Protecting against dog theft.

1. Be extra vigilant
The first thing to do is to simply be alert – recognise that dog theft may be on the rise and be extra vigilant. Make sure you are always aware of your dog’s whereabouts, whether you’re at home or out and about. If a stranger approaches you with suspicious questions about your dog, its price or your address, be cautious with the information that you share.

2. Microchip
Ensure that your dog is microchipped and that your details, including your address and phone number, are up-to-date with a microchip database such as Petlog. Correct microchipping information means that stolen or lost dogs which are found can be quickly reunited with their owners. Make sure your dog is wearing a tag on its collar with your up-to-date contact details too.

3. Secure your property
Many owners let their dogs roam in their garden, including  breeders with litters of puppies. While this is a great set-up for dogs, it can be an easy access point for thieves and dogs may escape and stray from the property. If you are keeping your dog or dogs outside, don’t leave them unsupervised. Always make sure your garden and house is secure, keeping your dog in but intruders out.

4. Keep your dog safe in public spaces
If you are taking your dog for a walk, make sure you can always see them and that they are reliably trained to come back to you when called. Never leave dogs tied up outside of a shop or other public spaces and choose dog-friendly establishments when going out. Don’t leave dogs alone in a car either, to prevent them from being stolen as well as suffering from overheating.

5. Report any suspicious activities
To protect your four-legged friend as well as other dogs, report any suspicious activity to police, whether it concerns your own dog and property, or you witness it.

6. Keep up-to-date photos of your dog.
Having recent photos of your dog, including their size and any distinguishing features, can help to track them down, and also helps to prove ownership if necessary. It’s also a good idea to keep your dog’s important documents, like insurance and microchip number, somewhere safe so you can easily locate them in an emergency.

We hope these tips will help to keep your dog safe, but if they do go missing or are stolen it’s crucial to act quickly. Immediately report the crime to the police and ensure you are given a crime reference number - and that your dog is correctly reported as stolen, not lost. Notify your microchip provider and alert your local authority dog warden if you have one, as well as nearby rescue centres and vets. Social media can also be a helpful tool to spread the word quickly.

Article HERE

"Never leave dogs tied up outside of a shop or other public space"

I wish people would realise how much risk they are putting their dogs in when they leave them tied up outside stores down here in the SW.   I never saw it up East so was amazed to see this going on down here.  A lot!    And it's not just mutts either.

Someone on Facebook posted a good idea to make it harder for someone to quickly unclip your dogs lead. It's a little metal cable with a screw cap. They threaded it threw the colar ring and threw where the lead is attAched to the clip.
Thought it was a good idea.

I know some people are now carrying attack spray stuff. It's coloured stuff that won't wash off for ages, harmless but leaves a person red or purple.

With So many getting jumped on walks now I'm considering getting both.

I'd buy skunk oil in a spray bottle.

Petloc are selling a cut proof collar and lead with a combination lock.

Crazy Dog Lady:  Petloc
What a great idea!  I'll be on line looking for this device as well as the Skunk Spray.
After all posts relating to Dog Theft, I have just returned from my monthly trip to town.  3 separate Dogs tied up outside Supermarket.  Waited for one owner to return and tried to explain the danger.  Well for a little old grey haired Lady she certainly knew some very rude words (I didn't wait for the other 2 owners).  Madness but the wildest conversation I have encountered in a while.

I like the idea of the hard-to-unclip hardware, but I do wonder if it might be better (for certain kinds of dog) to actually unclip the lead yourself if someone’s trying to grab them.

I know a thief would have a much harder time trying to get my nervous papillon if he didn’t have a lead on. Even I have to bribe him with treats on the ground when I want to put him on lead again - he’s just scared of being grabbed and doesn’t like anyone getting hold of his collar or harness at the best of times. He likes to say hello to people but he wouldn’t tolerate any scary movements.

I think I’d let him free and encourage him to run.

That’s not going to work with a confident friendly dog of course, no point letting them off just for them to run straight to the thief!

You do have a very valid point. If a dog runs away from strangers and it's safe for you to do so, letting the dog run off is the best way to prevent a theft in that situation. Dogs run much faster than humans can.

Anti theft measures need to take into account the tempermant of the dog,

The picture in their website implied it is so u can leave your dog more safely tied up outside a shop for example

That brings us back to the beginning I wouldn't leave mine tied up anywhere if I wasn't there . I v v rarely leave then in a locked car as I've known of dogs vanish even then

Where did u get skunk oil spray ? I cant find it even on amazon .

its not just theft. an unattended dog could be teased by a child/trodden on and snap.  If the owner is not there to protect the dog the dog will likely defend itself and could end up PTS .
Have to admit I am really quite paranoid about theft with our latest dog a young whippet as she really attracts people and they are being used more in adverts etc.  I was glad her surgery for spay left a bit of a scar as at least it means instantly unattractive to puppy farmers.  Have also heard quite a few pet owners say they will be having their male dogs castrated to reduce their attractiveness to thieves- nothing to do with the dogs behaviour

I have added spayed to brookes tag .not that everyone will see that immediately but makes me feel better should she escape or something.

weimed:  > its not just theft

Exactly and how often have we seen children tease dogs in this position or indeed try to feed them something that could do real harm!  Once watched a toddler sucking a dummy then offering it to a dog tied to the trolley park, then taking it back.  This happened 4 or 5 times in quick succession while the toddler's parents found it hilarious.  the Dog sat still but on the last tease knocked the dummy from the child's hand with it's paw making the child cry - guess what - the dog got the blame from the 'halfwit' Parents.!

The skunk spray os interesting but is it even legal to spray it even if someone is trying to steal your dog?

I thought it was not legal to spray something at a person even if they mean you harm?

> Well for a little old grey haired Lady she certainly knew some very rude words (I didn't wait for the other 2 owners).

It wasn't me, I swear   It's a shame but people hate being told!!

I'm not sure it's legal to spray people........ UK

> I have added spayed to brookes tag .not that everyone will see that immediately but makes me feel better should she escape or something.

Yep, my tags all have

neutered and chipped
vets fees guaranteed
reward for return

on one side and on the other my name, postcode and phone number. I think most people can use google maps these days, if they put my postcode in and come to the general area anyone here would recognise my dogs and point them towards my house