Dogs truly are additions to the family. And, with every dog comes added responsibilities. One of the main ones? Keep them safe! It’s important you do everything you can to keep them healthy and safe during their life with you. One of the ways you can keep your dog safest is to get them a collar and ID tag. Without these two items, you put your pup in danger of getting lost and never getting returned. Of course, as a new pet owner, you’ve probably asked yourself, “What do I need for a puppy?” and might even be struggling with what dog collars and tags to choose. What do you even put on one? How do you know if it’s the right size? These are important questions to answer, and taking the time to answer them properly will go a long way in ensuring your dog’s safety. From dog tag trackers to properly measuring for a dog collar, we’ve put everything right here for you to easily access and refer to later! Does My Dog Really Need a Collar and ID Tag? The short answer: Yes! The longer one? Dog collars and ID tags contain vital information that can keep your pet safe. From contact information to current vaccinations, pets without collars and ID tags are practically set up to get lost and never return. Let’s put ourselves into a hypothetical situation for a moment. You’ve just returned home from the grocery store, and with all the bags in your hands, you forgot to close the front door. Your pup, who’s naturally curious as all pups are, catches a whiff of something in the air with their super strong dog nose. Intrigued, they take off in search of the source of the scent. You don’t even hear their paws pattering against the floor because you’ve got your head in the fridge, putting away perishables. Then, you realize a few moments later that your pup isn’t around. It doesn’t respond when you call out, and the feeling of dread hits your stomach. A pet owner has experienced this at least once in their lifetime. However, the difference in this situation is whether or not your pup has a dog collar or ID tag. A dog collar and ID tag contain important information that can get your dog returned faster to you. In this situation, a dog with a dog collar and tag is found walking down the street or even digging into your neighbor’s rose bushes – and, because your phone number is listed on the tag, the person who finds your pup calls you immediately and you’re able to get your pup back into your home within hours! However, in this situation, if your pup doesn’t have a dog tag or collar, someone picks it up, takes it to the shelter and it’s days or even weeks before you see your pup again – if at all. Our Dog ID Tags Fit on All Dog Collars No Matter the Size! Without a dog collar and ID tag, your pup is at serious risk. It’s unsafe and can put them in danger, especially if they have certain medical conditions, such as diabetes or even cancer. When your dog has medical conditions that require medicine to be administered or even injected at certain intervals throughout the day, not having that information easily accessible for others to find can put your dog in danger. Additionally, a dog collar and ID tag are typically required for pups in apartments and rental homes. Certain housing associations and jurisdictions require them, also. By choosing not to get your pup a collar and ID tag, then you could incur serious fines or even eviction. Some owners will choose to rehome their pup at that point, but as a pet owner, you should be ready and willing to follow all the rules regarding your pet. Owning a pet is just like raising a child! And, to have a child means following certain rules to ensure they stay safe. The same goes for your pup. What If I Get a Microchip? Microchips are a great addition to your current health and safety plan for your pup! However, they should never be used as the sole process of locating your dog. Here’s why: It’s not a GPS. Microchips don’t “track” your pup, contrary to popular belief. In fact, all a microchip does is store information. The chip itself is almost like a mini-database entry. It stores your contact information and address. Of course, the data on the microchip is only as recent as its most recent entry, so pet owners should always keep the data on their pets’ microchips up to date. Since it’s not a GPS, a microchip won’t help you track your dog, or even see where it’s been when you do get it back. It requires specific equipment to access the data. Since microchips store information, they require specialized equipment to even access that information. And, the average person on the street isn’t going to have the equipment needed to scan the microchip. Instead, typically you’ll find that only veterinarians and shelter staff have the ability to scan microchips. So, if your pup is never picked up, then a microchip wouldn’t do it much good. Not every vet or shelter can read all the microchips. Microchips are provided by private companies. Those companies utilize their own software to store the data, so sometimes only specific scanners will work with specific microchips. This puts your pup at a disadvantage. If your pup is located by someone and taken to a local shelter and if the shelter tries to scan their microchip but uses a scanner from a company different from your pet's microchip, then they won’t be able to scan the chip. You should still get a microchip, though! Microchips are an addition to the items you already have in place for your pup, such as a dog collar and an ID tag. Together, these three things