Picking a Pet ID Tag for The Gordon Setter

Choosing a pet ID tag for your Gordon Setter is like buying insurance – you do it with the devout wish that you won’t use it. The “possible price” of not having a pet ID tag is more costly than the “real price” of purchasing the pet tag itself.

The type of pet ID tag that you buy is vital, so take 5 minutes or so to consider it. Whimsically picking a collar tag because it’s cheap or trendy often ends up being foolish, in the long term.

Consider this before buying any pet identification tag for your Gordon Setter:
1.What is the level of risk to your Gordon Setter?
Lost Gordon Setters are very common – we have all seen “Lost Dog!” signs plastered around town, or dead dogs lying on the edge of the road. If your Gordon Setter is a master at hopping the fence, or cannot help tracking a smell, or young and energetic, or is not properly trained, the possibility of a lost Gordon Setter is high.

But losing your Gordon Setter isn’t the only risk.

Some Gordon Setters get stolen. A pet thief may take Fifi or Spot hoping to get a reward for its return, or to use in dog fights (even small or gentle dogs are at risk – they can be used for “bait”), or for use in religious rituals.

And what is the danger to your Gordon Setter if something happens to you, the owner?

If you’re a senior adult with a Gordon Setter, particularly if you live alone or are in ill health, there’s a good 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 that renders you unable to care for your Gordon Setter.

In this case, will your Gordon Setter’s temporary or new steward know that Fifi hates cats, or requires medication, or even whether or not Max is housetrained? A pet ID tag that has more than your name and phone number would be very beneficial.

2.What level of risk are you ok with?
Some Gordon Setters are just more important to their owners, and the risk of losing that pet calls for a specific, higher priced type of pet identification tag. Risk is proportional to value.

Keep in mind that there are many ways to determine the value of your Gordon Setter. It may be monetary (e.g., a purebred Gordon Setter) or occupational (e.g., a guide dog).

However for most Gordon Setter owners, the sentimental attachment they have to their Gordon Setter determines its value. For many, Gordon Setters are family, impossible to replace and dearly loved.

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

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

At a bare minimum, a pet identification tag should contain the name, address and phone number of the Gordon Setter’s owner in a durable, legible format. Plastic tags are light but chewed easily. Stainless steel tags don’t rust or fade and are durable. These traditional types of tags can purchased from any animal doctor or pet store. They’re inexpensive however the amount of info they can display is limited to the size of the tag.

Luckily, you have many more options for pet ID tags for your Gordon Setter these days, such as tattooing, microchipping, digital display tags, voice recorded pet id tags, and pet registry websites.

One of the most recent entrants in the pet identification market is the high-tech USB drive that hangs from your Gordon Setter’s collar (or is attached to their kennel) and which holds 64MB of data (including comprehensive diet and medical information). The small 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 animal doctor or pet sitter. There are also bluetooth devices for tracking, but their range is low, because of bluetooth technological limits.

Don’t forget to check out these other articles about Gordon Setters

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