However, their owners have not given up on finding the much-loved pets, and think it is possible one or both might have jumped into someone's vehicle.
The search for Dice, a 9-year-old black poodle, and Weed, a 3-year-old fox terrier cross, started 17 days ago.
About 20 volunteers traversed between 48ha and 52ha of terrain in the area behind Pukehiki Church yesterday morning, after owners Alan Funnell and Louisa Andrew put out a call on Facebook.
"We're really worried about them," Mr Funnell said.
"We've had a good look through the bush ... we had previously looked ourselves but we just wanted some fresh eyes because we're getting pretty tired."
The search had not met with success but the community had been "really great" at providing assistance and support.
One person dropped off a food parcel to provide the volunteers with lunch yesterday.
"It's been heartwarming that people are looking out for us," Mr Funnell said.
He and Ms Andrew were looking for "any sort of clue".
"Any little strange bark, we want people to tell us so we can shoot down there straight away."
He and Ms Andrew held out hope someone might spot the pair on a neighbour's property.
Mr Funnell said both dogs were friendly, and Dice had had to be retrieved from someone else's house before.
"They're small, so they're easy to put in the car."
The dogs went missing after Ms Andrew let them out of the car at the couple's Seal Point Rd property on Otago Peninsula, on October 17.
The couple's efforts to find them over the past fortnight have included contacting an animal psychic.
