T is for Tags
Making Sure Your Sighthound Can Always Be Identified
This is one of those topics that feels boring until it's urgent. Your sighthound gets startled on a walk. Slips a collar. Bolts through an open gate. And suddenly, whether they're wearing ID is the only thing that matters.
Sighthounds are fast, quiet and capable of covering enormous distances in very little time. If they get loose, they won't stay in the neighbourhood. They can be miles away before you've finished shouting their name. Making them identifiable isn't just responsible. It's essential.
The law
In the UK, the Control of Dogs Order 1992 requires every dog to wear a collar with a tag when in a public place. The tag must show the owner's name and address. A phone number is not legally required, but including one is common sense.
In Ireland, the Control of Dogs Act requires similar identification. Dogs must be registered and identifiable.
Microchipping is compulsory in both the UK and Ireland, but a microchip is not a substitute for a tag. A chip requires a scanner to read. A tag can be read by anyone who finds your dog. The tag is the immediate identification. The chip is the backup.
What the tag should say
Keep it simple. The legal minimum is your surname and address. In practice, most owners include:
Dog's name.
Owner's surname.
A phone number (mobile is best).
An address or postcode (Eicode).
Some owners add a second phone number or a line like 'I am microchipped.' Every bit of information increases the chances of a quick reunion.
Don't include your dog's full home address if you're worried about security. A postcode and phone number is usually enough for someone to reach you.
Tag types that work for sighthounds
Standard dangling tags don't last on sighthounds. The narrow collar shape and constant movement mean a tag on a split ring will catch, rattle and eventually fall off. Some hounds chew them off within days.
Better options include:
Slide-on tags: Flat tags that thread directly onto the collar. No ring to catch or break. Sit flush against the collar. The most durable option for everyday use.
Rivet tags: Fixed permanently to the collar with small rivets. Won't come off unless the collar does. Worth considering for your hound's everyday collar.
Engraved collar plates: A small metal plate engraved with your details and attached flat to the collar. Neat, lightweight and essentially permanent.
Embroidered collars: Some collar makers embroider the dog's name and your phone number directly onto the collar fabric. No tag to lose at all.
Whichever type you choose, check it regularly. Engraving wears down over time. Phone numbers change. Addresses change. An illegible tag is barely better than no tag at all.
Microchipping
Your sighthound should be microchipped. In the UK and Ireland, it's a legal requirement. But beyond the law, it's your most reliable form of permanent identification.
A microchip is a tiny device implanted under the skin, usually between the shoulder blades. It contains a unique number linked to your contact details on a database. Any vet, rescue or local authority with a scanner can read it and trace you.
The chip itself is permanent, but the information on the database is not. If you move, change your phone number or change your name, you need to update the database. This is the step people forget. A microchip linked to an old address and a dead phone number is useless.
Check which database your hound's chip is registered on. Log in. Update your details. Do it today if you haven't done it recently.
If they get loose
Sighthounds who escape are a particular challenge because of their speed and range. By the time you've registered they're gone, they could be a significant distance away.
A few things that help:
Act fast: The sooner you start searching and alerting people, the better. Post on local lost dog groups, call local vets and rescues, contact your microchip database.
A visible lead: Some owners attach a brightly coloured tag or ribbon to their hound's collar to make them more identifiable at distance. It won't replace ID, but it helps someone spot a loose dog more easily.
GPS trackers: Small devices that attach to the collar and allow real-time location tracking via your phone. They're not foolproof, but they significantly increase your chances of finding a loose sighthound quickly. Worth considering for hounds with a history of escape or high anxiety.
Prevention: Check fencing regularly. Close gates. Double-check collar and harness fit. A sighthound that can't get loose doesn't need to be found.
The five-second job
Getting a tag sorted takes five minutes. Checking your microchip details takes two. Updating your phone number on the database takes one.
It's the smallest, easiest, most boring thing you'll do as a dog owner. And if the worst happens, it's the thing that brings them home.
About the Savvy Sighthound
The Savvy Sighthound is a small, independent website built by sighthound enthusiasts in the UK and Ireland. We share practical tips, honest stories and hard-won wisdom about life with greyhounds, whippets, lurchers and sighthound mixes. No sponsors. No sales pitch. Just real life with long dogs based on our experience.
We're sighthound lovers, not vets. If you're ever unsure about your hound's health or wellbeing, always speak to your vet.
