What to Put on a Dog ID Tag (and Which Type to Choose)

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A dog who slips out of the yard is usually found by a neighbor, not a shelter worker with a scanner. The tag on the collar is what lets that neighbor call you. This guide covers what to put on a dog ID tag, which kind of tag to choose, how to attach it so it stays on, and how a tag and a microchip work together.

How we wrote this: the advice comes from two Whole Dog Journal articles: founding editor Nancy Kerns on ID tags that can save your dog’s life (September 2001, updated March 2021), and trainer Helene Goldberger on the identification her own dogs wear (February 2019). The microchip facts come from Best Friends Animal Society’s guide to using microchips to find lost pets, and the UK rules from the rescue charity Battersea. All were checked on 1 November 2026. We did not test any tags ourselves, and we do not show prices or ratings.

Why a visible tag still matters

Kerns calls a visible ID tag with current contact details a lost dog’s first line of defense. It is the easiest way for the person who finds your dog to return them to you directly and quickly. A direct return also spares your dog a stay in shelter kennels, she notes.

Microchips do not replace the tag. Best Friends still advises a collar with an ID tag that carries your contact details, so that someone without a microchip scanner can reach you fast. In parts of the UK it is the law: Battersea says every dog in England, Wales and Scotland must be microchipped and wear a collar with an ID tag.

What to put on a dog ID tag

Goldberger’s rule of thumb is that the tag should hold enough information for whoever finds your dog to reach you directly, at any hour. Kerns adds that the details must be current. In practice that means:

• Your phone number first. A mobile number you always answer is the most useful line on the tag. If space allows, add a second number for a partner or friend.
• Your town or area. Goldberger notes that even her state license, which shows only a registration number and the town, gives a finder a starting point.
• A key health or care note. Goldberger adds a small tag saying her dog Helen is deaf. A short line such as “deaf” or “needs medication” tells a finder to take extra care and call quickly. Keep medical details short; your vet holds the full record.
• Your dog’s name, if you like. Neither of our sources makes a rule here. It can help a finder calm your dog, so it is your call.

Keep it short. Extra words mean smaller letters, and Kerns notes that tags wear and become hard to read over time. Check the tag every few months and replace it when the engraving fades or your number changes.

Should you put your address on the tag?

Our sources do not insist on a full street address. Goldberger describes one alternative: some services print their own phone number and a registration number on the tag, so the finder calls the service and the service puts them in touch with you, and none of your personal details are on show. Some UK owners must show more: Battersea says a collar ID tag is a legal requirement there, so check your local rules on what it has to show.

The license and rabies tag

Kerns writes that most places in the US require a dog license tag on the collar, and that owner details from a license can usually be traced through the local animal services agency. Goldberger’s dogs also wear their rabies vaccination tag, which tells people the dog is vaccinated. Neither replaces your own ID tag: Goldberger once found a lost terrier with only a rabies tag, and because the vet’s office was closed for the weekend, it took days to reach the owners. Ask your vet or local animal services which tags your area requires.

A tag for the pet sitter

When her dogs stay with a sitter, Goldberger adds one more tag with the sitter’s number, so whoever finds the dog reaches the person who is actually caring for them. Kerns did the same with quick write-on tags whenever her dogs traveled or stayed somewhere new.

Types of dog ID tags

Kerns says no ID system is perfect: tags fall off or wear, collars come off, and chips can be missed. Her advice is to use more than one. Here are the main types our sources describe.

Engraved metal tags that hang from a ring

The classic tag. Goldberger has hers engraved at a pet supply store with an engraving machine: quick, and it lasts a few years even though the metal is thin. Custom tags in brass or hard plastic look nicer but can take a couple of weeks to arrive. The downside is the jingle, and a hanging tag can be pulled off if its ring is weak.

Slide-on tags

A slide-on tag is a flat plate with a slot at each end, so the collar strap runs through it. Kerns liked that it cannot fall off and does not jingle, but found two catches: it fits only a flat buckle collar, because a plastic snap buckle will not pass through the slots, and it is a little big for toy breeds. Measure your collar width before you order one.

Silicone tags

Goldberger describes engraved silicone tags as soft, durable and fade resistant, with your details on both sides. Being soft, they make less noise than metal.

