Picking a Pet Identification Tag for Your Belgian Shepherd Dog

Choosing a pet ID tag for your Belgian Shepherd Dog is like purchasing insurance – you do so 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 “actual cost” of purchasing the pet tag itself.

The type of pet identification tag that you buy is vital, so take five minutes or so to consider it. Impulsively picking a collar tag because it’s low cost or cute usually ends up being a regret, down the road.

Think about the following prior to purchasing any pet identification tag for your Belgian Shepherd Dog:
1.What is the amount of risk to your Belgian Shepherd Dog?
Missing Belgian Shepherd Dogs are certainly common – we have all seen “Lost Belgian Shepherd Dog!” signs tacked around town, or dead Belgian Shepherd Dogs lying by the edge of the road. If your Belgian Shepherd Dog is a master at hopping the fence, or cannot resist following a scent, or young and energetic, or is not correctly trained, the possibility of a lost Belgian Shepherd Dog is high.

But losing your Belgian Shepherd Dog isn’t the only concern.

Some Belgian Shepherd Dogs are stolen. A pet thief may steal Rover 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 satanic rituals.

And what is the risk to your Belgian Shepherd Dog if something happens to you, its owner?

If you’re a senior adult with a Belgian Shepherd Dog, particularly if you live alone or are in poor health, there’s a good chance that at some point someone else will need to care for your Belgian Shepherd Dog, maybe with short notice. And anyone can be struck by tragedy or disaster which leaves you incapable of caring for your Belgian Shepherd Dog.

In this case, will your Belgian Shepherd Dog’s temporary or new caretaker know that Fido hates cats, or requires medication, 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 risk are you comfortable with?
Some Belgian Shepherd Dogs are simply more important to their owners, and the risk of losing that particular animal demands a specific, more expensive type of pet identification tag. Risk is proportional to value.

Note that there are many ways to determine the value of your Belgian Shepherd Dog. It may be financial (e.g., a purebred Belgian Shepherd Dog) or occupational (e.g., a guide dog).

However for most Belgian Shepherd Dog owners, the companionship attachment they have with their companion sets its value. For many, Belgian Shepherd Dogs are family members, impossible to replace and dearly loved.

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

Pet ID tags come in varying shapes, sizes and materials and can contain varying amounts of info. Some contain logos or artwork, also. Usually pet identification tags are designed to be attached to a collar.

At a minimum, a pet ID tag should contain the address, phone number and name of the Belgian Shepherd Dog’s owner in a durable, legible format. Plastic tags are lightweight but easily chewed. 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 inexpensive however the amount of info they hold is limited to the size of the tag.

Fortunately, there are many more options of pet identification tags for your Belgian Shepherd Dog these days, such as microchipping, tattooing, digital display tags, pet registry web sites and voice recorded pet identification tags.

One of the most recent entrants in the pet ID game is the high-tech USB drive that hangs off your Belgian Shepherd Dog’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 plastic case and can be used in any computer, where it is automatically 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 Belgian Shepherd Dogs

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 🙂