QR pet tag vs engraved tag: which gets a lost dog home?

Updated 2026-10-07

Both kinds of tags exist for one reason: to let a stranger reach you. They fail in different ways.

Engraved tags

• Work with zero tech. Anyone can read a number, including someone without a smartphone or data.
• Go stale. One number, fixed forever. Change your SIM and the tag points to nobody.
• Hold very little. No room for a second contact, medical note or "don't chase me".

QR tags

• Hold a full profile you can edit: photos, two contacts, area, health notes.
• Depend on the finder scanning. Many people don't think to scan a dog's collar, and a scratched or tiny code may not read.
• Depend on the service. If the company behind the QR closes or starts charging, the page can go dark. Check whether there's a subscription.

What we'd pick

Both on one tag: your number engraved so it works with nothing but eyes, and a QR on the back for everything else. That's the design of GharTag, but the advice stands whatever you buy: make sure a phone number is readable without scanning anything.

What about GPS trackers?

GPS trackers show where your pet is, but they need charging and usually a monthly fee, and they're bulky for small dogs and cats. They're a good add-on for escape artists; they don't replace a tag a stranger can read.