microchip or tattoo

[srzoe]

What does everyone think about microchipping or tattooing dogs. Which is better? Which is more common? How much does it cost? How old should the pups be? Thanks in advance

[TrinaJ]

In Australia if you are a member of Dogs Victoria (I dont know what your governing body is called in the us) and you mircochip your dog you get a discount from the vet ! You also get a discount on registering your dog with the council (all dogs over the age of 6 months need to be registered with the council or you get a huge fine). The chip is quick and painless (well none of my dogs moved when they got done) and costs around $50.00.

One the off chance that your dog is ever lost and impounded, the animal shelter will scan the dog for a chip. Your name and number will come up aganist the chip so that you be contacted to go collect your dog. I am not sure if this happens with the tattooing?

Haven't ever had my dogs tattooed so i cant give any input on that.

[Snorey]

My girl has had both. I got her tatooed and then the breeder required me to have a microchip as part of the contract of sale so she was done there too.

The tatoo is a good deterrant here in england because the gangs that target pedigree dogs and steel them are really put off by a tatoo and in most cases will leave the dog behind.

on the flip side of the coin - i was really quite upset when she had it done. The noise she made as the press went on went through me and i am not that soppy but it brought tears to my eyes. My mother was there too and she left the room. She had to hold it on for 5 seconds. Really horrible. She was very matter of fact about it and told me to hold her nose still. I can only assume my maternal isnstincts came out....

It is still very visible and she has no problems having anyone touch her ears because of it. It was done when she was very young (10 weeks i think) , the national tatoo register over here advised that.

Micro chipping is so cheap and also so effective. Micro chipping over here is the most common option. i think it was £30 to tatoo.

good luck.

[Ayoka]

Originally Posted by Snorey

The tatoo is a good deterrant here in england because the gangs that target pedigree dogs and steel them are really put off by a tatoo and in most cases will leave the dog behind.

This maybe totally false but I think I have heard of instances where a dog has been stolen and it's ear had been cut off because it had a tatoo!

From my own experience, the micro chip is painless to implant and I don;t know how one would remove it. The only thing you need to make sure is that the shelters, pounds in your area can read your specific type of microchip AND that you keep your info in the database up to date!!

[marianne]

Yes I also heard that ear snipping story too. When my dogs were tattoed,my vet placed the tatto on the inside thigh. Great you say??? Well years later,have not shaved the area...TATTO ?? WHAT TATTO/
Stick with the microchip,and have it registered.

[Skip]

I will always do both. Also, for competing in schutzhund, it makes it easier to show the ear tattoo for verification, although I think the chip verification is also allowed now. We had a scanner on hand for Shane's BST, but the judge preferred to just see the tattoo.

[Ostory]

Microchip is the best thing since sliced bread. As long as you have reader yourself, this is the best thing for identification for sport. It is easy, it's fast, just much better than trying to show an excellent tattoo to a Judge, muchless one that is hard to see.

[Ostory]

Skip, the Judge can't ckeck for a tattoo is there is not one.

[Nishasmom]

Originally Posted by Ayoka

The only thing you need to make sure is that the shelters, pounds in your area can read your specific type of microchip AND that you keep your info in the database up to date!!

This is important...many vets here place the old version of the chip, and the new universal version (readable by a universal chip reader); this way no matter which reader the shelter has, the dogs chip will show up.

[Maxxx]

Max has both. Tattoo from the breeder (on the tummy by the leg) and microchip from the vet. We did it when he was about 3 months and he didn't even flinch. He likes the vet a lot :) The microchip cost about $60.00. Where we live, if the dog is microchiped and altered, you can apply for a lifetime dog license, so it'll be very beneficial in about a year's time.

[Skip]

Originally Posted by Ostory

Skip, the Judge can't ckeck for a tattoo is there is not one.

Huh? Not sure what you are getting at. Of course the judge can't check for a tattoo if the dog doesn't have one. But I THINK a microchip (only) is allowed nowadays as verification. I don't think the dog HAS to have a tattoo for verification at a schutzhund trial, but it must have one or the other.

[OnyxGold1]

With my first two litters, I microchipped and tattooed......I was highly unimpressed with the "punch" method that they used with the first litter on their flanks....and to this day I can SEE that there is a tattoo on my 3.5 year old girls but can't read them to save my life. With my second litter I found an experienced woman who did the actual written tattoo's on the flanks.....and within a year are now again illegible. I haven't tattooed a litter since......I like the microchips and have microchipped each and every pup solely since those first two litters. In Canada as a member of the Canadian Kennel Club breeders can buy microchips in bulk (or whatever number you need) directly from CKC.....I can't recall exactly but I think they are something like $18-20 / each and then you have to buy the implanter as well for something like $10 or take the pups to a vet clinic to have it done. Mine in the past have always been chipped around the 6-7 week mark whenever we go in for their vet health check. As long as you keep your information current with your chip company then you'll be fine.

I've heard the story about people cutting off an ear on a dog that has a tattoo as well.....don't know if its true, the reason we have never ear tattooed is simply because of the experience we had with one young girl as a youngster......SEVERELY ACCIDENT PRONE....OYE.....and she ended up running through a barbed wire fence and slicing her ear laterally from about mid ear down to the bottom......she has an ear tattoo from her breeder and it was fairly legible prior to having to have her ear stitched back together and now is just a mush of greenish blue lettering.

The added bonus is that a microchip is a permanent form of ID that is easily read by any agency (vet, AC, etc) who may need to find you if your dog is lost. Although my guys are more than willing to roll on their backs for a tummy rub.....and show off their tattoo.....not sure how many people who might be uncomfortable with the breed who work in AC or vet clinics might be willing to take a peek under your dog to attempt to read a flank tattoo.

However don't forget in making your decision, that often times people DO find a dog, fall in love with it thinking that no one must be looking for it because it doesn't have any visible ID, never take it to a vet clinic to be checked....while an owner may be frantically looking for their dog the whole time. Even tho a microchip is a fantastic piece of permanent ID I would still recommend having a collar and tag on your dog so that someone who may find him and fall in love with him will KNOW that this dog has an owner who may be looking for him.

Heather Peters

[Snorey]

Hi i have also heard of the ear getting cut off .....

But micro chips have also been cut out over here! it can be done.

personally i would have them chipped.

A tatoo on the belly is a good idea.

[marianne]

Now the real question? What infomation does the tatto hold? Are tatto's today registered? Again I would stick with the chipping.
To be honest with you,I can't even remember what my vet marked on my dogs.

[kenny916]

I just had my vet put a microchip in my 12 weeks pup, it didn't bother him. It cost me $45 and it took couple minutes.