Choosing a Pet Identification Tag for The Icelandic Sheepdog

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

The type of pet identification tag that you buy is vital, so take five minutes or so to consider it. Whimsically purchasing a collar tag just because it’s low cost or trendy often proves to be a regret, long-term.

Consider this prior to purchasing any pet identification tag for your Icelandic Sheepdog:
1.What is the level of risk to your Icelandic Sheepdog?
Missing Icelandic Sheepdogs are certainly common – we’ve all seen “Lost Dog!” signs setup around town, or dead Icelandic Sheepdogs lying along the edge of the road. If your Icelandic Sheepdog is a master at breaking through your fence, or cannot resist following a smell, or youthful and full of energy, or isn’t properly trained, the risk of a missing Icelandic Sheepdog is high.

But losing your Icelandic Sheepdog isn’t the only danger.

Sometimes Icelandic Sheepdogs get stolen. A pet thief may take Fifi or Fido hoping to get a reward for its return, or to use in dog fights (even small or gentle dogs are susceptible – they can be used as “bait”), or for use in cult rituals.

And what is the risk to your Icelandic Sheepdog if something were to happen to you, the owner?

If you’re a senior adult with a Icelandic Sheepdog, especially if you live alone 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 struck by tragedy or disaster that leaves you incapable of caring for your Icelandic Sheepdog.

In this instance, will your Icelandic Sheepdog’s temporary or new caretaker know that Fido hates cats, or requires medication, or even whether or not Max is potty trained? A pet ID tag that contains more than your phone number and name would be very beneficial.

2.What amount of risk are you comfortable with?
Some Icelandic Sheepdogs are just more important to their owners, and the chance of losing that pet demands a specific, higher priced kind of pet identification tag. Risk is directly proportional to value.

Note that there are several ways to calculate the value of your Icelandic Sheepdog. It may be monetary (e.g., a purebred Icelandic Sheepdog) or occupational (e.g., a guide dog).

But for most Icelandic Sheepdog owners, the companionship attachment they have to their companion sets its value. For many, Icelandic Sheepdogs are members of the family, impossible to replace and dearly loved.

3.Using your responses to the two previous queries, what do you require of a pet identification tag?

Pet ID tags come in various shapes, sizes and materials and hold varying amounts of information. Some contain logos or artwork, as well. Usually pet ID tags are meant to be attached to a collar.

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

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

One of the newer entries in the pet ID market is the high-tech USB drive that hangs from your pet’s collar (or is attached to their cage) and which holds 64MB of data (including comprehensive diet and medical information). The tiny USB drive is encased in a sturdy polymer case and can be used in any computer, where it is easily updated and easy to print sections for sharing with your animal doctor or pet sitter. There also exist bluetooth trackers, but their range is severely limited, because of bluetooth technological limits.

Don’t forget to check out these other articles about Icelandic Sheepdogs

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