Is your dog friendly and outgoing?
Friendly dogs will often go up to the first person who calls them. These dogs are often found relatively close to home, or are quickly picked up close to the escape point. (This can vary, depending on the population and area where the dog was lost.) The people who find extremely friendly, social dogs are often tempted to adopt them.
Moose — my escape artist dog — is an outgoing, friendly sort of dog. I remember one morning jaunt he took when we still lived in Vermont. He bolted out the door as I was on my way to work; he showed up a few hours later in my next-door neighbor’s yard.
Is your dog aloof, or wary of strangers?
Shy or standoffish dogs will generally avoid human contact if they escape the house or yard. Because they avoid people, they can travel pretty far before they’re caught. Even aloof dogs can be enticed by food and lots of patience. These dogs may go missing for weeks or months — the people who eventually catch an aloof dog may think the dog has been abused or neglected but often the dog is simply shy.
My Lally can be shy and skittish around new people and unfamiliar sounds. Sometimes she’ll follow Moose on an escape adventure, and she’s often the harder one to catch. I caught up to the two of them in my car once, and Moose hopped right in. Lally was much more reluctant to join him.
Is your dog easily startled?
A dog who bolts in panic may travel long-distance in a short amount of time. Some dogs take off in a blind panic and can go for miles; these dogs are at a high risk of being hit by a car. An extremely skittish dog may even run away from his or her owner. You may be able to use another dog to lure a skittish dog in for capture. You may have to use a baited humane trap to catch a panicky dog.