My god, I've just had the most horrible morning!!

I took the dogs out for a walk, to a woods we don't go to very often - my boss recommended it, as she goes every saturday with two of her dogs and a friend and his, and they go for 3 or 4 hour walks.  Not many long walks my way, so I thought it would be nice.

About 20 minutes in, with both dogs dashing in and out of the undergrowth either side of the big track we were walking along, both disappeared, so I started calling.  Remy turned up for his bit of hot dog, but no sign of Opi.  I kept on calling, thinking she'd probably found a nice smell, but still no sign.  15 mins later I went in where she went with Remy on-leash, and I couldn't see her anywhere - by this point I was in tears and panicking, no idea where she was or what to do.

I eventually got back to the track - got quite turned around in there - and headed back up the way we'd come, thinking maybe she'd headed that way - when I passed a couple and their little dog, who'd seen us when we arrived - luckily they'd seen Opi, and sent me the right way - well, I ran!!  I've never been so happy to see her in her life, more tears of course :)

Turns out she'd got completely turned around, and gone up some little path or other in the woods (there were a few in there) and come out on the other side away from me and Remy, quite a way down another big track, and had been circling round it since trying to spot us.  Trouble was, my shouts were echoing so badly she couldn't tell where we were.

So, we're safe home now and we're not going back there again!  I've never been so wet in my life (it was pouring with rain, of course) but frankly, I just don't care :D

I'm so glad you found her again safely - what an awful worry that must have been for you.  Glazby has been getting a little too adventurous recently and disappeared on a walk a couple of weeks back.  He was only gone for a matter of less than 5 minutes but the panic I felt....  :-(

I also saw a little dog wandering through the woods on her own a week or two ago - clearly lost with no owners in sight, I trailled after her for about half an hour trying to catch her but couldn't.  Still hope she's okay now  :-(

Have a nice warm drink and a cuddle with Opi.  :-)

It's an awful feeling, isn't it! I've lost my boy for 5 minutes and was in a total panic!!! Usually though I can see him, he's just ignoring me!

She doesn't normally disappear like she did - she just got turned around in there, just like I did when I went in after her - normally she comes straight back.

We've had a good cuddle, and now I'm going to buy some big bells for their collars :D

Poor You! Opi had probably caught the scent of a squirrel or rabbit and bounded off into the wilderness.  I always take a whistle with me, as one of my girls gets very bold now and speeds off when on the scent. She'll come zooming back after a few minutes innocently looking at me as if to say "What's the problem?" If your in a wood/forest you don't know always stay on the pathways it is extremely easy to get lost.

I once got lost in a Forest with OH and children after wandering off the pathways,thinking we were having great fun, until we realised we were lost, it got really dark and we were completely disorientated, but I said just follow the dogs very confidently (I didn't really have a clue if they knew where they were going, but didn't want to scare the children) and the dogs led us back to the path after 20 mins or so. I'm glad that you had a happy ending too, though knowing dogs, she would have probably found you if you had kept on calling.  But I can imagine how your heart must have been pounding.

Phew, I am so glad you had a happy ending there.  I can imagine the panic you were in :(

Coon hunters use some kind of radio transmitter collar so they don't lose their dog.  A friend once had a farmer try to keep one of his dogs after it ended up in the barn but the radio transmitter collar proved it was the hunter's dog.

The OH told me when he was hunting they would leave an article of clothing where they had last seen the dog, or beside where their vehicle had been parked, in hopes the dog would make it back there and lie down on the coat or whatever it was.

Probably the second idea is worth trying if you can't find your dog.  If I thought I needed the radio thing I just wouldn't let my Lab off her leash.