Why "missing" works on a dog poster
In the first hours you have one job: get your dog's face in front of as many people as possible near the place they disappeared. A missing dog poster does that better than anything online, because the people who can actually see your dog are the ones walking and driving those streets right now.
The word MISSING reads a little more urgent than LOST, and in the UK and Australia it is the word most people use. You can switch between the two with one tap. Either way, the headline sits at the top in letters more than an inch tall, so it can be read from a car at a stop sign.
How many posters, and how far
Start with 30 to 50 copies. Black and white mode prints cleanly on any home printer, so cost is not a reason to hold back. Cover a half-mile radius first, then widen it each day the search goes on. Dogs that run in a panic can cover a few miles, but many hide much closer than owners expect.
Use the tear-off tabs. Someone who thinks they saw your dog may not have a pen; a tab with your name and number goes in their pocket. Leave the QR code on: anyone can scan it and send you a text that is already started, which is easier than calling a stranger.
Medical needs go on the poster
If your dog needs medication, is deaf, blind or very old, say so in the note line, as in the senior dog example below. It changes how people react: a "probably fine" dog becomes one they call about straight away. Keep it short, like "Needs medication. Please call even if unsure."