Dog tags have for long been associated with people serving in the military forces. Traditionally dog a tag used to be an oblong disc made from aluminium metal worn on a chain around the neck. It served as a form of identification of the individual wearing it. These dog tags would hold crucial information about the person such as the branch of military to which the person belonged. What once served as a mark of identification in the armed forces has now grown and become a fashion rage. There are also companies that offer printed dog tags for sale and these have also become popular gift items.

These printed dog tags are incredibly light and do not cost a lot. Off late personalized dog tags can be obtained in any shape or colour and absolutely anything can be inscribed on them. Just like bracelets or friendship bands these personalized dog tags have become very popular among the teenagers.

Modern day printed dog tags are made from materials such as aluminium, stainless steel and brass among others. Personalized dog tags consist of two categories which are military “style” category and authentic military category. Stainless steel is used in authentic military dog tags and it features top rolled edge. These tags have shiny or silver finish in matte. Military style category does not have rolled edge and these are made from aluminium or plastic and come in different colours. Information is usually engraved on it or these days lasers are also used to emboss information on the surface of the tag. For military the tags are embossed and with embossing limited number of words and characters can be included. With aluminium laser engraving technique is used. Laser engraving removes the anodized surface and exposes the raw aluminium. These personalized dog tags can be easily worn outdoors in all seasons and they are perfectly safe for the skin. They can be worn during all kinds of activities such as outdoor camping, fishing etc.

Printed dog tags are particularly useful if they are worn by children since they can include important information that can be used in identification. They are not only stylish but also dirt proof and water proof. Printed dog tags can carry information about any medical condition and possible allergies so that this information can be used effectively in the event of an emergency. Different materials and shapes allow customization of dog tags and nowadays even artwork can be printed on the dog tags. Laser which is used in printing can allow for a variety of words, numbers, characters and even images to be printed on the dog tag. Other different personalized dog tags available in the market include dog tag flashlight, mini or jumbo dog tag etc.

These can also be used in sports teams for schools so as to generate team spirit among the students. They are also excellent souvenirs for family or school reunions, anniversaries and birthdays. They can also be used in corporate events and in advertising campaigns and as gifts to employees or to promote events and new products.