Coaxing a terrified dog - Help asap please

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Sheri

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Evening all,

When I arrived at work this morning I was told about a dog that had been dumped by 'Gypsies' (no racism meant - this is what I was told) apparently he was thrown out of a transit van yesterday evening in our industrial estate.

The mechanics who told me (works next door neighbours) said they had tried to coax him but he ran scared, he was around this morning but shot off when his mate arrived with his dog which barked seeing another dog on his premises!

I spotted him a few times during the day both by seeing him on the estate/ road and by going looking! I contacted the dog pound and they were already aware and trying to catch him, I left my number.

I got quite close to him this afternoon with some stinky dog food but again he fled as I slowly moved closer.

He is a brindle Greyhound, stupidly skinny, big sore on his ribs/ rump, when he runs he keeps looking back, tail between his legs, and head down.

I can't get the image out of my head - god bless him

I've knicknamed him Stig (Stig of the dump & Stig the tame racing driver!)

The security guard in the estate opposite told me he is there in the mornings so to go early when its quiet - any tips for tempting him to come to me?

Through speaking to different people I have basically found out that he was dumped quite a few days ago, then was spotted v close to the local permanent Traveller site, then was dropped off again last night :( I dread to think what must be running through his mind :'(
 
It's only one morning, keep feeding him in the same place and building up the contact. Stay low (crouched, sitting) don't make eye contact and just let him be comfortable in your presence.
No sudden, jerky movements.

You could also leave out a crate (solid plastic or cage type) with food in it, safe place where he could feel comfortable and he could associate it with being a good place to be.

It may take a few days before he is less skittish though.
 
Oh how sad :( Poor little thing. I don't really know the breed, but am thinking it is small? Could you ask the RSPCA or another animal centre if you could borrow a trapping cage? and put some food in for him.. Whether he will be brave enough to go in though. Other than that I would sit down and see if he comes to you, talk gently and have food there. No very good advice, but i'm sure the knowledgeable dog peeps will be able to help more.

Good luck, hope you catch him. :)
 
You really need to keep up with the food and try and gradually get him into somewhere secure and escape proof, a building, somewhere you can shut off, its hard, we have spent up to a week in cars sleeping over night to catch terrified feral dogs, one was caught in a garden, one trapped in a stable, sometimes opening a car can see a dog leap in, otherwise he needs to get used to seeing you place the food so he can associate you with the goodies and you need a slip lead, to slip over his head, just sit not threatening and gradually throw food further away then closer and closer in general they stay in the area and back track on their own scent and will indeed keep visiting a food site, we also trapped one in a building by placing string on the door and sitting in the car and leaving a trail of food into the building, we then pulled the door closed, obs becareful he does not try to bite when if you get close, no eye contact and approach from the side and hunker down, otherwise he will scarper, also alert people in the area you are desperate to find him do some posters say he needs meds and is scared, you would be surprised how many go out of their way to help trap them in their gardens, building e,t,c.
Try taking another dog with you when you are looking and use some strong smelling food (tripe)
They do tire but it can take a while and in this colder weather they do try and shelter, this is usally when you can trap them, we got one in an alotment when she was retreating there to sleep.
 
Worst thing about lurchers they can cover ground at an alarming rate, but they do tend to back track, best thing, they feel the cold and need to shelter, if he returns to the industrail estate that may be your chance to get set up to coax him into a building, food, string, car:D they generally will not venture into a small space but will venture mostly anywhere a little more open for food.

You would also be suprised that they will randomly surrender themselves to a random non threatening person thats not even trying to catch them:rolleyes:
 
As above it will take time and patience to get his trust , just keeping taking food at a regular time and hopefully eventually he will realise you mean him no harm. Years ago there was a little GSD bitch running locally near where we lived, she was in full milk so couldn't just try and trap her in case she had pups somewhere. With regular feeding she eventually came to trust my mum and the dog warden and they were able to follow her back to a foxes earth where she had a litter of pups. They were able to get them all and bring them back to our house, and with time mum and babes were all rehomed. Please keep us updated how you get on.
 
Do hope you can manage to help the poor dog.
Think about leaving an old coat/sweater where you leave the food as it will smell of you (no offence meant lol!) so then you won't be such a strange smell to him either which might be a comfort to him and he might even use it as a bed, even better.
Best of luck, let us know how it goes.
 
Oh poor thing. At least if he is hungry you stand a chance so all I can suggest is keep feeding him in the same spot and then maybe try move the food closer to a building/inside a building that potentially you can close? I mean, it sounds like he must have been near humans so I would say it would only be a matter of time to build up some degree of trust. Try sitting near to the food if at all possible so he gets used to you being there.

We found a littl dog that appeared to have been dumped near our field one day. it was limping and we reckon it'd been thrown out of a car. That too was nervous and it did take a bit of persuasion to get it near us and then we went for the old quick grab technique! Fortunately it worked!!! We managed to rehome him locally as after advertising him as being found noone ever camne forward for him. He's living the life of a real pampered pooch now!
 
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