Hi All,

Just wondering if anyone could kindly share a picture of their dogs ID tattoo? I've never actually seen an ID tattoo and it now seems commonplace amongst some breeders.

Are they unsightly?

Josh

If you are of a squeamish nature DON'T Google pics of dog ear tattoos.  Cripes I saw some horrible images I can't shake off.  The normal dog ear tattoos for ID are fine, it's everything else the search chucked in...

Perhaps someone else could link to a pic for you, there are plenty online.  We had a rehomed greyhound and her tattoo was a series of numbers shown by green dots.  It wasn't that noticeable unless you looked for it

Give me a moment and I'll try to upload one of mine.

If you are of a squeamish nature DON'T Google pics of dog ear tattoos.  Cripes I saw some horrible images I can't shake off.  The normal dog ear tattoos for ID are fine, it's everything else the search chucked in...

Perhaps someone else could link to a pic for you, there are plenty online.  We had a rehomed greyhound and her tattoo was a series of numbers shown by green dots.  It wasn't that noticeable unless you looked for it

I've googled it and didn't find any of actual ID tattoos but did see a few of dogs and cats with 'human' tattoos :(

Thanks Jean, much appreciated.

here you go. Still readable (and not unsightly) even after 11 years!

Thanks for your picture. It's really informative. I am planning on getting a GSD whose ears would obviously stick up and I do think a tattoo would be slightly too big? I know regulation states to get them on the right ear but has anyone got any experience of getting one on the inside of a leg or somewhere else?

Remember that GDS ears are much hairier than a dal's when adult, so you'd barely notice it (and the whole point is that it's a visible ID). In fact the tattoo register was originated by GSD breeders for GSDs. :-)

I have a rescue dog with a tattoo on the flap of skin inside her hind leg -
http://media.photobucket.com/image/groin%20dog%20tattoo/purefinder/Rue/dogtat.jpg
It's old, faded and very hard to see under the hair that grows over it.

My current and previous GSDs have/had ear tattoos. GSDs ears are normally hairy round the edge and 'shade' the tattoo, they are definately not obvious unless you are quite close to the dog and looking specifically at the inside of the ear.
Chris

> I know regulation states to get them on the right ear but has anyone got any experience of getting one on the inside of a leg or somewhere else?

I asked about this for a friend, and my tattooist said that you'd have to get the dog put under a GA and have someone come in to do a leg tattoo.  He had no idea who would do it though - the national dog tattoo register are all ears, and it's them that always do it in the right ear :-)

They don't stick out that much in a GSD - I had him do one not long ago for that friend who was fostering the dog.  Once the hair had grown back it was visible but not glaringly obvious, if that makes sense.

The only issue I have with the ear being done is sensitive ears - and of my 8, only 2 are not tattooed because of this.  One won't be (she's 13 and her ears are far, far too sensitive for it), and the other is still a bit worried about being handled by strangers so she'll be done in a while, but not just yet.

Thanks everyone. Your replies have been very helpful. Can't believe I was being so dim about GSDs ears- I didn't think of how much hair they have! It has put my mind at rest and I will definitely get it done with my pup.

Josh

Josh, if you get it done somewhere other than a standard place i.e. the ear, there is less chance of anyone seeing it if your dog does go missing as they won't know to look unless it is in the obvious place.

they are not unsightly, unless your looking for them specifically you don't notice them.  It's like when you take a photo and you notice the shoes under the sofa, but in real life you don't as your brain filters out non essential detail.

Anyway PM me your email dn I will send you a pic.  going off to find some, as only had latest pups done a week and a half ago.

Will find adults too.

My imported (USA) male Bernese had a tattoo in his groin. Can you imagine anyone turning an adult male Bernese upside down to check if he was tattoed? It would take a brave or foolish person!

> My imported (USA) male Bernese had a tattoo in his groin.

What did it look like? Still trying to find out who/when/where/what my rescue's tattoo is....

> What did it look like? Still trying to find out who/when/where/what my rescue's tattoo is....

No luck on the european lead then?

Thigh/groin tattoos were usually done in Europe.

Just out of interest as I have never had one done (Either me or a dog LOL) What age do they do them, and how ? I only ask as it takes ages to do a small one on a human, how do you keep a wriggly puppy still for long enough?
Aileen

It takes about 2 seconds!

>how do you keep a wriggly puppy still for long enough?

Watch this video demonstration.

Mine have neat ears so with experience for my breed 7 weeks is perfect.  they only object really to being held firmly, give an indignant grunt as the callipers are applied and then find the ink being rubbed in soothing.

> Just out of interest as I have never had one done (Either me or a dog LOL) What age do they do them, and how ? I only ask as it takes ages to do a small one on a human, how do you keep a wriggly puppy still for long enough?<br />Aileen

They can be done at any age.  Only Soli and Saffi were done at 7 weeks when they were still at the breeders (long before I had them) - all my other tattooed dogs have been done as adults.

My tattooist doesn't like doing adults - he says pups are a lot easier and tend to scream less.  I don't like having it done either - but it is literally seconds then it's over.  As I'm paranoid about losing them I'd rather put them through that for another permanent ID.

> No luck on the european lead then?

No..... nobody's seen a foreign one quite like hers.