wake you and family members in an emergency, like when tornado or storm sirens go off. You can send the dog to wake the children while you get the car ready. 

A well planned family could have a dog that helped load the car by waking up the children and fetching the gear to the car then all you do is open the doors.

The dog carrying a backpack can save valuable time and energy, this could be especially helpful for families with young children who can't carry much weight over long foot travel or an elderly person who can't carry much. 

You or other people would have to carry twice the load in that case, if there isn't a dog to help with the load.

I think it’s a good idea to evaluate the list below based on your own experience, location and then add items to it that might be useful for you and your family's environment.  

The list below looks large but it is meant to be lightweight and take up less space so you and your dog can carry food, water and a change of clothes in your backpacks. You may have to travel several miles on foot and the weight of a backpack can become a critical aspect when you have a long way to walk.

The 72 hour Go-Bag or Ready Bag that is recommended by FEMA and emergency management directors worldwide is designed for you to carry so you can walk to a safe location and survive for 3 days.

Note:

Unless you have a very small dog or pet, such as a bird, don’t worry about having a dog crate/cage to evacuate with unless you want to drag it along with you as you walk or if you are going to a human shelter which requires dog crates. 

(You can click the photo below to see more styles of cages on amazon and each purchase will help support the free lessons and work here. thank you)
A crate is important once you get to your bug out place or safe house. 

It is a good idea to have a crate waiting for you at your evacuation destination.

A leash is more important to have with your dog along with basic obedience training, in case a leash is not available.

A pillow case is handy to hold cats or other small mammals during extremely frightening times because the animal cannot see what is going on, they can breath and the material is comforting like a nest.

Birds can be slipped into a sock with the head out of a hole or gently covered so they do not see and get upset. Most animals can become very scared when people get excited or traumatized. It is safer to crate them or put them in a quite area away from the excitement, if at all possible.

If left on their own, most animals will seek shelter and come out after the excitement calms down and they will stay close to home unless they are scared away, and then most will return to a familiar location in a day or two.

Family Disaster Dog Bag ( basic)

Animal Rescue Shelters Recommendations

If you must leave your pets behind 

Inform animal rescue workers of your pets’ status by Writing On your front door or in a highly visible window, use chalk, paint or marker to write the number and types of pets in your residence. Include their location in your home and the date that you evacuated. 

Leave plenty of water in a large, open container that cannot be tipped over.

Leave plenty of food in timed feeders to prevent your pet from overeating.

Do not tie or cage up your pet in your home. If the house floods or collapses with windows breaking, the pet can escape if not confined in a cage or tied.

If you have any ideas you would like to share with others, please use the contact page to leave me a comment or idea to include on this site or share with others.




Dog or Pet 72 hour Ready Bag

Dog Go-Bag and People Bug-Out Bag..........List of Items

The Blue print are my recommendations. The black print is the usual list everyone tells us

These items are the survival supplies recommended for you to carry in bug-out bags.

A current color photograph of you and your pet together (in case you are separated)

Food, water – 3-day supply for each pet and person (Tie water bottles on outside of packs and use empty water bottles to store instant oatmeal, powered soups, instant rice, potatoes, powered milk, snacks and dog food)

Bowls -with lids, you can pack small items in these to fit in the space of dog backpack, can be used as cups too

Collar and leash -for dogs and cats too

Muzzle ( This is in case the dog is hurt and snapping from pain or fear)

Poop Scoop Baggies

Treats, toy

Blanket, towel, or newspaper for warmth

ID tag should always be on pet

Extra name tag

License number

Pet carrier or crate for each pet labeled with pet and owner’s information (keep near your bag).

Contact Lists Should be

Place in Pet’s backpack or rescue coat

Be aware that some shelters will only allow service animals. In a large-scale disaster, animal shelters will be set up when possible. Many of these facilities will be closed to the public in order to be able to deal with the rescues going in through other channels. The case load will be to large to take care of everyone which is why people should learn all they can about surviving without help.

1. Name, address and phone number of veterinarian, animal control and shelters in the  area. 

2. People to contact to take care of the animal 

This is a good idea if you are in a situation away from home so your animal can be taken care of. 

3. Be sure you leave a note with a friend about your pet being left at a kennel or day care in case something happens to you so they can get your pet. Kennels or day care facilities are often left with abandon dogs whose owners have disappeared.

If you are in a disaster, unless you have direct contact to a person, do not count on anybody to be able to help you because they might be in the same situation and need help themselves.

