Dog Community

Little rant about dog tags.

Posted : 4/25/2006 11:15:45 AM

I work as an engraver. Thats what I do. I've made hundreds of dog tags. What I put on them is usually this, Name, address, and phone number. The other day one of the other girls took an order for a dog tag and I engraved it. It did not have a name. So when the girl came to pick it up, I asked if the order was correct, and she said yes it was, and that it is a really bad idea to put the name on a dog tag because then people can steal your dog. I tried to bite my tongue, but couldn't. I told her that a)if someone can read the tag, they already have your dog. and b) if they are going to steal your dog they are going to change its name. Furthermore, it has been proven that personalizing people and pets are more effective in deterring kidnappers than anything else. If someone sees a dog with a tag on it that says only a phone # and address, they aren't likely to think of it as a pet. If on the other hand it says Buffy in big bold letters in the front, that animal now becomes someones beloved pet. What do you guys think should go on a dog tag?

sooner

Posted : 4/25/2006 11:19:41 AM

If there's room: my name, their name, full address, cell phone number.

Currently on their tags is their name, cell number, street address and city/state.

luv_my_3_labs

Posted : 4/25/2006 11:23:50 AM

I think this lady is thinking about human kids. If they had their name on the backpacks a stranger could go up to that kid and say "Jack, I'm a friend of your parents." My dog tags have their name, address and phone number.

Firestorm

Posted : 4/25/2006 11:26:46 AM

I think the dogs name and phone number at minium and address if you like. I found a golden retriever on my property one day who was very lovable and because he had tags on I was able to call the owner and tell them that their dog was at my house. If not for the number, they wouldn't have gotten the dog so fast. They came and got the dog 5 mins later and They were so happy I found him and caught him.

minimom

Posted : 4/25/2006 11:27:18 AM

I've heard that "don't put their name on the tag" theory before, but I've never really understood the reasoning behind it, for exactly the reasons you listed. My dog's names are on their tags.

Prince_Pride

Posted : 4/25/2006 11:29:24 AM

My dog's tag looks like this

Prince
I'm Microchipped!
Cell#
Home#

on the back it has my husbands and my name and home address

huskymom

Posted : 4/25/2006 11:32:43 AM

I always recommend the name and at least a phone number. Someone is more likely to call you then bring your dog home if they are farther than a block or two. We include 3 lines of engraving with our dogtags. This is so that people put all the info that is needed. This woman was very pissed at me and complained. I got in crap but what the he**? I couldnt help it.

dasher

Posted : 4/25/2006 11:37:30 AM

I have heard of not putting your dogs name on tags as well. Mine all currently have the dogs name, address, phone #. However I was thinking about getting new tags that say:

Needs Meds
Phone
Cell

They say if you put "needs meds" a person may be less likely to keep your dog due to having to possibly pay for meds or also they may feel your dog may need his meds to live and since they don't know what meds they may be more likely to call. However, I do feel that if someone is scummy enough to keep a dogs with ID tags then not much will deter them.

Kara

Posted : 4/25/2006 11:39:26 AM

If someone is going to steal your dog, they are going to steal the dog regardless of what's on the tag. I'd rather be safer and put my dog's name on the tag. Gracie's tag says:

GRACIE
home address
city, state, zip
phone number

Lindsay- Bernie's Mom

Posted : 4/25/2006 11:49:59 AM

Bernie's tag (and my kitty, Midori's) says:

Name
Cell Phone #

I don't put an address, as I am a college student and seem to be moving rather frequently and got tired of getting new tags all the time! I like some of the cute new tags I've seen online with some funny/cute saying on the front and then the info on the back.

marynh

Posted : 4/25/2006 12:08:28 PM

even my name is on Molly's tag - that way when I tell DH she's MY dog I have the proof in print LOL

tashakota

Posted : 4/25/2006 12:13:13 PM

I'm bad, but my dogs don't have tags, they have embroidered collars. The collars have their name and my cell number. I might add "needs meds" to Kota's now because he's on pheno for seizures. Which means buying a new collar but that's ok. I can't sleep with jingle jingle at night so I got them all embroidered collars because NOT having a collar with info is worse!

glenmar

Posted : 4/25/2006 12:15:24 PM

Where I live they MUST have rabies and license tags on their collars. You can buy the little things to keep the tags from jingling, but what I do is put clear packing tape on each side of the tags. That not only keeps them from jingling, but protects them from rubbing and becoming illegible.

huskymom

Posted : 4/25/2006 12:16:52 PM

I don't think there's anything wrong with having embroidered collars. Except in my case I don't think anyone would see thier collar for all the fur! The jingle is kind of reassuring to me when they are not in sight. Its when it stops that I worry. And at night they are in crates sleeping so there is no jingle.

dogslyfe

Posted : 4/25/2006 12:38:00 PM

I actually have two sets of tags, one for home and one for when we travel. I often forget to change back to home tags, though, so they frequently just wear their travel tags.

Home tags read:

DOG NAME
Address
Phone Number (h)

Travel tags read:

DOG NAME
"Traveling - My Name"
City, State
cell phone, home phone

I'm planning to get the ones that slide on to the collars rather than dangle soon.