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You’re walking your pup when suddenly they spot a squirrel and pull hard enough to break free from your grasp. Or they hear a loud noise and bolt. Either way, they’re on the loose and out of sight. If someone finds your pup, they won’t know how to get your best friend back to you without a pet dog tag. That’s why dogs must always have ID tags and be microchipped for an additional layer of safety.
You might also want a cute pet tag for your dog because, hey, why not? I’ve scoured the market for the best dog tags, from QR code tags for dogs to standard dog ID tags. I’ve also found a few cute ones for you to consider too. So, let’s look at the best dog tag options and why they’ve made my cut.
| QR Code | Slide-On | Traditional | Silicone | Custom |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |  |  |  |  |
| PetHub | CollarTags | GoTags | LYP | Vimdevs |
| Visit Website | View on Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon |
| Read Review | Read Review | Read Review | Read Review | Read Review |
Dog tags do not replace the need for microchipping your dog. As good as dog tags are, they can be damaged, removed, and lost, which is why your dog must be microchipped. Please see our guide on microchips for dogs for more information.
7 Best Personalized Dog Tags For Pets
I’ve chosen some of the best dog tags and categorized them into types to help you choose the best one for your pet. I’ve chosen tags for pets that our team at Canine Journal has personally tested or are highly rated by other customers. They’re all high-quality, durable, and good value for money. So, let’s take a look.
Note: Can’t fit everything you want on your dog’s ID tag? Consider buying a second tag. That way, you can include your contact information and other necessary information like allergies, medications, and vet information. This can be life-saving if your dog has an illness and depends on medication to live.
Best QR Code Dog Tag: PetHub Review
What’s the best QR code dog tag? PetHub offers a range of basic pet ID tags and those that implement QR codes. How do the QR code tags work? Create your pet’s online profile on PetHub, including their name, breed, age, medications, allergies, contact information, and more. Then, you can link the profile to one of the QR-coded dog collar tags. If someone finds your dog, they can help reunite you. According to PetHub, 96% of lost pets with their QR code dog tag are reunited with their family within one day.
These are a bit more technical than the average ID tags for dogs, but you can include more information on them via the QR code. Compared to typical dog ID tags, if your dog gets lost or is injured, a vet can scan the QR code, learn about the dog’s medications and allergies, and contact you. What’s great about these is that you can easily update these custom dog tags for pets. So, if you move or your dog changes medications, you can update your dog’s profile.
You can choose standard QR dog tags or ones with a cute design such as “Lost AF” or “Oh Poop, I’m Lost.” PetHub also offers slide-on dog tags and medical alert dog ID tags. There are two sizes: small (the size of a nickel) and large (the size of a quarter), both lightweight. Shipping is free for ID PetHub tags, and they offer a lifetime scan guarantee for the life of your pet, plus a one-time replacement (conditions apply). Also, a portion of their sales go to shelters.
There are three membership options to consider. The “Basic Plan” is free and allows you to create a pet profile and 24/7 access to the found pet hotline and call center. The “PetHub+ Plan” costs $3.99 per month or $29.99 per year and offers access to pet recovery tools and the PetHub perks discount club. The “Lifetime PetHub+ Plan” offers the same tools but costs a one-off $199 fee for unlimited access to everything during your dog’s lifetime.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Original QR dog tag | More technical than traditional pet ID tags |
| Trusted by over 1 million parents & vets | Some membership plans have fees |
| Simple to update | |
| You can input unlimited contacts & medical info | |
| PetHub offers a lifetime scan guarantee | |
| They come in a variety of designs, colors & sizes | |
| ID collars ship free in the U.S. |
Pricing
- QR Tags start at $9.95
To learn more about PetHub, their selection of dog ID tags, membership information, and more, check out our full review of PetHub.
Best Slide-On Dog Tag: CollarTags Review
If you’re worried about the print on pet tags for dogs wearing off over time (or dangling in their food), a slide-on engraved pet tag could be the best route for your dog. CollarTags offers some of the best slide-on dog tags at reasonable prices. They are durable stainless steel, saltwater safe, lightweight, and curved to fit the shape of your dog’s neck. The tags are deeply engraved and come in four sizes and three designs, depending on the type of collar you have.