4. Vaccination and medical records

5. Allergy or other special instructions

Most first Aid Kits Recommend These Items

Scissors-other pocket knife

Gauze pads

Wipes

Instant cold pack (to big to carry-cold mud works in a pinch)

Adhesive tape

Tweezers

Soap

Antiseptic cream

Eye drops

Family Disaster Dogs recommends adding 

these items to your dog’s Go-Bag or Bug Out Bag

A compass and a map of your area

A Scent Article from each family member packed individually and secured in a plastic bag. Even if your dog is not trained they can be given a scent and they will seek the scent if you pay close attention you can read the dog, for instance, the nose may point in the person's direction while the dog remains sitting.

A couple of small flashlights with extra batteries or another light source

Water Purification Tablets

12 Hour Emergency Bright Sticks

16 Hour Hand Warmer

2 Mylar Emergency Blanket

Extra Collar & Leash Set

Reflective Dog Vest (cats too)

Life Jacket swim float vest for dog and cats

Pet Rain Coat and Boots will give your pet some protection in a nuclear fall out as will a full

Body rain suit for your self-extra shoes can hang on outside of bag

Tie-Out leash or chain 10-15 ft long

Powder Gatorade or electrolytes

Large Tea Bags (stops bleeding on dog or you, wet tea bag -hold on wound)

Candles and matches in a waterproof baggie.

Fire-starter (can buy in hunting section of stores)

Silverware, cup and bowl for yourself

Vet Wrap 

Toothbrush, hair brush and personal items to make yourself feel better, a favorite picture, toy or blanket,food item or comfort item always helps too

A book to read, like the family disaster dog book. Get a paperback copy or Get the Ebook for your device to read as you bug-out.

click the links to learn more, purchase and help support this site! Thanks.

Nutri-Cal is Concentrated Dog Food source used for sick animals that cannot eat. 1 teaspoon per 10 lbs body weight will keep your dog alive after you run out of dog food. This is a good standby to have.

Bandanna or scarf for muzzling, bandaging or using to hold your dog if you lose your other equipment. This should be hung on your dog’s pack as a flag for visibility by you at night. A bandanna is one of my favorite pieces of equipment because of their many uses. 

Plastic baggies to waterproof everything in the backpack. All of these items can be rolled or folded small to fit.

A couple of large garbage bags have many uses, as a tent, a rain coat, a sleeping bag or to carry items you find to eat.

A small waterproof container that can hold 10 Q-tips, a few cotton balls, matches, a foot or two of small twine, a razor blade, needle and thread.

Your dog should carry a couple days of food and water for you also, along with a small first aid kit in addition to what you carry in your own bug-out bag survival backpack in case one bag is lost. Click for Emergency Pet Food

There are many great brands of lightweight dehydrated human and pet food in the hunting section of large retailers, like Walmart or Amazon.

Extra light weight clothing can be hung over the dog's backpack in a plastic garbage bag to stay clean and dry.

Thanks for reading and I hope none of you ever have to Bug-out! 

Amber

Great News ! 

I have the Family Disaster Dog book available again ! July 2017

Self-published this time at a lower price without the middle man publisher too ! (The publisher was arrested for fraud and went out of business ) 

My edition is only $3.49 and you get all the lessons plus this page and more sent to your reading device or computer. (163 pages)

Get The Ebook Here on Amazon

Now available from Waldorf Publishing my children's book that shows your child how to ask your dog for help to find you and what a child can do when they find themselves lost ! 

Click to see "My Puppy Can Find Me" by Amber Higgins. I have a great illustrator in the UK who did the cartoons too! 

Sign up for the newsletter at the links on the sidebar to the right.

Suggested Bug-out bags to shop for:

Urban Survival Bug Out Bag, Choose from 2 or 4 Person Emergency Disaster Kit, 72-hour, Emergency Zone Brand (4 Person)

PREPPER'S FAVORITE: Emergency Get Home Bag with First Aid Kit, Water Filter, Food, Fire, Tools and Shelter. Ideal Compact Bug Out Bag, Earthquake Kit, EDC or 72 Hr Kit. Tactical Shoulder Bag Model


BE CALM & CARRY ON !

Follow That Dog !

Finding a Lost Dog

Tips and Tricks for Finding a Lost Dog

Realizing your dog is missing is a horrible feeling. Finding your dog can be one of the most difficult things to do because dogs can cover a lot of ground in a very short time. 

