How to Buy a Pet Identification Tag for The Border Terrier

Choosing a pet ID tag for your Border Terrier is like purchasing an insurance policy – you do so with the devout wish that you won’t use it. The “possible cost” of not having a pet ID tag is more expensive than the “real cost” of buying the pet tag itself.

The type of pet ID tag that you buy is crucial, so take 5 minutes or so to consider it. Whimsically picking a collar tag because it’s low cost or trendy usually proves to be unwise, in the long term.

Think about this before purchasing any pet identification tag for your Border Terrier:
1.What is the level of risk to your Border Terrier?
Lost Border Terriers are very common – we have all come across “Lost Dog!” signs plastered around the city, or dead dogs lying on the side of the road. If your Border Terrier is a master at breaking through your fence, or can’t resist following a smell, or youthful and vigorous, or is not correctly trained, the risk of a missing Border Terrier is high.

But losing your Border Terrier isn’t the only concern.

Sometimes Border Terriers get stolen. A pet thief may snatch Fifi or Fido 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 as “bait”), or for use in religious rituals.

And what is the risk to your Border Terrier if something were to happen to you, the owner?

If you’re a senior citizen with a Border Terrier, particularly 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 Border Terrier, perhaps with short notice. And anyone can be struck by disaster or tragedy that leaves you incapable of caring for your Border Terrier.

In this case, will your Border Terrier’s temporary or new steward know that Fifi hates cats, or needs medicine, or even whether or not Max is potty trained? A pet ID tag that has more than your phone number and name would be extremely helpful.

2.What amount of risk are you ok with?
Some Border Terriers are just more important to their owners, and the risk of losing that particular animal warrants a specific, more expensive kind of pet ID tag. Risk is proportionate to value.

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

But for most Border Terrier owners, the sentimental attachment they have with their companion sets its value. For many, Border Terriers are family, impossible to replace and dearly loved.

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

Pet ID tags come in various sizes, shapes and materials and hold varying amounts of info. Some have artwork or logos, as well. Many pet ID tags are meant to be hung from a collar.

At a bare minimum, a pet identification tag should contain the name, address and phone number of the Border Terrier’s owner in a legible, durable format. Plastic tags are light 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 but the amount of information they hold is limited to the size of the tag.

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

One of the most recent entries in the pet identification game is the high-tech USB drive that hangs off your Border Terrier’s collar (or is attached to their kennel) and which holds 64MB of data (including complete diet and medical information). The small 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 vet or pet sitter. There are also bluetooth trackers, but their range is low, because of bluetooth technological limits.

Don’t forget to check out these other articles about Border Terriers

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