09/04/2026
Yesterday afternoon, 3½-year-old dachshund Rita disappeared during a pack walk in Whistler.
We got the call this morning and headed up to help search.
The area was almost made for a little dog to disappear in—thick forest, moss-covered ground, roots, logs, hollows and hundreds of tiny protected places where a dachshund could curl up, stay hidden and feel completely safe. With heavy rain expected, though, time mattered.
We searched with our Tamaskans. They gave us a few indications and worked through the bush, but nothing developed into a strong enough scent trail to take us directly to Rita. Our dogs don’t only track; they’ve been trained to also move through dense areas and encourage a frightened dog to come out.
One of the hardest parts of any lost-dog search is that the humans are understandably scared too.
When a member of your family disappears into the woods, staying calm is easier said than done. People are anxious, exhausted and desperate to do something—but with a frightened dog, too much emotional intensity can make things worse.
We’ve seen it happen many times: an owner finally spots their dog, becomes overwhelmed with relief, calls loudly or rushes toward them—and the frightened dog bolts straight back into the woods.
Rita’s owners were exceptional. They listened, stayed composed and followed the plan.
After our search, they left briefly to prepare themselves to spend the next several nights in the area. They left behind a chair and, most importantly, a camera to monitor the location for any sign of her.
Then they came back.
Sitting happily in their chair was Rita.
After all the searching, worrying and wondering where she could possibly be, she had quietly returned and was waiting for them.
A few things we’ve learned over many years of searching for lost dogs:
• Stay calm. Your dog may already be frightened and operating on instinct.
• Don’t aggressively call or repeatedly yell your dog’s name. Pressure can push a scared dog farther away.
• Don’t leave food unattended. It can attract wildlife and other animals and may complicate the search.
• If you leave a familiar item, monitor it with a trail camera. You need to know whether your dog has actually returned to the area.
• Be prepared to wait. Dogs can disappear for several days and still return safely.
• If you see your dog, don’t chase them. Sit down, turn the intensity off, be boring and give them time to approach you.
• Put posters up. Sightings from the community can completely change a search.
It’s very normal for a lost dog to disappear for 48–72 hours or even longer. Something scares them, adrenaline takes over and they can run in almost any direction. Some larger breeds can cover several kilometres before finally settling somewhere.
Lost-dog searches rarely come down to one person or one technique. Owners, friends, searchers, trained dogs, cameras, scent, posters, patience and good decisions all become pieces of the same puzzle.
Today, those pieces came together.
We’re thrilled that Rita is home, safe and sound.
We’ve got a GoFundMe to help us acquire a thermal drone for night searches. Please take a look and consider donating. A thermal drone would give us another important tool when searching large areas after dark and helping bring more lost dogs home.
