Identifying Your Dogs at Home for Pet Sitters & Friends

Of course, we want to put ID tags on our dogs' collars either as part of the collar (my favorite is Boomerang) or a hanging tag; of course, we want to microchip our dogs and cats so when/if they go AWOL, they have a much better chance of getting home. I also like PetHub - this company puts a QR code for my dog on his tag or collar tag. Shiloh got home twice because of it till he lost the entire collar. PetHub sent me a complimentary tag for him, a repeating customer. Next for Shiloh - TAGG.

Disclaimer: I'm being paid NOTHING for mentioning these products. I've used them (except TAGG) and like them very much.

Two of the paper collars

My most recent foray into identifying my dogs at home was when I went out of town for two nights.It is extremely hard for me to leave because:

1. it is expensive to board several dogs and some always need boarding
2. there are so many, it's tough to get my sitters lined up, and
3. frankly, I'm a homebody and an introvert!

However, thanks to my intrepid premier dog sitter, Teresa from Dogwood Veterinary Hospital, the ten dogs at home were easily identified by her and my friends, Bob and Helen Towner (they took the morning shifts; Bob and his dog, Jedi, come Silverwalking on Monday mornings). I boarded 4 dogs: Shiloh the Wanderer, Minnie Chow (she's becoming more fragile each week), and the two fosters about whom I keep promising to write, Buster and Ginger.

At first, I planned for Minnie to be home, so she was "green"

Each dog at home, except Ellie Mae the Bloodhound (pretty obvious!) and Monk the Feral (who wouldn't come close to anyone without me home anyway), was color coded with a paper collar Teresa gave me. I then taped the end of the same color tag with name on their crate, and affixed a small color swatch next to individual feeding instructions. I can tell five Beagles apart at home when I live with them daily but even photos don't clearly show who is who for someone not intimately familiar with them.

Color tag on Obie-Wan's crate

My messy, hand-written, color coded feeding instruction sheet

This is a wonderful system to keep dogs identifiable and knowable to those who care for them for short times. I think it would help even if you have only two dogs especially if they are similar looking. My thanks and kudos to Teresa for this simple yet very effective idea.

BTW, Justus and I ended up in Branson, MO. It is a very dog friendly town and we had a good time. Favorite spot - the Landing. Next year, more days away with Justus, who was very, very good.

Justus claims his own bed