Buying a pet ID tag for your Giant Schnauzer is like purchasing an insurance policy – you do so with the faith that you won’t need it. The “possible cost” of not having a pet ID tag is more costly than the “actual price” of purchasing 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 purchasing a collar tag because it’s inexpensive or trendy usually ends up being foolish, in the long term.
Think about the following prior to buying any pet id tag for your Giant Schnauzer:
1.What is the level of risk to your Giant Schnauzer?
Missing Giant Schnauzers are certainly common – we’ve all come across “Lost Dog!” signs plastered around town, or dead dogs lying by the edge of the road. If your Giant Schnauzer is a pro at tunneling under your fence, or can’t resist tracking a smell, or young and full of energy, or is not properly trained, the possibility of a lost Giant Schnauzer is high.
But losing your Giant Schnauzer isn’t the only risk.
Some Giant Schnauzers get stolen. A pet thief may take Fifi or Fido hoping to get a reward for its return, or to use in dog battles (even small or gentle dogs are at risk – they can be used as “bait”), or for use in satanic rituals.
And what is the risk to your Giant Schnauzer if something happens to you, its owner?
If you’re a senior adult with a Giant Schnauzer, especially if you live alone or are in ill 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 tragedy or disaster which renders you unable to care for your companion.
In this case, will your Giant Schnauzer’s new or temporary caretaker know that Spot hates cats, or requires medication, or even whether or not Max is potty trained? A pet ID tag that contains more than your name and phone number would be very beneficial.
2.What amount of danger are you comfortable with?
Some Giant Schnauzers are simply more important to their owners, and the risk of losing that particular animal calls for a specific, higher priced type of pet ID tag. Risk is directly proportional to value.
Keep in mind that there are multiple ways to calculate the value of your Giant Schnauzer. It may be financial (e.g., a purebred Giant Schnauzer) or occupational (e.g., a guide dog).
However for most Giant Schnauzer owners, the emotional attachment they have with their companion determines its value. For many, Giant Schnauzers are family members, impossible to replace and dearly loved.
3.From your answers to the two previous queries, what do you need in a pet identification tag?
Pet identification tags come in various materials, shapes and sizes and hold varying amounts of info. Some have artwork or logos, as well. Usually 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 Giant Schnauzer’s owner in a durable, legible format. Plastic tags are light but easily chewed. Stainless steel tags don’t rust or fade and are durable. These traditional kinds of tags can bought from any animal doctor or pet store. They’re inexpensive but the amount of info they can contain is limited to the size of the tag.
Luckily, there are many more options for pet ID tags for your Giant Schnauzer 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 market is the high-tech USB drive that hangs off your Giant Schnauzer’s collar (or is attached to their cage) and which holds 64MB of data (including comprehensive medical and diet information). The tiny USB drive is encased in a sturdy polymer case and can be used in any computer, where it is automatically updated and easy to print sections for sharing with your vet or pet sitter. There also exist bluetooth trackers, but their range is severely limited, due to bluetooth technological limits.
Don’t forget to check out these other articles about Giant SchnauzersWas this post helpful? If so, please take a minute to Tweet and Share below on Facebook. I would also love to know your thoughts so leave me a comment 🙂