Engraving & proofs

How it works

• You choose a style and type the name (and contact number, if you want one) when you order.
• We set the artwork and email you a proof, usually within one working day.
• You check it — spelling especially — and reply to approve.
• We engrave, and dispatch within 3–5 working days of your approval.

If you spot something wrong on the proof, just say so. Changes before approval are free and there is no limit on how many times we redo it.

What actually fits

The bone tag is 32mm across, so there is less room than you would think. Character limits are enforced in the configurator on each product page and vary by style — the name-only setting allows the most, because it isn’t sharing the face with anything else. The preview on the product page shows placement and length; it is not a rendering of the finished engraving, which is what the proof is for.

The engraving itself

We use a fibre laser, which cuts into the metal substrate rather than printing on the surface. That is the difference between a tag that is still readable in three years and one that has rubbed blank against a collar buckle. It is also why we cannot undo it.

Portrait engraving

For the Portrait Tag we trace your photograph by hand and adjust the tonal range so it still reads at 32mm. What works best:

• A clear, well-lit photograph of the face, taken straight on.
• A plain or uncluttered background.
• Good contrast between the dog and what is behind them.

Very dark dogs, heavy backlighting and busy backgrounds are the three things that make a portrait hard to read once it is small. If your photo is going to struggle we will tell you before we start, not after.

What happens to your photograph

We use it to produce your engraving and nothing else. We do not publish it, share it, or use it in any marketing without asking you separately and getting a yes. We keep it for 12 months in case you want a matching or replacement piece, then delete it. You can ask us to delete it sooner at any time by emailing hello@imperialdoggo.com — see our privacy policy.

Returns on engraved pieces

Engraved pieces cannot be returned or exchanged once the proof is approved. They carry your dog’s name permanently and cannot be sold to anyone else. The proof step exists precisely so that nothing is cut until you are happy.

If we engrave something other than what you approved, that is our mistake and we will remake it at no cost. If an item arrives faulty or damaged, the same applies.