Lost Dog Search Services in the UK
If your dog is missing and you need help searching, the right support depends on the last confirmed sighting, the ground to cover and how the dog is behaving. This guide explains the available search options and when a professional drone search may be useful.
Compare the search options
Most searches combine several of these at once. Only the drone search in the last row is a service arranged through Pet Search and Drone Assisted. Everything else is provided by third parties or by you, your family and your community.
Swipe the table sideways to see all columns.
| Option | What it helps with | Limitations | Next step |
|---|---|---|---|
| Community awareness | Posters, local groups and neighbours put more people on the lookout and generate sightings. | Reports can be vague or out of date, and shared posts can attract people who chase the dog. | Make a clear poster and ask people to report, not approach. |
| Vets, rescues, council and microchip database | Found dogs are often scanned or reported here, so your details need to be current. | Only helps once someone finds or reports your dog. | Report to your local council dog warden, nearby vets and your microchip database. |
| Coordinated ground search | Methodically covers footpaths, hedgerows and field edges near the last sighting. | Slow over large or difficult ground and tiring over several days. | Map searched areas and keep a record of every sighting and its time. |
| Specialist monitoring or trapping support | Trail cameras and humane trapping may suit a dog seen repeatedly in one place. | Needs a consistent sighting pattern and experience to avoid pushing the dog away. | Seek suitably experienced support before setting any trap. |
| Professional drone search | Views fields, open countryside and difficult ground quickly from above, with thermal only if confirmed for the booking. | Cannot see through roofs, walls, solid objects or dense cover, and depends on weather and airspace. | Use the drone search checker, then book a private search or use your Pet Search cover. |
How missing dogs usually move
A confirmed sighting with a time and a direction of travel is worth far more than a vague report. Plot each one on a map so a pattern can emerge. Dogs often follow field edges, hedgerows, tracks and watercourses, and a frightened dog may travel a long way before settling.
Do not chase a dog you spot. Crouch, stay calm and let it come to you, or note where it went and report it. Keep searchers off railways, busy roads and unsafe ground, and respect farmland and livestock. Our guide to a dog lost in the countryside covers this in more detail.
When professional help may be useful
There is no set waiting period. Professional help may be worth considering when sightings point to fields, open countryside or difficult ground that is slow or unsafe to cover on foot, or when a ground search has stalled and a different view could help.
Keep reporting and searching on the ground while you arrange assistance. A drone search adds another way of looking. It does not replace the rest of the search.
Information to prepare
- A description and a recent clear photo of your dog, including collar and any distinctive markings.
- The last confirmed location and time you or someone else saw your dog.
- Any reliable sightings since, with times and places.
- The direction of travel, where known.
- Access information, such as landowner contacts, gates, parking and any livestock.
How location and pilot availability are assessed
Drone Assisted works with pilots across the UK, but nationwide coverage does not mean a pilot is immediately available everywhere. Each request is assessed on the search location, airspace permissions, weather, daylight, terrain, safety and which suitable pilots are available. You will be told honestly if a search cannot go ahead.
Private drone search price and what is included
You do not need Pet Search insurance to book. A private search currently costs £240 including VAT, made up of £200 plus £40 VAT, and is booked and paid for on Drone Assisted. These private booking terms are separate from any Pet Search policy benefit.
- A minimum of one hour of actual airborne searching, potentially continuing up to two hours where appropriate, subject to batteries, safe operating reserves and operational conditions.
- Travel, setup and battery changes do not count as airborne search time.
- A search may finish early, for example if your dog is found or continued flying would be unsafe or unlawful.
- Visual searching is included. Thermal equipment is included only where expressly confirmed for your booking.
- Physically catching or recovering your dog is not included.
Drones and thermal cameras cannot see through solid objects or dense cover, and no search guarantees your dog will be found. The full terms are explained on our drone pet search page.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a private drone search cost?
£240 including VAT (£200 plus £40 VAT) for a minimum of one hour of airborne searching, potentially up to two hours where appropriate.
Do I need Pet Search insurance?
No. Anyone can book a private search through Drone Assisted. If you already have Pet Search cover, start a claim so your cover can be checked.
Is there a pilot near me?
Pilots operate across the UK, but availability depends on location, timing and conditions. It is confirmed when your request is assessed.
What should I have ready?
A photo, the last confirmed location and time, any reliable sightings, the direction of travel and access details for the area.
When is a drone unlikely to help?
In dense woodland, built up streets or where a dog may be inside a building or under cover. See when a drone search can help.
Sources and further reading
Related guides
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