What should I put on my new tag for my dog?

[2025willbemytime]

We are moving house so need to get a new collar tag. I know not to put her name on it but what should I put on it? On her current one I have my landline and address. I realised my mobile would have been better. I'll be living alone and need to protect my whereabouts but should my dog get lost..

My surname, postcode, mobile number and "I am chipped."
Not the dog's name or address - I don't want people to know which house is empty while I'm out looking for my dog.

In my mind, if someone is close enough to read the tag, they are close enough to nick your dog. And most dogs will respond to anything in the right tone of voice.

Maybe I'm just blasé because if anyone stole my dog, they'd soon realise what a dickhead he is and bring him back!

If they’re close enough to read the tag they’re close enough to steal it.

surname, house number, postcode and 2 phone numbers

legally you need the tag on a collar - not a harness and the above info is the minimum

I have my dads number and the vets details linked to the chip as well

I’m surprised how few dog owners know the legal requirement!!

https://www.bluecross.org.uk/advice/dog/wellbeing-and-care/dog-laws-uk#anchor1

All dog legislation

Maybe I worded incorrectly with ‘steal’ but if someone knows the name of your dog they can then recall the dog and prove it’s theirs.
It’s a well known thing to not put the dogs name on its tag.

Mine has name and mobile on one side, and a medical condition that anyone who found him needs to know about on the other. I know you legally need an address, but I think a mobile number is more useful and I wanted the information big and easy to read.

I have brass slide tags on my dogs' collars. They don't fall off (we lost numerous normal tags over the years) and they don't cost a fortune.
You can put your name, mobile and 'I am chipped' on one side, and your address on the other if you don't want it to be readily visible.

We have our surname, house name and postcode and phone number.

One dog has an extra tag saying do not feed and some medical info and phone number.

Phone number is my mobile as I'm retired and my husband works away quite often.

It’s more of a myth these days - dogs respond more to tone and owner than a specific name. Dog ownership is proved by microchip details.

I did say I know not to put her name on...

I knew she needed a tag, I just wasn't sure what the minimum wording needed to be.

I have for what I needed now. Thanks.

Exactly this!

We have the dogs name on one side and postcode and mobile number on the other. I’ve never understood not putting the dogs name on the tag, if someone’s going to streak your dog they will find a way! They would bring her right back because she’s a spoilt diva

This is what all the dogs I know well have. About 5 dogs!

My dog is a lab. If you rustled a crisp packet he’d go off with you. Wouldn’t matter whether you knew his name or not!

I always put please call X - and my number or Y and my husband’s number. I don’t see the point of putting my address (yes I know it’s what the law stipulates, but people didn’t have mobiles when that law was made, so it doesn’t use the best and fastest way to contact the owner).

We lost a tag and received it in the post in a card saying ‘I found this tag, I hope you still have the dog!’

We have our phone number and surname, which is also a man's first name (think James) and and "I am chipped" on the other. Two children came to stroke her and started arguing with each other whether her name was "James" or "Chipped"

Surname, postcode and mobile number.

Ours also has 'I have Epilepsy' on his. Just in case he has a seizure, or if he makes it to a vet for reuniting then they can care for him appropriately.

Mine has my surname, first line of the address, post code and phone number

so like

Smith
Lostdog Farm
BL47 9ZZ
mob no.

I have the first line of the address on as we are quite rural round here, and if someone found a friendly dog they’d probably hoik it in the back of the car and deliver it back home. Also our postcode covers a number of smallholdings/ farms.

My tags have my name and address one side, landline and mobile number the other. When we are on holiday with them they have an additional tag saying that. I have had tags posted back and on one occasion the whole collar was brought round!

Oddly enough I've found 2 lost dogs so far this month and no one answered the (mobile) phone when I called either! Luckily both had addresses so I was able to go and bang on doors. Neither dog had their name on their tag, which is fine but did make it odd when trying to wrangle an over enthusiastic spaniel half a mile down a busy road. Postcode is fine but I I'd have been left holding a dog in the right general area without their house numbers and probably would have had to take them home or drop them with the local vets which would be more hassle all round.

Name
Postcode and house number
My and DH’s mobile numbers
I am microchipped
Attached to the harness with an extra strong ring.

Ours has the dogs name, our address and my mobile number.