How to Choose a Pet Identification Tag for The Standard Schnauzer

Buying a pet ID tag for your Standard Schnauzer is like buying insurance – you do so with the faith that you won’t need it. The “possible price” of not having a pet ID tag is more costly than the “real cost” of purchasing the pet tag itself.

The kind of pet identification tag that you buy is crucial, so take 5 minutes or so to consider it. Impulsively picking a collar tag just because it’s low cost or cute often ends up being foolish, in the long term.

Think about this prior to picking any pet id tag for your Standard Schnauzer:
1.What is the amount of risk to your Standard Schnauzer?
Lost Standard Schnauzers are very common – we have all noticed “Lost Dog!” signs tacked around town, or dead dogs lying by the edge of the road. If your Standard Schnauzer is a pro at tunneling under your fence, or cannot resist chasing a scent, or young and vigorous, or is not well trained, the possibility of a missing Standard Schnauzer is high.

But losing your Standard Schnauzer isn’t the only risk.

Some Standard Schnauzers are stolen. A pet thief may snatch Rover or Fido hoping to get 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 religious rituals.

And what is the risk to your Standard Schnauzer if something happens to you, its owner?

If you’re a senior adult with a Standard Schnauzer, especially if you live by yourself 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 hit with a tragedy or disaster that renders you incapable of caring for your Standard Schnauzer.

In this case, will your Standard Schnauzer’s temporary or new caregiver know that Rover hates cats, or requires medication, or even whether or not Max is housetrained? A pet identification that has more than your phone number and name would be extremely helpful.

2.What level of risk are you ok with?
Some Standard Schnauzers are simply more important to their owners, and the risk of losing that particular animal warrants a specific, more expensive kind of pet identification tag. Risk is proportionate to value.

Realize that there is more than one way to determine the value of your Standard Schnauzer. It may be financial (e.g., a purebred Standard Schnauzer) or functional (e.g., a guide dog).

However for most Standard Schnauzer owners, the relationoship attachment they have with their Standard Schnauzer determines its value. For many owners, Standard Schnauzers are members of the family, impossible to replace and dearly loved.

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

Pet ID tags come in varying sizes, shapes and materials and can contain varying amounts of information. Some have logos or artwork, too. Most pet ID tags are meant to be hung from a collar.

At a minimum, a pet ID tag should contain the name, address and phone number of the Standard Schnauzer’s owner in a legible, durable format. Plastic tags are light but chewed easily. Stainless steel tags are durable and don’t rust or fade. These traditional kinds of tags can bought from any veterinarian or pet store. They’re cheap however the amount of information they hold is limited to the size of the tag.

Luckily, there are many more options for pet ID tags for your Standard Schnauzer these days, such as tattooing, microchipping, digital display tags, voice recorded pet identification tags, and pet registry websites.

One of the newest entries in the pet identification game is the high-tech USB drive that hangs from your Standard Schnauzer’s collar (or is attached to their cage) and which can hold 64MB of data (including comprehensive medical and diet information). The small USB drive is encased in a sturdy polymer case and can be plugged into any computer, where it is readily updated and easy to print sections for sharing with your veterinarian or pet sitter. There are also bluetooth devices for tracking, but their range is low, due to bluetooth technological limits.

Don’t forget to check out these other articles about Standard Schnauzers

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