Choosing a Pet ID Tag for Your Miniature Schnauzer

Choosing a pet identification tag for your Miniature Schnauzer is like buying an insurance policy – you do it with the devout wish that you’re never going to use it. The “possible price” of not having a pet ID tag is more costly than the “actual cost” of purchasing the pet tag itself.

The type of pet identification tag that you buy is crucial, so take 5 minutes or so to consider it. Whimsically picking a collar tag because it’s cheap or cute usually ends up being a regret, down the road.

Think about the following prior to purchasing any pet id tag for your Miniature Schnauzer:
1.What is the level of risk to your Miniature Schnauzer?
Missing Miniature Schnauzers are very common – we have all noticed “Lost Dog!” signs setup around the city, or dead Miniature Schnauzers lying along the edge of the road. If your Miniature Schnauzer is a pro at breaking through your fence, or can’t resist following a smell, or young and full of energy, or isn’t properly trained, the chance of a missing Miniature Schnauzer is high.

But losing your Miniature Schnauzer isn’t the only concern.

Sometimes Miniature Schnauzers are stolen. A pet thief may steal Fifi or Spot hoping to get a reward for its return, or to use in pit battles (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 Miniature Schnauzer if something were to happen to you, the owner?

If you’re a senior citizen with a Miniature Schnauzer, especially if you live by yourself or are in ill health, there’s a high chance that at some point someone else may need to care for your furry friend, perhaps with little notice. And anyone can be struck by tragedy or disaster which renders you incapable of caring for your companion.

In this instance, will your Miniature Schnauzer’s new or temporary steward know that Fifi hates cats, or requires medicine, or even whether or not Max is housetrained? A pet identification that contains more than your name and phone number would be very beneficial.

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

Note that there is more than one way to determine the value of your Miniature Schnauzer. It may be monetary (e.g., a purebred Miniature Schnauzer) or functional (e.g., a guide dog).

But for most Miniature Schnauzer owners, the companionship attachment they have with their Miniature Schnauzer sets its value. For many owners, Miniature Schnauzers are family members, impossible to replace and dearly loved.

3.Based on your responses to the two previous questions, what do you require of a pet identification tag?

Pet ID tags come in various materials, shapes and sizes and can contain varying amounts of info. Some contain logos or artwork, too. Usually pet identification tags are designed to be hung from a collar.

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

Fortunately, there are many more options in pet ID tags for your Miniature Schnauzer these days, such as microchipping, tattooing, digital display tags, pet registry web sites and voice recorded pet id tags.

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

Don’t forget to check out these other articles about Miniature Schnauzers

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