Dogs are friendly and will get into a car with strangers or follow a stranger home if they can not find you. The fact that your dog will return to the spot they last saw you in greatly overlooked when a dog is lost. Here are tips for finding your lost dog.

Irish Water Spaniel Kelly

An old Hunting Dog Trick

Hunters who use dogs know to leave their jacket where they turned the dogs loose if the dogs have not returned from the hunt by the time the hunters leave the field. The hunter will return the next day to find the dogs sleeping on the jackets.

When you first realize the dog is missing place a piece of your clothing at the last place you saw the dog. If the dog escaped from the yard or house then place the dog’s bed or blanket where they can find it.  Place the bed outside of the yard or house with a bowl of food.

If the dog got loose when you were walking it in a public place then leave an article of yours at the spot you lost the dog and then begin the search. Chances are when you check back at the Last Known Location of the dog the dog will be there wondering where you are.

An old Dog Breeder Trick

If the dog has ran off from your home or yard put some of your dog’s food or snacks in the dog’s bowl. This works best with dry food so if your dog eats wet food but likes dry dog treats use treats instead.

The idea is to shake the food in the bowl so that the dog thinks you are feeding. The dog can hear the food hit the bottom of the bowl from a very long way away. Keep this in mind as you make the food hit the bowl sound like feeding time.

You can use your hand to drop the food piece by piece into the bowl as a tease to prompt the dog to come to you. Rocks and a tin can will work too if a bowl and food are not nearby.  This works great for horses that are hard to catch too.

Let’s Go Trick

If the dog has just now ran off or became lost try honking the horn on your car. Animals often come to noises to investigate what is going on. If your dog knows the sound of the horn they will come to the car. Starting the car can work the same way. 

Dogs learn how the cars in the family each sound like and they know when you are leaving you start the car. If the dog is lost in a strange place and arrived in the car when they hear the car start they will not want to be left behind and will return to the car. This works at home for dogs who like to go for rides in the family car. 

I hope these tips and tricks help if your dog is ever missing.

Sorry if we missed you at the Dec 12th book signing. The weather and flu prevailed. I look forward to meeting you at the soon to be rescheduled event as well as the upcoming book tour starting in February. Check back soon for updates or sign up for updates on the right sidebar.

If you would like to set up a book signing or dog training event feel free to use to contact box at right.

Happy New Year

How to Train Your Dog to Find You

How to Train Your Pet Dog To Find You in a Emergency

This Family Disaster Dog lesson will tell you how to teach your family dog to find you during or after a natural disaster or emergency. You do not need to be a dog trainer or attend class to teach your dog to find you. Any dog owner can easily train their own dog to do this at home without any help. Read on to find out how.

A few of the dog training books on the market recommend to begin training a search and rescue dog, air scenting dog, tracking and mantrailing dog to find their handler or owner first as a way to start the dog in scent work. 

While I’m sure this method works fine, I believe like many other dog trainers do, that dogs naturally find or return to their handlers without any training. This natural trait of a dog to return to its owner is reenforced and "trained" as recall or return to handler through praise and repetition whenever the dog comes back to you. Therefore, most of this lesson is apparent in any dog training session if the handler pays attention or reads their dog they will see the dog completing this lesson when the dog returns to them without being told.

 

Our dogs come to us often during the day, they find us no matter where we are when it’s feeding time, bedtime or walk time. This natural instinct to find us when they want us can be used to our advantage during an emergency or disaster situation.

There’s two ways you can teach your dog to find you, one is without any other tracking or search dog training and the other way is by adding this lesson to your dog’s tracking, air scenting or trailing lessons. You can also take a look at my most recent book "Start Mantrailing-Train a Dog to Find People"  Step by Step For Fun, Work and Sport. (Pub. 2020) 

For those of you wish to train your dog to find you without using any of the other lessons on this site you can follow the directions below. Other dog owners who have been following the lessons here at Family Disaster Dogs can add this lesson into any of their training sessions.

This lesson can be taught to any dog at any age, even young puppies, on and off a leash.

Fred, who I have Groomed is happy to find his owners!

The easiest way to train your dog to find you is to play hide and seek whenever the opportunity comes along. For instance, your walking your dog off-leash on a hiking path. You can quickly and quietly hide behind a tree or other obstacle and wait for your dog to realize your missing.

Do not make any noise unless your dog is in danger.

Most dogs will not take long to notice you have disappeared and they will start looking for you on their own. Some dogs will take longer then others to notice or look for you while other dogs get anxious very quickly when your out of sight.

