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What to put on a pet ID tag, for dogs and cats
A tag has one job: to let whoever finds your pet know who to call within seconds. Here's what's actually worth putting on it, what you shouldn't engrave permanently, and how little information you really need for it to help without giving too much away.
Last updated: July 7, 2026
What must go on the tag?
The one thing that matters is a current phone number, ideally two. Without it the tag does nothing. Add a short line like “call me, I'm lost”, because it nudges the finder to act. Everything else, name included, is optional and depends on how much you want to reveal.
Give a number you actually answer. If there's room, add a second one, say a housemate's, in case you're out of signal. The stranger holding your dog by a busy road won't try ten times.
Your pet's name sounds friendly and helps calm the animal, but some owners deliberately leave it off. A stranger who can call the dog by name finds it easier to coax him over. Your call, not a rule.
What's best left off a permanent engraving?
Skip your full home address and surname on the metal. An address on the collar is a liability, since collar and keys can go missing together, and a surname makes your home easy to trace. A phone number alone is plenty to reach you, without revealing where you live.
Don't engrave details that go stale fast either. An old engraved number is worse than none, because the finder calls a dead line. With a classic plate, every change of details means buying a new tag.
Health notes such as “on medication” or “nervous with strangers” are valuable, but they won't fit on a small plate. Keep them where you have space and can edit them.
How much information is actually enough?
Just enough for the finder to call, and not a word more on the metal itself. The tidiest setup keeps a bare minimum on the tag and all the detail in an editable profile behind a QR code. You change the number, flip on a “lost” status, add health notes, and never swap the tag.
A reward is easier to promise in the profile than to engrave in metal. A short “reward for finding” can motivate, and once your pet is home you simply delete it. On an engraving it would stay forever.
With a QR and NFC tag, the metal carries only the code while the details live in a profile you fix in a minute. If you're weighing up which tag to get, see our guide on what to look for when choosing a tag.
FAQ
Should I put my dog's name on the tag?
It's your call. A name helps calm the animal and reads as friendly, but some owners leave it off so a stranger can't call the dog by name. The phone number matters more than the name.
Should I engrave my home address on the tag?
Better not to put a full address or surname permanently on the metal. A current phone number is enough. An address on the collar can reveal where you live and isn't needed just to reach you.
What do I do when I change my phone number?
With an engraved plate you buy a new one. With a QR and NFC tag you change the number in the profile in a minute, and the tag itself stays the same.
Is it worth noting that the dog is microchipped?
A short “microchipped” note can help, since it hints that a shelter or vet can read the number with a scanner. You can keep the rest of the detail in the profile the code leads to.