Choosing a Pet Identification Tag for Your German Shorthaired Pointer

Buying a pet identification tag for your German Shorthaired Pointer is like buying insurance – you do it with the hopes that you won’t 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 identification tag that you buy is crucial, so take five minutes or so to consider it. Impulsively buying a collar tag just because it’s inexpensive or cute usually proves to be a regret, long-term.

Consider the following before choosing any pet id tag for your German Shorthaired Pointer:
1.What is the level of risk to your German Shorthaired Pointer?
Missing German Shorthaired Pointers are certainly common – we’ve all seen “Lost Dog!” signs plastered around the city, or deceased German Shorthaired Pointers lying on the side of the road. If your German Shorthaired Pointer is a pro at escaping your fence, or can’t resist tracking a smell, or young and energetic, or is not correctly trained, the chance of a lost German Shorthaired Pointer is high.

But losing your German Shorthaired Pointer isn’t the only risk.

Some German Shorthaired Pointers get stolen. A pet thief may take Fifi or Spot in hopes of getting a reward for its return, or to use in pit fights (even small or gentle dogs are susceptible – they can be used for “bait”), or for use in cult rituals.

And what is the danger to your German Shorthaired Pointer if something were to happen to you, its owner?

If you’re a senior citizen with a German Shorthaired Pointer, particularly if you live alone or are in ill health, there’s a high chance that at some point someone else will need to care for your furry friend, maybe with little notice. And anyone can be hit with a tragedy or disaster which renders you unable to care for your companion.

In this case, will your German Shorthaired Pointer’s new or temporary caregiver know that Fido hates cats, or needs medication, or even whether or not Max is housetrained? A pet identification that contains more than your phone number and name would be extremely helpful.

2.What level of risk are you comfortable with?
Some German Shorthaired Pointers are simply more important to their owners, and the chance of losing that pet calls for a specific, more expensive kind of pet identification tag. Risk is proportionate to value.

Note that there is more than one way to assess the value of your German Shorthaired Pointer. It may be financial (e.g., a purebred German Shorthaired Pointer) or occupational (e.g., a guide dog).

But for most German Shorthaired Pointer owners, the emotional attachment they have to their companion determines its value. For many people, German Shorthaired Pointers are family members, dearly loved and impossible to replace.

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

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

At a minimum, a pet identification tag should contain the phone number, name and address of the German Shorthaired Pointer’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 info they hold is limited to the size of the tag.

Fortunately, there are many more options in pet identification tags for your German Shorthaired Pointer these days, such as tattooing, microchipping, digital display tags, voice recorded pet id tags, and pet registry websites.

One of the recent entrants in the pet ID game is the high-tech USB drive that hangs from your German Shorthaired Pointer’s collar (or is attached to their kennel) and which can hold 64MB of data (including comprehensive 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 animal doctor or pet sitter. There are also bluetooth trackers, but their range is severely limited, due to bluetooth technological limits.

Don’t forget to check out these other articles about German Shorthaired Pointers

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