Slide-on tags are great because they are silent on the collar and don’t jingle. They also allow more room on your dog’s collar hook for a rabies vaccination tag and attaching your dog’s leash. Make sure you get the correct size for the width of the collar. CollarTags guarantees that if the text on their tag becomes unreadable, they offer a hassle-free replacement. You can’t use these tags on adjustable-length collars or collars with a snap or clasp-type buckle.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Slide-on pet tags are silent & lightweight | Not compatible with adjustable length collars or with a snap/clasp style buckle |
| Deeply engraved for durability | |
| Made with stainless steel | |
| Curved shape for comfort | |
| It comes in 4 sizes and 3 designs | |
| CollarTag offers a hassle-free replacement |
Our Personal Experience With CollarTags
We bought this tag for our dog, Lexie, when we first adopted her (Note: I blurred the contact info for security purposes). I love that it doesn’t make any noise or hit the bowl when she’s eating. The ID has held up well for several years.
– Sadie Cornelius, Dog Mom & Creative Marketing For Canine Journal
Pricing
Best Traditional Dog Tag: GoTags Stainless Steel Pet ID Tag Review
This is a highly popular and good-quality option if you’re looking for a no-frills traditional dog tag. These pet ID tags come in nine shapes, including a bone, heart, house, or ranch ranger badge. They come in two sizes: small for small dogs and cats and regular for medium and large breeds. They are made with durable stainless steel, which means bent dog tags are a thing of the past. The tags are lightweight and scratch and rub-resistant, too.
GoTags uses laser engraving on a mirror-finish surface. This means the text is long-lasting and easy to read, so your pet’s vital information is always legible. You can get up to eight lines of engraved text (four on each side). Customers are really happy with this traditional metal dog tag. Only a few stated that the only thing they didn’t like about it was the flimsy dog tag connector ring it came with.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Simple traditional dog tag | Some customers felt the tag connector ring was flimsy |
| Available in 9 shapes & 2 sizes | |
| Made with durable stainless steel | |
| Laser engraved | |
| Up to 8 lines of text |
Pricing
Best Silicone Dog ID Tag: LYP Soundless Pet ID Tag Review
If your dog’s tag jingling is a sound you’d rather avoid, why not consider a silicone pet ID tag? The tags are made from non-toxic, food-grade silicone, and they’re eco-friendly, too. You can choose between 17 stylish designs in bright colors, allowing your pup to make a statement. The text is cut into the silicone with a laser so it will not rub off and remains legible for a long time.
Each tag has a silicone ring that allows you to attach it to your dog’s collar. The tags only come in one size, which is the size of a quarter. Silicone dog tags are easier to clean and less prone to scratches than metal dog tags. They are also waterproof and lightweight. LYP gives back 1% of your purchase to pet communities. This tag is not suitable for pups who are chewers or heavy pullers.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Silent silicone tag | It only comes in 1 size |
| Made with durable, non-toxic, food-grade silicone | It doesn’t hold up against heavy pulling or chewing |
| It comes in 17 stylish designs | |
| The text is engraved into the silicone | |
| It comes with a large silicone loop to attach it to the collar | |
| Easy to clean |
Pricing
Best Custom Dog Tag: Vimdevs Custom Dog Tag Review
If you’re looking for a custom dog tag with a cute design, Vimdevs offers a great variety of options. You can choose two shapes (circle or hexagon) in three sizes (small, medium, or large) in five plating colors. There are a variety of designs and fonts to choose from. Select the “customize now” button to build your dog tag using the product images to decide which design suits your pup’s personality.
Each tag is made using lightweight but durable stainless steel and comes in a polished finish. You can write up to four lines of text on the back of the tag, which is deeply engraved with a laser. Vimdevs states the tags are chewproof and come with two high-strength stainless steel split rings for attaching to your dog’s collar. Not only are they a reasonable price, but I also think these are super sweet and make an ideal gift for a dog lover in your life or your own dog. A small number of customers found that the color eventually faded on some of the color-plated options.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Highly customizable dog tags | The color options aren’t as durable as the plain metal |
| Made with lightweight, durable stainless steel | |
| Up to 4 lines of laser-engraved text | |
| It comes in various shapes, sizes, designs, colors & fonts | |
| Great as a gift |
Pricing
Best Capsule Style Dog Tag: Molain Barrel Tube Tags Review
These capsule ID tags differ from the rest of the tags I’ve chosen in that you have to write your contact details on paper and insert them into the barrel. This has several advantages: you can update your dog’s contact details immediately without having to pay or wait for a new ID tag. For this reason, they are great for traveling with your dog, and I relied on them heavily when I traveled with my dog for two years. They are simple and sleek, and your details are not on show, which some owners prefer.
