Some form of reliable dog identification – whether a dog or pet tag or some other type – is pretty much a must for all dog owners these days. No matter how well you’ve trained your dog or how well-behaved you think he is, it only takes a split second for him to escape from the back garden, off the leash or across the park. Likewise, if your dog’s prone to dashing out of sight, even if only for a few seconds, then having a name tag on your dog’s collar is extremely helpful.

You can buy a name tag for your dog in any manner of shapes, sizes and styles. These days, name tags range from the basic, engraved disc that announces your dog’s name and address to the electronic, battery-lit dog tags that provide your full contact details (including email address!) and even any pertinent medical information.

Like most elements in dog fashion, name tags have gotten extremely stylish and decorative as well. You can find absolutely adorable crystal and pearl adorned tags that announce Fifi proudly to the world.

If you’ve ever lost your dog even just for a minute or two, you know how dreadfully sick with worry you become in that instant when you realize he’s made a quick exit behind your back. But just in case you need a little more convincing, here are some statistics you should know:

- There are approximately 60 million dogs kept as pets throughout the United States,
- More than 8-10,000,000 of these dogs end up in shelters every year because they’ve become lost and don’t have any identification, or their identification is outdated, and
- Only 17 out of every 100 dogs that end up in the animal shelters are ever reunited with their owners.

But as important as it is, a dog name tag is not just about having up-to-date identification. Having a tag also benefits your dog because:

- If you walk your dog in the dark you can hear him,
- Small wild animals, reptiles, insects and birds can hear him coming and take cover or escape to a safe place,
- People, including the authorities, will take the view that you are a responsible and caring owner if your dog is equipped with doggy ID and try harder to reunite you, and
- You’ll enjoy more peace of mind that a dog name tag helps people return your dog to you much faster should he ever get lost.

Dog tags are helpful in a variety of ways, but we feel that for real peace of mind, dog owners should invest in a high-tech backup. Most vets would agree that the most reliable identification of all is the procedure known as “micro-chipping.” Micro-chipping was once prohibitively expensive, but these days it’s within the reach of almost any dog owner, and service providers can be found for as little as $40 (try your local pound or clinic for a low rate).

Micro-chipping is the process of injecting a very small, permanent transponder right under the skin of your pet. When a hand-held scanner is run over your dog, the transponder emits a unique identification number associated with your contact information. The genius of the micro-chipping system is that you can continually, conveniently update your phone number and address over the Internet as needed, so the chip will never become out-of-date. What’s more, it can never be dislodged in a sudden escape, like a collar and tag might.

Imagine the relief of the dog catcher or pound worker when they scan your dog for a microchip and find your identification number there. Instantly they’ll know that your dog is one of the lucky few that’s sure to find its way back to its family. For fashion, function and total reliability, the best way to go is to microchip your dog. Then get Fifi a gorgous dog tag she’ll be proud to wear for the added benefits of visual identification.