will ensure that your dog is as safe as can be. Okay, I’ll Get a Collar. But Why a Dog Tag? A dog tag is what stores all the important information regarding you and your pup. Here are some of the most common items we see listed on dog tags: pup’s name owner’s phone number owner’s address vaccination status medical information medicines needed pup’s age With a dog tag, your pup is just one more step safer. A safe pet is one that has all its bases covered, and that includes getting a dog tag! Plus, a dog tag is great if you’re looking for something to use Bluetooth technology to track your pup. Our TraQ dog tag tracker is the only one on the market – and it’s perfect for keeping track of your pup. As long as you’re within the 200 square foot Bluetooth range, you can see your pup’s exact location using the Tile app. And, even if your pup is out of Bluetooth range, you can see their last known location and access a network of Tile users to enlist help in locating your dog. Just another way to ensure the health and safety of your furry family member! Why Silicone Is Best for Your Pup Dog tags and collars come in a variety of materials, but the best by far is silicone. Due to its durability and non-toxic material, silicone works wonders for pups. This is especially for pups that give you company in your active lifestyle. From hunting to taking daily walks around the neighborhood, a pup with a silicone dog collar is one that’s ready for any action. Silicone doesn’t irritate the skin, so your pup’s coat will stay shiny and sleek – not matting at all! Plus, it’s easy to clean when they inevitably go rolling around in the muddy puddles in your backyard. Order a Silicone Dog Collar That Is Comfy for Your Puppy All our silicone dog products are crafted with your pup’s active lifestyle in mind. No matter their age, a silicone set of accessories is perfect for them. You can’t go wrong with a matching dog tag and collar set. Your dog will not only be in style, but having a matching set ensures their compatibility! Measure First! Measuring your pup for a dog collar is an important step that you’ll need to take prior to ordering your pup their collar. And, since dogs grow over time, you’ll probably need to resize the collar throughout your dog’s life. Some collars are made specifically for puppies, so you might even have to invest in a new one for your dog as they get older. It’s important to get the right fit for your pup’s collar because it can otherwise be a danger to them. A collar that’s too small can cause irritation of the skin and even breathing problems. A collar that’s too big can easily get caught on your pup’s toes as they scratch, a door knob or even a tree branch. Either way, a collar that doesn’t fit properly is a strangulation hazard for your dog. Keep your dog safe by measuring first! How to Measure for a Dog Collar Here are the steps you should take to ensure that you get a proper measurement for your dog’s collar. Step 1: Get your materials. To measure your dog’s collar, you’ll need a soft measuring tape, a ruler or even a large cloth. You should also get a pen and paper to write the measurement down on. Step 2: Secure your dog. A fidgety dog can lead to false results. Keep your pup occupied with a puzzle treat toy that won’t cause them to run all over the place. Step 3: Wrap the measuring tape around the center of your pup’s neck. You’ll want the tape to fit snugly but not too snug. Many people think you’ll measure the base of your pup’s neck, but instead you should focus on the center. Step 4: Take note of where the measuring tape overlaps around your dog’s neck. Mark that number down on your piece of paper with your pen. If you used a string or cloth: Keep hold of the spot where the string or cloth overlapped. Then, use a ruler to measure the length of the string or cloth where you’ve marked that it overlapped. Complete Step 4 by marking down that number. Step 5: Find the size range for the collars you like. Ensure that your dog’s measurement matches up with the size you choose. For example, if your pup’s neck measures 12 inches, then you’ll want to get a collar within the 10- to 14-inch range. For our TraQ silicone dog collars: We offer three different sizes for the silicone dog collars that complement our TraQ dog tag tracker. The small size is 10-14 inches, and it’s a ½-inch width. The medium size is 14-18 inches and uses a ¾-inch width. And our large sized collar is 19-23 inches in length, with a 1-inch width. It’s important that you choose a dog collar that’s the right size. Following these steps will ensure that your dog receives a collar that fits them properly. And with puppies that are constantly getting into trouble as they learn new things, having a secure dog collar is all the more important. One aspect about our silicone dog collars is the quick release buckle. Sometimes, your pup will need to get their collar off, such as if it gets stuck on something or even in a fight with another dog or animal. In cases such as these, our quick release buckle makes it easy for your pup to stay safe. It’ll unlock the collar and make it easy to slide off your pup and prevent them from strangling themselves or getting caught on something. For dogs that have to be crated frequently, a quick release buckle collar is important. If their tag gets stuck in their crate, then the release will let them pull away from the danger. Image Credits: Kazantseva Olga/Shutterstock.com WilleeCole Photography/Shutterstock.com