02/09/2026
WHAT A TRAIL CAMERA CAN TELL US THAT A SIGHTING CAN’T
In all the searches I’ve been involved in, this is probably the most used piece of equipment we have and I’m about to tell you why.
A sighting is important. It can tell us where a dog was at a particular time, which direction they were travelling and sometimes what their behaviour looked like.
But it is still only one moment.
A trail camera can tell us so much more.
It can show us whether the dog is returning to the same place, what time they are visiting and which direction they are coming from and leaving in.
It can tell us whether they feel safe enough to stop and eat, whether they are nervously checking the area first or whether they are simply passing through.
Because we aren’t standing there watching, the dog can also behave naturally without feeling pressured. That’s really important because once a frightened dog finds an area where they feel safe, the last thing we want to do is fill it with people and push them away.
Trail cameras can also show us things that may be missed during a quick sighting.
Is the dog limping?
Have they lost weight?
Are they still wearing their collar or harness?
A sighting tells us where the dog was.
A trail camera helps us understand what the dog is doing.
And once we understand their routine and behaviour, we can stop guessing and start making decisions based on actual evidence.
This is exactly why I’ve created a new online mini course, Remote Trail Cameras for Lost Dog Searches.
It’s for anyone who already uses trail cameras and wants to get more from them, anyone considering using them during a lost dog search, or those who simply want a better understanding of how searches are planned.
I cover why we use them, where and how to position them, common mistakes, mobile signal, avoiding false triggers and how they can be used alongside feeding stations.
If you’d like to learn more, I’ll put the link to the course in the comments.
