Picking a Pet ID Tag for Your Boykin Spaniel

Choosing a pet ID tag for your Boykin Spaniel is like purchasing an insurance policy – you do it with the faith that you’re never going to need it. The “possible cost” of not having a pet ID tag is more costly than the “real cost” of purchasing the pet tag itself.

The type of pet identification tag that you buy is important, so take 5 minutes or so to think it through. Impulsively picking a collar tag just because it’s cheap or pretty usually proves to be unwise, long-term.

Consider the following prior to choosing any pet id tag for your Boykin Spaniel:
1.What is the amount of risk to your Boykin Spaniel?
Missing Boykin Spaniels are very common – we have all noticed “Lost Boykin Spaniel!” signs setup around the city, or dead Boykin Spaniels lying along the edge of the road. If your Boykin Spaniel is a master at jumping your fence, or can’t resist tracking a smell, or young and vigorous, or isn’t well trained, the chance of a lost Boykin Spaniel is high.

But losing your Boykin Spaniel isn’t the only risk.

Some Boykin Spaniels 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 for “bait”), or for use in cult rituals.

And what is the danger to your Boykin Spaniel if something happens to you, the owner?

If you’re a senior adult with a Boykin Spaniel, especially if you live alone or are in poor health, there’s a high chance that at some point someone else will need to care for your furry friend, perhaps with little notice. And anyone can be struck by tragedy or disaster that leaves you unable to care for your Boykin Spaniel.

In this case, will your Boykin Spaniel’s temporary or new steward know that Spot hates cats, or needs medication, or even whether or not Max is potty trained? 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 Boykin Spaniels are simply more important to their owners, and the risk of losing that pet calls for a specific, higher priced kind of pet ID tag. Risk is proportionate to value.

Note that there is more than one way to calculate the value of your Boykin Spaniel. It may be monetary (e.g., a purebred Boykin Spaniel) or functional (e.g., a guide dog).

However for most Boykin Spaniel owners, the sentimental attachment they have to their companion determines its value. For many people, Boykin Spaniels are family members, dearly loved and impossible to replace.

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

Pet identification tags come in varying materials, shapes and sizes and hold varying amounts of information. Some contain artwork or logos, too. Usually 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 Boykin Spaniel’s owner in a legible, durable format. Plastic tags are lightweight but chewed easily. Stainless steel tags don’t rust or fade and are durable. These traditional types of tags can bought from any veterinarian or pet store. They’re low cost but the amount of info they can display is limited to the size of the tag.

Fortunately, there are many more options for pet ID tags for your Boykin Spaniel these days, such as microchipping, tattooing, digital display tags, pet registry web sites and voice recorded pet id tags.

One of the most recent entrants 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 holds 64MB of data (including comprehensive diet and medical information). The small USB drive is encased in a sturdy plastic case and can be used in any computer, where it is readily updated and easy to print sections for sharing with your veterinarian or pet sitter. There also exist bluetooth devices for tracking, but their range is small, because of bluetooth technological limits.

Don’t forget to check out these other articles about Boykin Spaniels

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