3 Tips For Ensuring Your Dog Has Proper ID

1. Choosing a collar: Many dog collars are available at pet retailers and specialty stores. Measure your dog’s neck circumference ahead of time or bring her to the pet store with you to try on available sizes. The dog’s collar should fasten easily and hang comfortably around its neck. A common way to measure if a collar is too tight is to fasten it on the dog so that you can fit about one finger in between the dog and the collar. Any more and it is too loose. If you can’t fit one finger in between the dog and its collar, then the collar is too tight and must be loosened.



Note: Some dog owners prefer to use a harness when attaching the dog to a leash. Small dogs (<25 lbs) can easily injure their neck if walked on a leash attached to a neck collar, so many small dog owners use harnesses when they need to attach a leash to their dog. This is fine for walking, however, the dog should also always wear a collar with ID and license tags.



2. ID tag: Put your name, address, and a current phone number. These are easily found at major pet retailers, and they are usually created by a machine on site in minutes. Don’t forget to update it if you move!



3. Microchip: This is an absolute essential for every dog owner, and is available at every city dog shelter as well as veterinarians. For a low fee, a vet technician implants a tiny microchip--the size of a grain of uncooked rice--into your dog, usually in the rear area. You then write your contact information on a form and mail it off, and the information is linked to the serial number on your dog’s microchip. Should your dog ever become lost and brought into an animal shelter or vet, the technicians will check to see if it has a microchip by scanning its rear. If the dog is microchipped, the scanner will pick up the microchip’s serial number which can then be input into a database to produce the owner’s linked contact info. Studies have shown that a microchip is the #1 determining factor in whether a lost dog finds its owners. For example, the UK saw a dramatic drop in the number of animals impounded once a law was enacted that required pets to have microchips!