Hi,

can anyone give me some advice on the above subject ?

What age a pup should get them done, just one or both.
Also how much.

Richard

either is good.

Both is better.

One is the norm.:-D

Years ago I would have said tattoo is best as it's there for everyone to see, however now that microchipping is becoming very popular I would now say microchip, but it's really down to personal choice. Both are a relatively simple procedure - not sure how much these days for a tattoo - but a M/C will cost between £20 & £30 at most places.

I DID MY LITTER OF SPANISH WATER DOG BY MIRCOCHIP AT 7 1/2 SO THEY WERE DONE BEFORE GOING INTO THEY NEW HOME WITH THEIR NEW OWNER ADRESS FOR DETAIL,ALL THE NEW OWNER THOUGHT IT WAS A GOOD THINK TO HAVE DONE BEFORE THE GOS IT ONE THING LESS FOR THEN TO SORT OUT.

£ 15  PER PUPPY,

£20 - 30 for chipping is a rip-off. the chips only cost about £5 if you do it yourself and there are courses all over the country you can go to and qualify to do it yourself. Vets are ripping people off by charging so much for what is a very simple procedure that takes seconds!
The dogs trust do chipping for £9 and sometimes have days where they chip dogs at places like pets at home etc. A lot of dog groomers also microchip. ask around before you waste money on the vet. Its best to have chip and tattoo done for extra safety the NDTR are quite cheap. :-)

I take your point Bulldog bash - but have you any idea how much the training costs to do it yourself & also the cost of the scanner?

My preference is for the tattoo which all my pups have before leaving me.  I am not bothered if the new owners have the details transfered as I primarily wnat them to be able to trace me as the breeder should one of mine end up in rescue without my knowledge.  I do encourage the new owners to get them chipped as an addutional means of ID.

They all get given an adjustable cotton half check collar and lead that will last until they are adult and told to get tags engraved.

but what about chips moving and disapering out of the body in some cases, my sister worked in kennels and this did happen. I take it this happens because you are putting a foreign body into the dog and naturally it wants to get rid of it. I personally would prefer a tattoo
Fiona

My parents' GBGVs were both chipped at about 7-8 weeks & when mum got them scanned, the chips had moved down past the shoulders.

You can have puppies tattood whilst still with their mum or at any time or any age after.

I personally prefer to tattoo because I do not want to insert a foreign body into my dogs.

I think it is £15 for a single adult, the website NDTR will give you more info.

My vet charges £15.00 for chip if done with first jab, other than that its £20.00.
First jab with health check included is £26.00
Think my vets are a bit dear.
But its right across road from my house, so has a good point there just incase.

I am taking my 2 to be tattooed in the very near future,  I am against putting a microchip into my dogs.

The lady that is tattooing mine has quoted me £20 per dog. One question that has slightly fazed me though, she asked where I want them done. I presumed that they would have them on their ears as they are a very hairy breed and I pluck the ears so they are bare, so assumed this would be the obvious place, but my friend who is also a groomer advises me I could get their tummies done, they are so hairy on their tummies I doubt if anybody would be able to guess, let alone read the tattoo's should, god forbid, they ever get stolen.

Where is the best place to put them? :)

http://www.dog-register.co.uk/

Right ear usually, if you hide it how will anyone know to look there?

This is why I was reluctant to get them done on their tummies. ;)

NDTR tattooes are ONLY done in the ear 99.999% in the right(very very occasionally it might have to be the left ear if say the right ear has being damaged in some way)NDTR tattooes are never ever done on the stomach as the tattoo equipment is designed for the ear only

I would contact the tattoo registrar to ensure that the person doing the tattooes is one of their tattooists. Are you sure they meant where on the dog & not where as in at home, dog club etc ?

I had my Bulldog Micro-chipped when he had his second injection at about 12 weeks.

This may seem a very naive questions, which I am sure it is to experienced dog owners, but how exactly is a dog tattooed. I presume they are under anasthetic, as I know from experience is hurts like crazy, and then there is the aftercare to consider. How does this work out, and is there anything specific you have to watch out for once it is done? How is this done? I visited the NDTR webite, but there was no explanation for how it was done.

No, there's no anaesthetic involved. The tattooist has a caliper into which they put the individual number (made of pins) for each puppy. Then ink is smeared onto the inside of the right ear flap, the caliper is put over the ear and partially closed so that the pins (all at once) just pierce the skin. This is held in place for about 5 seconds, then released. More ink is then smeared over the ear, and that's the job done. Pup goes off to play again.

It literally does take seconds & the tattoo doesn't scab like a human tattoo due to the method of tattooing used. It is more like ear piercing that human tattooing

Nothing to watch for as such just keep the ear dry as possible for 14 days after tattooing ie no swimming or washing the ear. The tattooist shouls explain the aftercare & the single dog certificate actually includes the aftercare advice

The Natrional dog tattoo register only do them in the ears, I don't think any other organisation has a register to help get the dog back (other than racing greyhound organisations).

Is it advisable to get both a tattoo and a microchip then? I have become really terrified by the growing trend for dog theft, and although I would never, ever leave my dog tied up outside a shop, or leave my dog in the garden unsupervised, you can never predict what lengths people will go to to take a dog for unscrupulous reasons. I wonder then if I should get both microchipping and tattooing done.
Does the process not cause any discomfort at all?

All the responsible GSD breeders I know have their puppies tattooed before they leave for their new homes & there is a scheme for breeders that means that they get the fees paid to the NDTR & the tattooist back when the puppies are transferred to their new owners on the NDTR data base

I will have to have my new puppy chipped as I want to take him abroad with me so will need a PP which sadly means he has to be chipped but he will also be tattooed for my peace on mind

The ISDS has brought in new rulesfrom 1st July that all puppies registered with them by way of the DNA test for CEA have to be microchipped.

Well my puppy is pre 1st July & from eye tested parents & has been eye tested as well. Can't see many farmers/shepherds paying out for chipping except maybe the top people so depending on the price the average breeder will still probably screen

He will be DNA tested as well as getting a PP I know the ISDS data base allows for tattoos as well

Edited to add from the ISDS site
<The Society introduced new provisional rules on 01 July 2005 to help breeders control the heriditary eye disease Collie Eye Anomaly>
the full announcement is here

Yep have read the full announcement and I know there is a move a foot to get them to accept tattos as well as microchips, but as it stands at the moment its microchips only or carry on screening as well

Just to add I didn't think it would apply to your pup was just adding to the debate about Tattoo or Microchip.

LOL I have just e mailed them been thinking of doing it for days as they have I think breached the Human Rights Act by accepting foreign tattoos & not UK ones This means if you are in the UK it's not acceptable & if you aren't it is ie Germany/France/Finland etc

I've also asked them why they won't recognize the NDTR tattoo, after all if the breeder sends in all the transfers of ownerships they get the litter registration fee & the tattooing fees back for all the puppies except any they keep Something the chip people don't do which I think shows the difference between a caring dog orientated register(run by dog people) & the money making chip companies(run by faceless multi national comapnies) !

Edited to add I know you didn't aim it at me lol but it did spur me on to e mail them ;)

My pups squealed in protest when they were held still for (in their minds!) such ages when they wanted to get down and play, and yes, I expect it did smart a bit, but as soon as they were put down on the floor again it was all forgotten about. My bitch, when tattooed as an adult, sat like a rock and wagged her tail all the time.
:)

Hi all, thanks for the info !!! I am thinking of buying a Bulldog pup in a year or so, but i will be doing a lot of research & going to lots of shows before i buy !

Richard