Yep over the years depending on what im using if backing isnt big enough or stuck in ground a yote ect will carry it off to chew, sniff, maybe roll on it..... If you look around you might find it 25 yards or so in any direction. If you find it make a urine post set nearby using something that is solid and blend set in as yote ect will come back and check out stick he took...... but as you said in yr case it was a dog but advice still stands as its a canine trait.