I am becoming increasingly worried about the amount of dog theft being reported. A lot of thefts are reported as happening when the dogs are being walked. Are the thieves laying in wait with pieces of liver and a quick getaway? I try to vary my walks but this time of year is very difficult with such little daylight. I saw this dodgy looking chap watching me a few weeks back, I'm sure he was probably innocent but I do worry that my dogs will be grabbed and bundled off before I have a chance to do anything. How do others feel about this and what do you do to try to protect yourselves and your dogs?
Lorna

I have been followed when walking the dog ,by the same person :(
I always take my phone with me and if any body strange aproaches me or makes comment on the dog I ask them not to approach him ( I don't say why !)
I don't do the night time walks in the dark but other than that ( and the 12bore down my trouser leg ) I try not to worry unduly :D
It is a worry but I just try to be sensible about where and when I walk :)
( on the other hand if anyone took my dog they'd soon bring him back :D )
Liz

Are your dogs identified Lorna eg: tattoed/chipped? It wont stop them being stolen but it will help for them to be returned, if they are found. I always carry my mobile phone with me and if I spot something or someone I am not *happy* with, I cut my walk short.

Dog snatching seems to be the local *sport* around here at the moment :-(

Liz is right though, try not to get paranoid, but do be observant :-)

I had someone approach me once trying to talk to me about my dog whilst I heard another man calling her...I didn't half let them have it! ...my dog is the prettiest Yorkie I have ever seen (biased view I know :D) and she does attract a lot of attention so I was not surprised by the man stopping, (however I never allow them too close.) What did surprise me was this other, younger man calling out, kinda whistling to get her attention, luckily she is her mummys little girl and would only go if I did.

She is also microchipped as I did that as routine as I will my new puppy. But my legs felt like jelly at the time, it was a while ago now but I still think about it. another note is I never leave her tied up outside a shop, if she is not welcome I wont buy there. Or I dont take her :)

Lynsey

Sorry - I didn't mean to sound paranoid, just a little more concerned than I may once have been. I suppose I never even imagined that someone would steal a dog from you. Both my girls are chipped, I don't have a mobile but did used to have one of those rape alarms, suppose I could keep that in my pocket - at least its noisy and a deterrent. Also meeting up with friends for joint walks is always good. Looking at the muddy smelly state of them today when I was out walking, I don't think anyone would want them in their car :) ;) :)
Lorna

If you think someone is following you, cross the road (if there is one), turn round and walk past him (not too close). This makes it difficult for him. If he turns and follows, go to the nearest occupied shop/house etc and get help.

Michael
14 December 2002

When we were looking after my mum in laws dog a little yorkie, out on our walks the amount of people who came up to us just wanting to know about her (while molly was off like a nutter!) her breeders etc I just picked her up and walked back to the car all about money I surpose? :( Julieann

I understand a lot of dog thefts happen when the dog is taken from its own garden (this happened to friends of mine, and they have never seen the dog again - it was a puppy in a very secure pen, so couldn't have escaped). This is one reason why I don't have a dog-flap installed. I need to know where my dogs are, and to know that they are safe.