How to Make Your Own Dog Tags

Making your own dog tags can be lots of fun for the crafty, creative sort of pet owner. This is also a great activity for kids or to do with kids, helping them to use their artistic skills. Dog tags can be made of many materials including plastic and metal, both of which can be fully customizable. However, the ones you can make at home are usually the plastic kind from heavier Shrinky Dink material.

Things You'll Need

  • Plastic shrinkable tags (popular brand: Shrinky Dinks)
  • Needle
  • Colored pencils
  • Permanent pens
  • Sharpie pens
  • Oven
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Instructions

    • 1

      Purchase a Shrinky Dink kit to make your own dog tag from scratch. Or purchase a dog tag kit online or at the store to customize a ready-made design for dog tags.

    • 2

      Write the dog's name and add color to your design using colored pencils, permanent pen or Sharpies. Fine tips work better.

    • 3

      Add holes to the dog tag. Make the holes triple the size needed because they will shrink in the oven.

    • 4

      Preheat your oven to the temperature recommended by the directions--this can vary a little depending on the thickness of the plastic being used.

    • 5

      Place the plastic dog tags on a cookie sheet for the recommended time. Pull the dog tags out of the oven after the prescribed amount of time. Let the dog tags cool completely before attaching to your dog's collar.