Top 10 Best Dog ID Tags For Keeping Your Pup Safe
Sometimes dogs get separated from their loved ones, which is why it’s so important to attach tags to your pup’s collar to help them find their way home. The best dog ID tags are easily customizable to add your information, and are made from durable materials like stainless steel, plastic, or silicone. The tags should mount securely and comfortably to your dog’s collar, whether you opt for a traditional hanging tag, a rivet, or slide-on style.
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Customizable ID tags typically offer up to four lines of text on the front, though some vary depending on your chosen size. All tags should provide enough space for basic contact details, but for dogs with health conditions, you might opt for a tag that’s double-sided so you can include that information. Beyond ensuring a tag has space for important details, pick one made from a material that suits your needs. For durability, stainless steel is usually best, since it’s strong and resistant to wear and tear. But if you or your dog friend are bothered by the sound of jingling metal, you can opt for a softer material like silicone or plastic — just know that these materials are easily chewed and will likely need to be replaced more often. If you want a more durable tag that doesn’t make noise, a stainless steel rivet or slide-on-style tag might be a better option.
In terms of mounting design, you’ll typically see three options:
- Rivet tags come with hardware to mount directly onto the collar. They’re the least likely to fall off, most durable, and look especially stylish on leather collars — though they’re compatible with any collar. The tradeoff is that you can only add information to one side of the tag since it’s mounted to the collar.
- Hanging ID tags clip onto a ring or around the collar. They’re easy to attach and work on basically any collar. However, they’re more likely to accidentally fall off, and some pups find the dangling metal annoying. And of course, metal hanging tags can also make that obnoxious jingling noise.
- Slide-on tags are easier to attach and remove than rivet tags but are similar in concept. These tags come with slits or loops that you can feed a collar through. The drawback is that these tags only fit a certain width of collar, so be sure to check measurements first, though tags with loops made from stretchier materials offer a wider compatibility.
While customizability and design are key, other cool features to consider include scannable QR codes — which connect to full online puppy profiles — and built-in GPS for tracking your pup’s location. A tag that glows in the dark can help your dog stay visible at night. And for dogs that seem to hate all tags, a customizable collar is an alternative that allows them to go tag-free.
To find the right fit for your pup, start with this roundup of durable, customizable dog ID tags.
The 10 Best Dog ID Tags
ROAD iD Pet ID Slate – Premium Choice
This slate-style tag is unique for the fact that it is embedded directly into the collar. There is no dangling component, which means less risk of hazard and loss of the tag.
All the other features are still what you’d expect. The ROAD iD tag has enough space to include the information you need to convey, all in a highly-legible font.
There are two issues. For one thing, it is one of the pricier options on our list. It is also worth noting that slate is not an extremely durable material. Given the design concept, there shouldn’t be any major issues, but should something unlikely happen, it may be the end of the road for the ID.
- Expensive
- Slate is not extremely durable
- Plenty of real estate
- Unique design concept
- Clear information
Dr. Fremont’s Pet ID Tag – Best Value
If you didn’t like the price of the last unit on our list, you may prefer the value of this product. Dr. Fremont’s Pet ID Tag is extremely affordable and available in a wide range of colors and sizes. You also have the option to customize the front and back of the unit, giving you plenty of real estate for all the information you wish to provide.
Buyers should note that this is an aluminum tag, which means it is a little bit more susceptible to wear and tear than some of the other options on our list. That said, it is still one of the best dog ID tags for the money.
- Susceptible to wear and tear
- Plenty of space
- Affordable
- Different color and shape options
GoTags Stainless Steel Pet ID Tags – Best Overall
The GoTags Stainless Steel Pet ID tags are designed to be both durable and cosmetically appealing. They are available in a wide variety of shapes and over plenty of real estate for printing your pooch’s information.
As a stainless steel product is is much more durable than the typical aluminum and it will also stand up well against rust and other forms of degradation. The only real issue is that it is more expensive than most of the other products on our list.
- Pricey
- Plenty of space for information
- Variety of different shapes
- Durable
- Resists rust
PetANTastic Stainless Steel Pet ID Tags
These tags are durably constructed of stainless steel. In addition to the actual metal being super sturdy, it is also optimized for withstanding the elements. If exposure to wet or rain is something you anticipate, this tag should be up for the job.
The font itself is also very durable, which means that the writing will last for a long time. And of course, you also get a wide range of different shapes and sizes to choose from, which means there will be something for everyone.
You do, however, pay for the high level of quality that is provided by PetANTastic. It’s one of the more expensive options on our list.
- Pricey
- Durable
- Visible font
- Resists rust
Tag-Z Customized Military Dog Tags
The name is pretty descriptive here. The Tag-Z DT-CUSTOM-SS is a military-style dog tag that features a variety of different fonts and sizes. The tags are moderately priced and include a durably etched font that should serve to last for a long time.
Unfortunately, the overall quality of the tag is lacking, relative to some of the other products on our list. It tends to bend a little bit, which could be a problem for some dogs. If you have a really rambunctious puppy, they might manage to do some real damage.
