Choosing a Pet Identification Tag for The Akbash

Picking a pet ID tag for your Akbash is like purchasing an insurance policy – you do so with the faith that you’re never going to use it. The “possible cost” of not having a pet ID tag is more expensive than the “actual price” of buying the pet tag itself.

The kind of pet ID tag that you buy is important, so take 5 minutes or so to think it through. Impulsively buying a collar tag because it’s inexpensive or pretty usually ends up being unwise, long-term.

Think about the following before picking any pet id tag for your Akbash:
1.What is the level of risk to your Akbash?
Lost Akbashs are very common – we’ve all noticed “Lost Dog!” signs tacked around the city, or dead Akbashs lying on the edge of the road. If your Akbash is a pro at hopping the fence, or can’t resist chasing a scent, or youthful and energetic, or isn’t properly trained, the possibility of a missing Akbash is high.

But losing your Akbash isn’t the only concern.

Some Akbashs are stolen. A pet thief may take Fido or Fifi in hopes of getting a reward for its return, or to use in dog 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 Akbash if something were to happen to you, its owner?

If you’re a senior citizen with a Akbash, particularly if you live by yourself or are in ill health, there’s a good chance that at some point someone else may need to care for your furry friend, perhaps with short notice. And anyone can be hit with a tragedy or disaster which leaves you unable to care for your companion.

In this instance, will your Akbash’s new or temporary caretaker know that Rover hates cats, or requires medicine, or even whether or not Max is housetrained? A pet ID tag that has more than your name and phone number would be extremely helpful.

2.What level of risk are you comfortable with?
Some Akbashs are just more important to their owners, and the risk of losing that pet demands a specific, more expensive type of pet ID tag. Risk is proportionate to value.

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

But for most Akbash owners, the relationoship attachment they have with their companion determines its value. For many people, Akbashs are family, dearly loved and impossible to replace.

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

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

At a minimum, a pet ID tag should contain the address, phone number and name of the Akbash’s owner in a durable, legible format. Plastic tags are lightweight but chewed easily. Stainless steel tags don’t rust or fade and are durable. These traditional types of tags can gotten from any animal doctor or pet store. They’re cheap however the amount of information they hold is limited to the size of the tag.

Fortunately, you have many more options in pet identification tags for your Akbash these days, such as microchipping, tattooing, digital display tags, pet registry web sites and voice recorded pet id tags.

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

Don’t forget to check out these other articles about Akbashs

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