What to Engrave on a Dog Collar: Ideas and What to Include

The most useful things to engrave on a dog collar are a working phone number and, to meet UK law, your name and address, either on the collar or on a tag attached to it. After that, add short, practical lines such as "I'm microchipped" or "Needs medication", and your dog's name if you choose to. Keep it brief: engraving space is limited and varies by product, so clarity beats cleverness.

Here is how to decide what to include, plus plenty of tasteful wording ideas you can adapt.

Start with the legal minimum

Under the Control of Dogs Order 1992, a dog in a public place must wear a collar showing the owner's name and address, inscribed on the collar or on a plate or badge attached to it. A phone number is not legally required, but it is strongly advisable. Our guide to UK dog tag law covers the details and exemptions.

In practice, many owners split the information: a neat engraved collar carrying the details a finder needs most, plus a small tag carrying anything that does not fit. That way you meet the legal minimum without cramming every line into a small space.

What to include, in order of priority

1. Phone number. The single most useful line for getting your dog home quickly. Use a mobile you always carry.
2. Your name and address. Required by law somewhere on the collar or an attached tag. A surname with house number and postcode is a concise option many owners use; check it clearly identifies your address.
3. "I'm microchipped". Tells a finder your dog can be traced, and encourages them to get the chip scanned if they cannot reach you.
4. A short care note, if relevant. Something like "Needs medication", "Deaf" or "Nervous, please call" can help a finder handle your dog appropriately and understand the urgency of calling you.
5. Your dog's name, if you choose. Not legally required. Some owners leave it off for security reasons; others like it because it helps a finder reassure a lost dog. It is entirely your call.

Short vs long names

Engraving space is finite, and character limits vary from product to product, so check the limit on the specific item before you decide on wording. Some practical tips:

• Short names (Ted, Fig, Ivy) leave plenty of room for a phone number and a short note.
• Long names (Montgomery, Clementine, Bartholomew) look elegant, but may mean dropping another line. Many owners use the everyday short form, such as Monty or Clem, instead.
• Double-barrelled or formal names are lovely on a gift or keepsake, but on a working collar, the name you actually call your dog is usually the better choice.
• Phone numbers take up around 11 digits. Leave a space after the first five digits (07700 900123) to make the number easier to read at a glance.

Engraving ideas you can adapt

These examples use placeholder details. Swap in your own, and check that they fit your product's character limit.

Classic and simple

• Ted / 07700 900123
• If found, please call 07700 900123
• Smith, 12 N20 9XX / 07700 900123

Microchip and reassurance

• I'm microchipped / 07700 900123
• Microchipped. Please call 07700 900123
• Chipped and loved / 07700 900123

Care notes

• Needs medication. Call 07700 900123
• Deaf, please be gentle / 07700 900123
• Nervous. Please call my owner
• Elderly, slow walker. Please call

A touch of personality

• I'm lost, my family is not / 07700 900123
• Please call my human / 07700 900123
• Good dog, mostly / 07700 900123
• Take me home: 07700 900123

Two-line formats for a buckle or clasp

Smaller engraving areas often suit two short lines, for example:

• Line 1: Clementine. Line 2: 07700 900123
• Line 1: I'm microchipped. Line 2: 07700 900123
• Line 1: Monty. Line 2: Needs meds, call 07700 900123

What to leave off

• Full street names and long addresses that will not fit or will become hard to read. Put these on a separate tag if you want them.
• Email addresses and social handles. A finder is far more likely to call than email.
• Anything you would not want a stranger to know, such as when your home is empty.
• Old numbers. If you change your mobile, update your engraving, tag and microchip record together.

Our engraved collars

If you would like the details to sit neatly on the collar rather than on a dangling tag, our personalised range includes engraved options. The Kensington Collar has a warm gold quick-release clasp engraved with your dog's name and your number, while The Mayfair Collar has a solid gold-tone buckle engraved with name and number. The Marylebone Walking Set pairs an engraved vegan leather collar with a matching lead. Each is made to order, so please double-check spelling and numbers before you place your order. As personalised items, they can only be returned if faulty.

Before you order: a quick proofread

• Read the phone number aloud, digit by digit.
• Check the spelling of names, especially unusual ones.
• Confirm the wording fits the product's character limit.
• Make sure the legal minimum, your name and address, is covered by the collar or an attached tag.

Frequently asked questions

What is the most important thing to engrave on a dog collar?

A working phone number is the most useful detail for getting your dog home quickly. By law, your name and address must also appear on the collar or on a tag attached to it.

Should I put my dog's name on the collar?

It is a personal choice. The law does not require it. Some owners leave it off for security reasons, while others include it because it can help a finder calm a lost dog.

Is it worth engraving "I'm microchipped"?

Many owners find it a useful line. It tells a finder your dog can be traced and encourages them to have the chip scanned if they cannot reach you by phone.

How many characters can I fit on an engraved collar?

It varies by product, depending on the size of the buckle, clasp or plate. Check the character limit on the product page before choosing your wording.