Buying a Pet Identification Tag for The Norwegian Elkhound

Choosing a pet identification tag for your Norwegian Elkhound is like purchasing insurance – you do it with the devout wish that you won’t use it. The “possible cost” of not having a pet ID tag is more costly than the “real cost” of purchasing the pet tag itself.

The kind of pet ID tag that you buy is important, so take five minutes or so to consider it. Impulsively buying a collar tag just because it’s cheap or pretty usually ends up being unwise, down the road.

Consider the following prior to choosing any pet identification tag for your Norwegian Elkhound:
1.What is the amount of risk to your Norwegian Elkhound?
Missing Norwegian Elkhounds are certainly common – we’ve all seen “Lost Dog!” signs plastered around the city, or dead dogs lying by the side of the road. If your Norwegian Elkhound is a pro at escaping the fence, or can’t help tracking a scent, or youthful and energetic, or is not properly trained, the chance of a lost Norwegian Elkhound is high.

But losing your Norwegian Elkhound isn’t the only possibility.

Sometimes Norwegian Elkhounds are stolen. A pet thief may take Fifi or Fido in hopes of getting a reward for its return, or to use in pit fights (even small or gentle dogs are at risk – they can be used for “bait”), or for use in satanic rituals.

And what is the risk to your Norwegian Elkhound if something were to happen to you, its owner?

If you’re a senior citizen with a Norwegian Elkhound, particularly if you live alone or are in poor health, there’s a high chance that at some point someone else may need to care for your furry friend, maybe with little notice. And anyone can be struck by disaster or tragedy which leaves you incapable of caring for your companion.

In this case, will your Norwegian Elkhound’s new or temporary caretaker know that Rover hates cats, or requires medicine, or even whether or not Max is potty trained? A pet identification that has more than your phone number and name would be extremely helpful.

2.What level of danger are you comfortable with?
Some Norwegian Elkhounds are simply more important to their owners, and the chance of losing that pet warrants a specific, more expensive type of pet identification tag. Risk is proportional to value.

Realize that there are multiple ways to calculate the value of your Norwegian Elkhound. It may be monetary (e.g., a purebred Norwegian Elkhound) or functional (e.g., a guide dog).

But for most Norwegian Elkhound owners, the relationoship attachment they have with their companion sets its value. For many, Norwegian Elkhounds are family members, impossible to replace and dearly loved.

3.From your responses to the two previous queries, what do you need in a pet identification tag?

Pet ID tags come in various shapes, sizes and materials and hold varying amounts of information. Some contain artwork or logos, too. Many pet ID tags are meant to be hung from a collar.

At a bare minimum, a pet ID tag should contain the address, phone number and name of the Norwegian Elkhound’s owner in a legible, durable format. Plastic tags are lightweight but easily chewed. Stainless steel tags don’t rust or fade and are durable. These traditional types of tags can bought from any vet or pet store. They’re low cost however the amount of info they hold is limited to the size of the tag.

Fortunately, you have many more options of pet identification tags for your Norwegian Elkhound these days, such as tattooing, microchipping, digital display tags, voice recorded pet id tags, and pet registry websites.

One of the most recent entrants in the pet identification market is the high-tech USB drive that hangs from your pet’s collar (or is attached to their kennel) and which can hold 64MB of data (including comprehensive diet and medical information). The small USB drive is encased in a sturdy plastic case and can be plugged into any computer, where it is readily updated and easy to print sections for sharing with your veterinarian or pet sitter. There are also bluetooth trackers, but their range is low, due to bluetooth technological limits.

Don’t forget to check out these other articles about Norwegian Elkhounds

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