Tino searched for Maya today. She is about one year old, a rescue from Texas. She bolted two days ago when a big dog ran toward her on a hiking trail. We started the search at 6 AM, near Tradition Lake in Issaquah, but it was still too warm even before dawn, 63 degrees. Tino followed the scent down to the “lake”, which was really just a big mud pit. Tino tried to cool off by lying in the mud. We saw some dog prints that were about the right size for Maya. We also saw bear paw prints. A section to the west of the lake had stronger scent, which got weaker in both directions along the trail. The stronger scent was probably due to Maya doubling back on her own trail, but which direction did she go last? We followed the scent along the network of hiking trails for six miles before Tino got too hot. He cooled off in a small clear creek.
When we got back to the cars, I told Maya’s person that it seemed most likely, judging by the way Tino worked the scent, that Maya was circling around the trails, staying close to the water sources, and we didn’t find any scent trail leading out of the area. I advised her on Calming Signals, magnet dogs, humane traps, and wildlife cameras. I also suggested more posters at other trailheads, and articles of clothing as scent lures.
After the search, I took Tino to Luther Burbank Park to play, and to wash off the mud. He fetched the ball a dozen times. I threw it as far as I could out into Lake Washington, to make sure to get all of the dried mud off. Because it was a warm day, Tino didn’t shake the water out of his coat. He waited until we were two blocks from home before he shook, and showered me with cold water.
An hour after we got home, I got the message that Maya had followed her human’s scent back to the parking lot, and she was found waiting near the car, ready to go home.
When we got back to the cars, I told Maya’s person that it seemed most likely, judging by the way Tino worked the scent, that Maya was circling around the trails, staying close to the water sources, and we didn’t find any scent trail leading out of the area. I advised her on Calming Signals, magnet dogs, humane traps, and wildlife cameras. I also suggested more posters at other trailheads, and articles of clothing as scent lures.
After the search, I took Tino to Luther Burbank Park to play, and to wash off the mud. He fetched the ball a dozen times. I threw it as far as I could out into Lake Washington, to make sure to get all of the dried mud off. Because it was a warm day, Tino didn’t shake the water out of his coat. He waited until we were two blocks from home before he shook, and showered me with cold water.
An hour after we got home, I got the message that Maya had followed her human’s scent back to the parking lot, and she was found waiting near the car, ready to go home.
RSS Feed