Like so many of you, my wife and I are meticulous shoppers. Whether it be online or in-person, we tend to put a lot of research into the things we purchase so that we know we're putting our hard-earned money on the proper products. There are so many options for even basic items like leashes and collars that it's easy to get lost in what we're buying.

We will be writing reviews as we purchase and use these items ourselves. As you do your research for products you're planning to buy, our goal is to add another layer to that research.

We got our first dog tag the week we adopted Markus. It was one of those light-weight ones that come in all shapes and colours that everyone seems to have. Getting one of those tags is almost like a rite of passage. The name of your dog’s not official until it’s engraved into one of those tags. We ended up getting Markus’ name and our telephone number engraved onto a bone-shaped gold colour tag and I remember how official it felt attaching it to his collar for the first time. Now the world will finally know his name.

These tags are popular because they're made quickly and they don't cost a lot. At about $10 (not even) apiece and for a couple of minutes wait time, it's a fun little experience to get a custom tag for your dog. Since we needed something immediately, we got one of those and didn’t think twice about it.

Fast forward over a year later and that tag’s gone through some rough times. The tag’s served us well for the year, but the engraved name has been worn down pretty significantly and you can hardly see the number at the back anymore. Furthermore, the gold colour has been scuffed off by wear and tear. I had actually thought the gold colour was the natural brass colour of the metal, but I guess not. The gold layer was coming off to a much duller piece of raw metal underneath. It’s like when the brown M&M’s not actually chocolate, but I digress.

Instead of going into the store and getting another one of these, we decided to look into what other tags are out there. If we got the first tags because we needed something quickly, we wanted to get something that’ll last this time. Our search took us through pet stores where we found these same tags at different stores so we started looking elsewhere. We didn't get much traction until we started looking on Etsy, where we found the seller that we eventually bought the tag from: SMASHpaw.

SMASHpaw Dog Tags

Ever since we discovered SMASHpaw and their work through Etsy, we've been recognizing it a lot more on dogs now. Their tags are so unique that you can pick them out in Instagram photos. A lot of people we know have been getting their tags because they not only come with cute designs, but the actual hardware is very high quality that is sure to last much longer.

With the generic tags, they're light-weight and they feel as though you could snap them by applying a bit of pressure. When the SMASHpaw tags arrived and after opening the neatly wrapped up package, we knew right away that this is not your average dog tag. The most noticeable thing that surprised us was the weight of the tag. Compared to the cheaper generic tag, the SMASHpaw dog tag uses a nice solid piece of metal and you can feel the quality of the tag just by holding it in your hands.

If you check their Etsy page, you'll find the many hand drawn designs that they can engrave onto a tag of your choice. We especially liked their designs because it reminded us of the landscapes that you would find here in the Pacific Northwest. Each tag comes with a dedicated placeholder for your dog’s name in a font that fit the design. Everything together creates a small, but delightful experience in a dog tag.

Ordering the tag was easy and straightforward as well. On their Etsy store, we picked the design and the shape of tag that we liked the most. They do have multiple shapes, but we just went with the basic circle. From there, we submitted the name that we wanted on the tag (and the emergency telephone number that's engraved on the back) and waited until the order arrived in the mail. Since we and the seller are both in Canada, the order arrived rather quickly.

I like to think that Markus is a rugged dog - one who loves to hunt, sniff and explore parks and trails in the Pacific Northwest. Between the design we chose and the natural brass colour, I thought the tag went really well with his overall look. And since the tag is of such high quality, I know it’s going to last a long time. If you're looking to replace your dog tag, I’d recommend checking out SMASHpaw tags. I’m warning you now that once you see their stuff, you’re going to want to buy one. Just make sure you’re picking the design you really want because it’s going to last you a long time!

Edit: Since originally purchasing the SMASHpaw tag, we've actually gone and purchased a second one. It’s been over a year and the first tag's still going strong. I’m happy to say that there hasn’t been any loss of colour of wearing down of the tag. We just wanted a second tag and a different look that we can swap it out with every now and then.

We’re so grateful for your support of The Markus Project. We mostly choose our locations through searching and word of mouth. If you know of a park, trail or location you think we should check out, please share it with us. We’d love to know!