- Tends to bend
- Durable font
- Moderate price
Providence Engraving Pet ID Tags
This is another dog tag that features a unique design concept. It slides directly into your dog’s collar, making it less vulnerable than dangling units. The tags are available in a wide range of different colors and they include enough space to deliver all necessary information.
Unfortunately, the quality of the metal is a little lacking here. It’s very thin and could easily snap if it gets knocked around too much. Of course, the benefit of its design is that that isn’t very likely to happen. Still, if you are worried about the sort of trouble your hyperactive pup can accomplish, the Providence Engraving Pet ID Tag may not be the one for you.
- Snaps easily
- Affordable
- Unique design
LuckyPet Slide-On Pet ID Tags
This is another slide style dog tag that fits snuggly onto your pet’s collar. Once again, this is a feature that will make your tag much less vulnerable to wear and tear. It is available in several different sizes and will be an appropriate choice for dogs of just about any size.
The LuckyPet Slide-On is a pretty decent tag at a very reasonable price, but there is one somewhat major issue. The engraving will degrade over time, making the tag completely illegible. Naturally, this sharply cuts against the point of the tag.
- Low-quality print
- Fits snuggly onto collar
- Several sizes
Beeshion ID Pet Tag
Last, the Beeshion. This is a company that is known for its humor. The options include funny (often profanity-ridden) messages that will show whoever finds your dog that you have a sense of humor. Unfortunately, though, humor is about all that this tag has going for it.
The quality of the metal is low, which may lead to it being bent or damaged. It’s also not well suited for the elements, which means that it may rust over time. Additionally, the font could prove problematic, degrading over time to the point that no one will be able to make heads or tails out of the humorous message.
If you are looking for a light-duty tag with a sense of humor, this is the product for you. However, if your needs are of a more heavy-duty nature you’ll need to find something different.
- Unique, humorous messages
- Not resistant to elements
- Not very durable
- Font may degrade over time
Love Your Pets Deluxe Pet ID Tags
The Love Your Pets tags feature a wide range of different prints and shapes. The tags are made out of stainless steel to make them resistant to moisture, and just generally very durable. There are also a wide variety of color options that allow you to get a truly personalized tag.
The best feature is probably the quality of the engraving though. The font will remain legible for a long period of time, which really limits the kind of trouble your dog will be able to get itself into. It is, however, one of the pricier tags on the market, which is something budget buyers will need to be on the lookout for.
- High cost
- Lots of color options
- Variety of different prints and shapes
- Moisture and wear and tear-resistant
The Didog is an affordable tag that gives you up to eight lines worth of space to print information on the tag. If you are looking for a budget-friendly option that will still get the job done, this is a worthwhile tag to consider
There are, however, some issues that might keep people with a little bit more money to spend away. For one thing, the build quality is flimsy. The metal is very malleable which can easily result in it snapping.
The font is also pretty low quality. It will degrade and become illegible over time.
- Not very durable
- Low-quality font
- Affordable
Buyer’s Guide: Choosing the Best Dog ID Tags
Hopefully, by now you already know what product is right for you. If not though, it may help to go over some important buying considerations
Style
- The style of the name tag is also a factor. Most tags are dangly in nature which is fine often enough. However, some tags are also embedded directly into the collar. This is a handy feature to get your hands on for the fact that it makes the tag less susceptible to wear and tear.
- However, embedded tags have their own drawbacks. For one thing, they may not be compatible with the collar you already have, which may increase their cost. They also feature a limited amount of real estate because they aren’t double-sided.
- You will have to decide for yourself what sort of tag is right for your needs.
Space
- Of course, the entire purpose of a collar is to include all relevant information. That being the case, you will certainly want something that features enough real estate to include addresses, phone numbers, names, etc.
- Manufacturers tend to advertise how many characters you are able to fit on their dog tag, which makes this consideration a good deal simpler.
Material
- The material of the tag can have a pretty major impact on how long it lasts. Aluminum is possibly the most common component found, but it certainly isn’t the best. What aluminum has in value it lacks in durability. Aluminum tends to be flexible and easy to break.
- Stainless steel tends to be a much better material; it is resistant against rust and extremely durable. Steel will cost a little bit more but it tends to worthwhile when you factor how long it will last.
Price
- Tags can vary pretty dramatically in price. The average unit tends to be under thirty dollars. However, it is also very possible to find options that cost $30 or even more.
- Is it worthwhile to spend a bunch? You’ll ultimately have to be the judge of that.
- However, there usually is not a compelling reason to spend more than $10 on a high-quality tag.
Conclusion
Did one of our dog tag reviews simplify your decision? If you’ve decided on a product already, more power to you. For those of us that are still struggling with the decision though, there are a couple of recommendations to keep in mind.
Buyers that gravitate towards the best of the best will probably favor the GoTags Stainless Steel Pet ID Tags. It’s a high-quality tag that should last you for a very long time.
However, you can also get a pretty great deal on a value option such as our runner up the Dr. Fremont’s Pet ID Tag.