Once your dog starts looking for you, you can make a few little noises to encourage and direct them or you can wait.

As soon as your dog finds you, praise for a job well done.

You can use this same idea with a long light weight leash on a walk with dogs who will run off without a care in world about where you are. If your dog is this type, they will come back sooner or later to find you. Especially when they get hungry or tired of running.

All the leash does in this training situation is speed things up in training your dog to notice you by limited the area they can work but this can be dangerous if you do not have experience with using a long training leash.  

A fenced yard is safer and works well to keep the dog in an area if they are not trained to stay with you. You can learn how to teach your dog to pay attention on the obedience page.

If your dog  has any trouble finding you at first then make a few noises or call them in an exciting way to encourage them to come to you, praise them for a job well done. If you make the lesson fun the slower dogs will get faster at finding you.

After a few times of playing hide and seek, then remain quite and let your dog realize you haven’t called them and they will start wondering why and see what your up to. Praise them with petting, say “good dog” and play with them to encourage them to look for you anytime your out of sight.

Another way to show your dog to find you can be done at home, anytime you want to play with your dog you can hide in the house and make noises or use a dog toy to make noises to get your dog’s attention and when they find you , praise them. After a few times then stop making the noise and wait.

You can do this in a fun way by running away from your dog all of a sudden indoors or out, call them and then hide. They will be looking for you quickly if you make this a game. You can throw a toy for them to fetch and you can hide while they go out to get the ball or toy.

Another method is to use a tracking course you make yourself. AKC and other tracking dogs going for titles in tracking often learn to track their owners first or as practice in learning how to follow a course.

This is done by you making the trail or track course yourself. You act as the “trail layer” leaving a path of scent on a mapped course for the dog to follow. You can learn more about how to make dog tracking courses on the Lesson Links Page in the page menu at the left.

An easy way to do this is without your dog present, or your dog can be held by somebody else, tied or in the car. You’ll need a couple of items of your clothing you have wore recently that has not been touched by another human.

You will start the path for your dog to follow to you by dropping a item of clothing and walking slowly in a straight line for about 30 paces where you will place another item of clothing along with a dog treat to reward your dog, scruff your feet as you walk another 20 or 30 paces and leave another scent article or item of clothing at the ending of the course or path with a dog treat.

Go get your dog and let the trail of scent settle without anybody else walking over or around it.

Take your dog to the starting clothing item, point to the item and along the path of the scent to the other item.

 Encourage your dog to go forward by starting to walk in the direction of the next item as you tell your dog to go find. Go to the next item of clothing and let your dog find the dog treat, then point and encourage them to go to the next and last item.

After you do this a few times, you will be able to point to an item of your clothing and your dog will follow your scent trail to every item and place you have been in the order that the scent was laid out.

Wrinkledpups Daisy Mayham (the author)
The nose knows

If you are ever missing; another person can ask your dog to find you by giving your dog your scent. 

If you say your name at every item then your dog will learn your name and find you by name if another person ask them to. (more on this below)

You should use an area you have not walked on in the last 24 hours and leave the trail once it is laid by walking straight ahead away from the last item.

Do not cross the scent path you just made or else your dog will be going in circles confused following your steps. You have to walk the long way around or have a car pick you up then drive you around to the beginning of the course.

 I will be writing more about advanced search and scenting methods your dog can learn in coming lessons links. Such as a missing member search or following people’s scent that have traveled by car or  horseback and motorcycles.

After you practice teaching your dog to find you in several ways, you can hide and have a helper release your dog to locate you either by name or showing the dog your clothing item.

Area search dog lessons can be set up using yourself as the subject or lost person where you go out into a field or area and hide with a helper releasing your dog.

Anytime you get the chance to play with your dog in this way they will be learning to find you in an emergency or disaster. You will be reinforcing the natural instinct in the dog to find and join their family pack if they are separated.

Children can learn how-to with my children's picture book called "My Puppy Can Find Me" . Find it at my author page below. This book is a great gift! 

Visit my Author Page on Amazon where you can find all my books for free on kindle or listen to them on Audible and get a paperback. 

Thank yo for sharing this article so others can learn to be safe with a dog's help! 

Family Disaster Dogs

Chloe and Mijo can find you !!!!

Get over a 160 pages of lessons in the Family Disaster Dogs ebook or paperback
Teach your dog to help your family in emergencies

click book cover for free preview below

Includes Pet CPR , evacuation laws, shelter info and updated bug-out supply list