Dog ID Tags: Good (But Not Great) For Safety

If your buddy gets lost, the last thing you want is for them to be missing without the proper dog ID tags attached to their collar. With this one practical step, you’ve gone a long way in increasing the chances someone will return your dog safely if they run away.

But are dog ID tags alone enough? Turns out:

• They’re pretty useless if your dog gets enticed into a car by a pet thief – who isn’t likely to return them to you easily.
• If the tag gets smudged or falls off, there’s no way to recognize you as your dog’s owner. Meaning, if your buddy has been picked up by a pound or a shelter, they might end up getting rehomed at best – or euthanized at worst.

So besides an ID tag, we’d always recommend you plan ahead for a way to actively track down a missing dog if the situation ever arises. (Ideally, in real-time – and over an unlimited range.) So you can follow your buddy’s every step – as they make their every step.

Why are dog ID tags important?

It happens to nearly every dog parent – your dog slips their leash or dashes out an open door. Don’t panic! The ID tags you attached to your dog’s collar could save the day by making your buddy easy to identify.

⚠️ One out of every three dogs will go missing at some point in their life¹.

• Meaning attaching ID tags to your dog’s collar are the first, basic step you can take to dramatically increase the odds that they’ll be returned to you quickly.
• Besides, microchipping and social media are all great ways to find your lost dog.

Read more: Why Do Dogs Run Away? 6 Reasons Behind It

💡Imagine yourself coming upon a dog that looks lost. What’s the first thing you’ll do, after looking around for a panicked pet parent?

That’s right, you’d most likely first check the dog for ID tags. One quick glance will reveal the owner’s phone number. You make the call and instantly hear the relief in the owner’s voice. Their doggy is safe!

Tags indicate to a stranger that the lost pooch belongs to someone, rather than being a stray. People may be more likely to approach a tagged dog and help it find its way back home. 

But what if your buddy’s ID tag falls off or gets smudged?

This is where a microchip can be a smarter, more effective solution – though we’d always suggest you equip your buddy with both a microchip AND an ID tag. (For that extra layer of security.)

• A microchip is a tiny device around the size of a grain of rice.
• A vet can implant it in under 10 minutes under your dog’s shoulder blades. (And nope, it doesn’t hurt – plus it’s a relatively affordable, accessible procedure.)
• Include your contact details on the microchip database and…

Voilà! You now have a permanent ID tag for your dog that’s never at risk for falling off or getting smudged.

Read more: The Pet Lover’s Guide to Dog Microchipping

⚠️Unfortunately, both dog ID tags and microchips are only identification tools. Meaning, they can’t help you take an active role in actually tracking down your missing dog.

Microchips don’t come with real-time GPS tracking or any location capabilities. All it does is help someone with a scanner identify your dog – not actually, well, help you find them.

So with just ID tags or a microchip, you’ll have to:

• Wait and hope and pray a kind stranger brings your lost dog to a vet or a shelter
• The staff there have a microchip scanner to find your contact details
• …and then actually get in touch with you to inform you they’ve found your lost dog.

Which, in a world where dognapping is on the rise, is never a 100% guarantee. (Especially if your buddy is a rare breed or hasn’t been spayed or neutered yet.)

💡It’s why responsible dog parents around the world – just like you – are strapping GPS trackers to their buddies’ collars. (For an extra, extra layer of security.)

Because once you’ve set up your trusty Tractive GPS, you can now track your dog:

• In real-time,
• Over an unlimited range,
• While on vacation – or 175 countries if you’re on a Premium subscription

All this – with just a glance at your phone.

Which, in an emergency, has even helped some vigilant dog parents pick up that their buddies have been dog-napped! (And where a dog thief is likely to ignore an ID tag completely.)

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When should you get ID tags for your dog?

As soon as you acquire your dog, get a set of pet ID tags for them. The process of bringing home a new pet introduces all kinds of scenarios for the dog to escape.

• Your new pup may not be used to traveling in a crate, wearing a collar, or walking on a leash, increasing the odds of a tug of war that you could lose.
• And running off in a new neighborhood will just confuse your new pet – and since they’re not 100% familiar with you or their new “home” yet, they might not be able to find their way back to you.

Read more:

• New Puppy Checklist: Essentials For Your New Puppy
• How To Adopt A Dog – Just In Time For Summer

Is it illegal for a dog not to wear a collar tag?

Some countries, such as the UK, legally require all dogs to wear a pet tag with their owner’s name and address.

Likewise, many municipalities in the US have laws requiring your pet to wear a tag with proof of rabies vaccination.

• Your veterinarian will give you an official rabies tag when your pup gets their annual rabies vaccine.
• The rabies tag includes a number sequence that is tied to your dog’s record. This is one more way for someone to track you down in the event that your pet is lost.
• Be sure to swap out the rabies tag each year when your pup gets their annual vaccine.

If you’re not sure what is required in your area, your veterinarian’s office or local animal shelter can provide answers.

What legally needs to be on a dog tag?

Requirements vary, but if dog tags are mandated by law, they most likely require your phone number and some type of identifying information, such as your city or county.

