Homemade Pet Tags

Metal or Plastic Pieces

• Find small plastic or metal piece for the tag. Some suggestions for the tag piece include plastic from a milk carton top, metal or plastic tags from clothing tags or jewelry, or other pieces of plastic or metal that you find around your home or garage. Use a saw or scissors to cut these things into a round piece that is about one-inch in diameter. A bigger dog can have a slightly bigger tag, and a smaller dog can have a slightly smaller tag. Use sandpaper to file down the edges so that the tag is smooth and not jagged all around. Use higher grain sandpaper for metal pieces, and make sure that there aren't any filings left that the dog can snag himself on.

Etching

• Etch your name, phone number, and the dog's name onto the DIY pet tag. You can do this with a ballpoint pen or the edge of a paperclip, depending on the tag surface. Some soft metals will scratch easily, and sometimes you can scratch plastic with the same things.

  Most tags that are metal or plastic will require you to use an etching tool that you might have in your workshop, or can purchase easily. These are hand held etchers that run on battery power or plug in. You hold them like a pen or pencil, and keep them steady as you write what you want to write on the tag. This is going to be your best option for most of the tags you make.

  Keep the information on the tag to a minimum, so that it will be clear and easy to read. A good combination is your pets name, followed by your last name, followed by your phone number. These are the vital pieces to finding a lost dog.

Tagged Collars

• Attach the tag to the collar. If you don't want to put a tag on your dog's collar, you can make a homemade tag for him on the collar. Take a permanent marker and write your last name and your phone number on the collar itself. That way, if your dog is discovered, you'll be able to be reunited with him as whoever finds him will find your number.