Personalized collars

A collar with your phone number stitched or printed on it, or fitted with an engraved plate, cannot lose its tag and makes no noise. Kerns found one drawback: room for only about 30 characters, enough for a name and number but not much more. Goldberger points out that some of these collars use a metal buckle; if you want a quick release in an emergency, choose a plastic side release buckle instead. Compare collar styles in our best dog collars guide.

Write-on temporary tags

Engraved and custom tags take time to make, so Kerns says your dog should wear temporary ID while you wait. She kept cheap write-on tags on hand for travel and pet sitters. If you make one yourself, write clearly; a tag nobody can read does not help.

How to attach the tag so it stays on

• Use a strong ring. Goldberger swaps the thin rings that come with license and rabies tags for a key ring from a hardware store, which she finds much stronger.
• Never clip the leash to a tag ring. Goldberger warns that those rings are not strong enough, and you could lose your dog and the tags together. Clip the leash to the collar D ring or a harness.
• Use a tag clip if you change collars. Goldberger mentions clips that hold all the tags and move from one collar to another in seconds.
• Keep the collar on and well fitted. A tag only works if the collar is on the dog. A collar that is too loose can slip over the head. Use our guide on how to measure a dog for a collar and check the fit as your dog grows or changes weight.

How to stop dog tags jingling

Some people find the jingle maddening; Goldberger likes it because she always knows where her dogs are. If you want quiet, she suggests a small pouch that holds the tags together, in leather or silicone. A slide-on tag, silicone tag or personalized collar is quieter too.

ID tag and microchip: use both

A microchip is permanent backup. Best Friends describes it as a chip about the size of a grain of rice, usually placed under the skin between the shoulder blades, and says most vet clinics and shelters can scan it, often for free. Scanning brings up an ID number that is looked up in a registry to find the family. Goldberger adds that a chip can also confirm your dog is yours if they are ever stolen. Whether and when to microchip your dog is a question to ask your vet.

The chip only works if the registry has your details:

• Register the chip. Best Friends says registering is the other critical half of using a chip, and it is usually free. Goldberger says to make sure your vet, the shelter or you have actually registered it.
• Keep the details up to date. Battersea calls this very important; in the UK, updating details can cost a small fee. Goldberger says shelter workers find nothing more frustrating than a chip whose owner cannot be reached.
• Ask for a scan at checkups. Best Friends says a chip can fail, and suggests asking your vet to scan it at routine visits. If you have lost the chip number, Battersea says your vet can scan your dog to find it.

A microchip is not a tracker. Best Friends notes it has no GPS and no battery, so it cannot show where your dog is; someone has to find the dog and scan it. If you want to see your dog’s location live, that is a GPS collar or tag, compared in our best GPS dog tracker guide. A tracker adds to the ID tag and chip; it does not replace them.

If your dog goes missing

Best Friends says to call your microchip company to check your details are current and to report your dog as missing. On lost dog posters it suggests including your phone number, where and when the dog was last seen, a short description, and whether they were wearing a collar. Battersea also suggests reporting your dog to the local dog warden, rescue centres and vets.

Got a tracker? See how to set up and use a GPS dog tracker, from fitting and safe zones to a test walk and battery habits.

Moving with a dog? Our guide on how to move house with a dog covers moving day, the car journey, ID updates and settling in.

FAQ

What should I put on my dog’s ID tag?

At minimum, a phone number you always answer. Goldberger’s test is whether a finder could reach you directly at any hour. Add a second number, your town, and a short care note such as “deaf” if space allows.

Does my dog need an ID tag if they are microchipped?

Yes. Best Friends says a collar with an ID tag lets someone without a scanner contact you quickly, and in England, Wales and Scotland Battersea says dogs must have both.

Are slide-on tags better than hanging tags?

They cannot fall off or jingle, but Kerns found they fit only flat buckle collars, not plastic snap collars, and can be bulky on toy breeds.

How often should I replace my dog’s ID tag?

Whenever the writing is hard to read or your phone number changes. Kerns notes that tags wear, so check them every few months.

For more on gear for walks, see our leash and harness buying guide.