Picking a Pet ID Tag for The Japanese Terrier

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

The kind of pet ID tag that you buy is vital, so take five minutes or so to think it through. Whimsically buying a collar tag because it’s inexpensive or cute usually proves to be a regret, down the road.

Think about this before picking any pet identification tag for your Japanese Terrier:
1.What is the amount of risk to your Japanese Terrier?
Missing Japanese Terriers are definitely common – we have all seen “Lost Japanese Terrier!” signs posted around town, or deceased dogs lying by the edge of the road. If your Japanese Terrier is a pro at tunneling under the fence, or can’t resist chasing a scent, or youthful and full of energy, or is not properly trained, the risk of a missing Japanese Terrier is high.

But losing your Japanese Terrier isn’t the only risk.

Some Japanese Terriers get stolen. A pet thief may take Fido or Fifi hoping to get a reward for its return, or to use in dog fights (even small or gentle dogs are susceptible – they can be used for “bait”), or for use in satanic rituals.

And what is the risk to your Japanese Terrier if something happens to you, its owner?

If you’re a senior citizen with a Japanese Terrier, particularly if you live by yourself or are in ill health, there’s a high chance that at some point someone else may need to care for your Japanese Terrier, maybe with little notice. And anyone can be hit with a disaster or tragedy which leaves you unable to care for your companion.

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

2.What level of risk are you ok with?
Some Japanese Terriers are just more important to their owners, and the chance of losing that pet warrants a specific, more expensive kind of pet identification tag. Risk is proportionate to value.

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

However for most Japanese Terrier owners, the emotional attachment they have with their Japanese Terrier determines its value. For many owners, Japanese Terriers are members of the family, impossible to replace and dearly loved.

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 info. Some have logos or artwork, too. Many pet identification tags are designed to be hung from a collar.

At a minimum, a pet identification tag should contain the name, address and phone number of the Japanese Terrier’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 customary kinds of tags can bought from any veterinarian or pet store. They’re low cost however the amount of info they hold is limited to the size of the tag.

Luckily, you have many more options of pet identification tags for your Japanese Terrier these days, such as tattooing, microchipping, digital display tags, voice recorded pet id tags, and pet registry websites.

One of the most recent entries in the pet ID market is the high-tech USB drive that hangs off your pet’s collar (or is attached to their kennel) and which can hold 64MB of data (including complete medical and diet information). The small USB drive is encased in a sturdy plastic case and can be plugged into 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 trackers, but their range is limited, due to bluetooth technological limits.

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

Was 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 🙂