⚠️ Remember to update the pet tags if you move or get a new phone number.

What info should appear on my dog’s ID tags?

Along with legally required info, feel free to squeeze as much information as possible on the tag, as long as it’s legible.

Here are some ideas to get you started:

Phone number

Include a phone number that you are likely to answer. Your mobile phone is the obvious choice, plus a second phone number as backup.

If your pet goes missing, turn your phone’s ringer up to full volume, and turn off the feature that silences unknown callers. You won’t want to miss the call telling you that someone found your pup!

Geographic area

Experts recommend listing only your city on the pet tag, not your complete address. You don’t necessarily want a stranger to know where you live.

Plus, if someone finds your lost pet, it’s better for them to remain in place while you rush to their location (bring a spare leash, collar, and dog crate).

Microchip information

Your dog’s microchip can contain information about your pet along with your contact details. The chip must be read by a scanner, usually at a veterinarian’s office or a shelter. You can add a tiny tag to your dog’s collar that says “I’m chipped” so that anyone finding your pet knows that reading the chip is an option if you can’t be reached by phone.

⚠️ Just remember – a microchip is not a GPS tracker! Meaning it won’t help you track your missing dog in real-time or in any capacity, really.

Read more: Dog Tracking Chip: What’s the difference between microchips and GPS trackers for dogs?

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Vaccination information

The rabies tag provided by your veterinarian should be attached to your dog’s collar if required by law. This signals to people who encounter your escaped dog that this pooch is vaccinated and well cared for. 

Your name

Consider listing your first name only on the dog tag, right next to your phone number. There’s no need to include your last name.

Medical conditions

Adding the phrase “I have medical conditions” to your dog’s ID tags adds urgency for whoever finds your dog to return them to you as soon as possible.

• If you can, try and include your vet’s phone number in case your pup is found with injuries that need immediate attention.
• Or add a Medical Alert tag which includes information about your pup’s specific medical conditions.

What kind of dog ID tag is best?

Any type of dog ID tag is better than no pet tag at all. But you have lots of choices to suit your preferences and your pup’s lifestyle.

Dog tags need to attach to something, usually a dog collar or harness. If you swap collars or harnesses often, consider making a set of tags for each collar or harness. Or buy clips that allow you to switch the entire set of dog tags to another collar or harness.

• Custom engraved metal tags are readily available, inexpensive, and durable.
• Custom engraved plastic tags, which come in many colors, are another option, although they may get damaged more easily than metal tags. 

Some pet parents dislike the jangling noises made by the metal pet tags that attach to their dogs’ collars. You can purchase dog tag silencers to reduce the noise. These tiny plastic pouches are dog friendly and fit over the dog tags to eliminate jangling while still allowing the tags to be readable. 

An alternative to jangling tags is a dog collar tag. Collar tags slide onto the dog collar and lay flat, creating a tidier look for your pooch. Another option is to have your information embroidered onto a custom-made dog collar. 

Where can you get dog ID tags?

Major pet stores have dog tag engraving machines where you can create your pet’s own custom dog tag in a matter of minutes. These engraving machines offer a basic, inexpensive way to keep your pet safe. 

Of course, you can find all kinds of fancy dog tag options from many online retailers. 

Remember: A dog ID tag is an emergency measure!

Rather, preventing an escape if your first line of defense for avoiding a lost pet in the first place.

So here are a couple of simple steps to get you started:

• Double down on your buddy’s recall skills training: Teaching your dog to come when called is arguably the most important safety skill you can teach your pup. You can learn basic training techniques at obedience classes, with books, or with videos online. But make regular training a priority – especially for the basic dog commands.
• Keep your pup on a lead: Allowing your pup to run off leash increases the chance that they will get spooked or intensely interested in something, leaving you holding the empty leash as they dash away.
• Invest in secure dog fencing: If your dog spends time in the backyard, make sure your fences and gates are in good condition. Check for spots when your pooch could wriggle under the fence, and make sure that your gate latches securely. 

And most importantly…

• Strap a GPS dog tracker to your buddy’s collar.

Because no matter whether your dog is an escape artist or a couch potato, or how well-trained they are – every dog is at risk of falling for their “flight” instincts if they’re:

• Spooked – especially by loud noises, including fireworks and thunderstorms
• A high-energy, untrained puppy
• Anxious
• In heat – or have sniffed out a female in heat
• In prey drive
• Or just plain bored!

💡In times like these, a GPS dog tracker can be a lifesaver.

With your trusty Tractive GPS strapped to your buddy’s collar – all you need to do is hit “LIVE”:

And within seconds, you’ll be following your dog’s every step – as they make their every step.

All this on one device – built with love for dogs and for your peace of mind as a dog parent.

Always know where your dog is

Follow every step in real-time with unlimited range. Get alerts if they wander too far. Keep them happy & healthy with Wellness Monitoring. And let others – like walkers or sitters – keep an eye on your dog too.

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Curious why dog parents around the world – just like you – are going for Tractive devices and sticking to us for the long run? Here’s a detailed review just for you:

And if you’ve liked this post, share it with a friend or a loved one – and let’s help build a safer, kinder world for our furry friends together.