Barrel ID tags are relatively low-cost, and you get six in this pack. They are stainless steel and durable. Although they state they are waterproof, customers state they aren’t. I also found this to be a problem, so you have to check the details regularly to ensure they are legible and not damp. I wouldn’t recommend these as a permanent solution, but they are handy for traveling with or keeping some spare just in case you lose your pet ID and need something while waiting for another.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Allows you to change contact details instantly | Not 100% waterproof |
| Great for traveling | |
| The capsule design is sleek | |
| Contains 6 capsules | |
| Low-cost |
My Personal Experience With Capsule Dog Tags
I spent two years traveling around Europe with my dog Bonkers, spending time between my campervan and housesitting on Trusted Housesitters. It was impractical to purchase a new dog tag everytime I stayed at a place or changed my phone number, so I bought these capsule ID pet tags. It meant that I could write my current details on a small bit of paper and update it every time I moved on. Sure, he was microchipped, but these capsules gave me additional peace of mind, knowing that anyone could contact me immediately should he get lost.
There’s enough room on the piece of paper to write your address and contact details on. You can use ordinary paper each time you need to update it, rather than use a new barel everytime. So the six capsules should last you a very long time. The only thing I didn’t like was that the capsules aren’t waterproof, which wasn’t a major issue for me as my dog hates water. But you have to regularly check the paper to make sure it isn’t damp/illegible.
– Emma Braby, Rescue Dog Mom & Author
Pricing
Best AirTag Holder: AdventureMore AirTag Holder Review
If you use an Apple AirTag to track your dog, consider using an AirTag holder like this one. AirTags are prone to scratching and damage, which can affect their performance. So, this protector can act as an additional security measure for the tag and your dog. You only need to slot the tag into the holder and secure it in the waterproof silicone case. The ABS material is durable, lightweight, and comfortable, so your dog won’t even notice it’s there.
The holder does not affect the tag’s signals and comes in seven colors. You could also use it as a standalone QR code dog tag. If someone finds your dog, all they need to do is scan the laser-engraved QR code, and they have access to your contact details immediately. You don’t need a monthly subscription for this QR code tag. Please note that this is a holder only and does not come with an AirTag (you must purchase AirTags separately).
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Protects AirTags | Holder only (AirTag not included) |
| The holder is waterproof, dustproof & shockproof | |
| Made with durable, lightweight silicone | |
| Features a QR code | |
| You can use it as a standalone QR code tag | |
| It comes in 7 colors |
Pricing
Tired Of Noisy Dog Tags? FreezeTag Review
Are you tired of hearing your dog’s tag make that metal clanging noise when hooked next to their rabies tag? Or maybe the sound of them scratching in the middle of the night is waking the family? If so, this lightweight tag silencer could be the answer. It holds up to four tags, pressing them together so they can’t rattle. Watch this short video showing you how to use it.
Pricing
Keep Your Dog Safe
Want to be extra careful? Take it a step further and get a GPS collar that will help you track down Fido using your phone. Be sure to read our article on finding a lost dog to learn even more. And don’t forget you need a collar to attach your dog’s tag. Luckily, we’ve reviewed the best collars to fit your dog and an article dedicated to picking the right size collar for your pup.
Do you use one of these personalized ID dog tags? Have you ever lost your dog but brought them home safely because of a pet ID tag? We love to hear from our readers, so tell us your thoughts and stories in the comments below.
Why Trust Canine Journal?
Emma’s dog Chips in a TY dog collar tag.
Emma is a dog mom to two rescue dogs, Bonkers and Chips. Before joining the Canine Journal team, she was a professional dog walker and knows the importance of tagging your dog. Emma has encountered a few lost dogs during her walks, most of which she reunited with their owners quickly thanks to their dog tags. She is passionate about sharing her canine knowledge and experience with her readers, helping dog owners give their precious pups the best life.
