Picking a Pet Identification Tag for The American Bulldog

Buying a pet ID tag for your American Bulldog is like purchasing an insurance policy – you do it with the devout wish that you’ll never need it. The “possible price” of not having a pet ID tag is more costly than the “real cost” of buying the pet tag itself.

The kind of pet identification tag that you buy is important, so take 5 minutes or so to think it through. Whimsically choosing a collar tag just because it’s cheap or cute usually ends up being a regret, in the long term.

Think about the following prior to buying any pet identification tag for your American Bulldog:
1.What is the level of risk to your American Bulldog?
Lost American Bulldogs are very common – we’ve all come across “Lost Dog!” signs plastered around the city, or deceased American Bulldogs lying by the side of the road. If your American Bulldog is a pro at hopping your fence, or can’t resist chasing a scent, or young and spry, or is not well trained, the possibility of a missing American Bulldog is high.

But losing your American Bulldog isn’t the only danger.

Some American Bulldogs are stolen. A pet thief may snatch Fifi or Fido hoping to get a reward for its return, or to use in dog battles (even small or gentle dogs are susceptible – they can be used as “bait”), or for use in religious rituals.

And what is the danger to your American Bulldog if something happens to you, its owner?

If you’re a senior adult with a American Bulldog, especially if you live alone or are in poor health, there’s a high chance that at some point someone else may need to care for your American Bulldog, maybe with little notice. And anyone can be struck by tragedy or disaster that renders you unable to care for your American Bulldog.

In this instance, will your American Bulldog’s temporary or new steward know that Fido hates cats, or needs medicine, or even whether or not Max is potty trained? A pet ID tag that contains more than your phone number and name would be very beneficial.

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

Realize that there are many ways to determine the value of your American Bulldog. It may be financial (e.g., a purebred American Bulldog) or functional (e.g., a guide dog).

But for most American Bulldog owners, the emotional attachment they have to their companion determines its value. For many, American Bulldogs are members of the family, impossible to replace and dearly loved.

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

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

At a bare minimum, a pet ID tag should contain the phone number, name and address of the American Bulldog’s owner in a durable, legible format. Plastic tags are light but easily chewed. Stainless steel tags don’t rust or fade and are durable. These customary types of tags can gotten from any vet or pet store. They’re economical yet the amount of information they can display is limited to the size of the tag.

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

One of the newest entrants in the pet ID market is the high-tech USB drive that hangs from your American Bulldog’s collar (or is attached to their kennel) and which can hold 64MB of data (including comprehensive medical and diet information). The tiny USB drive is encased in a sturdy plastic case and can be plugged into any computer, where it is readily 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 severely limited, because of bluetooth technological limits.

Don’t forget to check out these other articles about American Bulldogs

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