How to Choose a Pet ID Tag for The Groenendael

Picking a pet identification tag for your Groenendael is like purchasing insurance – you do it with the hopes that you’ll never use it. The “possible cost” of not having a pet ID tag is more costly than the “real cost” of buying the pet tag itself.

The kind of pet ID tag that you buy is vital, so take 5 minutes or so to consider it. Whimsically picking a collar tag just because it’s inexpensive or cute usually proves to be unwise, long-term.

Think about the following prior to choosing any pet id tag for your Groenendael:
1.What is the level of risk to your Groenendael?
Lost Groenendaels are very common – we’ve all come across “Lost Groenendael!” signs plastered around town, or dead dogs lying on the edge of the road. If your Groenendael is a master at jumping your fence, or cannot help chasing a scent, or young and energetic, or isn’t well trained, the possibility of a missing Groenendael is high.

But losing your Groenendael isn’t the only risk.

Sometimes Groenendaels are stolen. A pet thief may take Rover or Fido hoping to get a reward for its return, or to use in pit battles (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 Groenendael if something happens to you, its owner?

If you’re a senior citizen with a Groenendael, especially 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, perhaps with short notice. And anyone can be struck by disaster or tragedy which renders you incapable of caring for your Groenendael.

In this case, will your Groenendael’s temporary or new caretaker know that Fifi hates cats, or requires medicine, or even whether or not Max is housetrained? A pet ID tag that contains more than your name and phone number would be very helpful.

2.What amount of danger are you comfortable with?
Some Groenendaels are just more important to their owners, and the chance of losing that pet 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 assess the value of your Groenendael. It may be monetary (e.g., a purebred Groenendael) or functional (e.g., a guide dog).

But for most Groenendael owners, the companionship attachment they have to their Groenendael sets its value. For many people, Groenendaels are like family, dearly loved and impossible to replace.

3.From your answers to the two previous questions, what do you require of a pet ID tag?

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

At the minimum, a pet identification tag should contain the address, phone number and name of the Groenendael’s owner in a durable, legible format. Plastic tags are lightweight but easily chewed. Stainless steel tags are durable and don’t rust or fade. These customary kinds of tags can gotten 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.

Luckily, you have many more options of pet ID tags for your Groenendael these days, such as microchipping, tattooing, digital display tags, pet registry web sites and voice recorded pet id tags.

One of the newer entrants in the pet identification game is the high-tech USB drive that hangs from your pet’s collar (or is attached to their cage) and which can hold 64MB of data (including complete 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 readily updated and easy to print sections for sharing with your vet or pet sitter. There also exist bluetooth trackers, but their range is low, due to bluetooth technological limits.

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

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