Im trying to find the best methods of dentification of my dog.

I made a post in December in response to a thread about dog theft. I basically wrote about how a gang of teenage girls held me at knifepoint trying to steal my dog while I was out walking.

Since then I have been very wary of walking him in urban areas and my fiancee and I drive out of the city to take him for his afternoon run - which he seems to enjoy much more than walking in city parks. And have been a bit paranoid about someone trying to take him again.

And the recent thefts of small dogs all over the country also has me concerned as I will soon be looking after my sisters Chihuahua for 2 months as she is working in Japan and the U.S. So my sister wants me to have her little ladys I.D sorted out when I have my dogs sorted.

I have been looking at identification measures. I already have an I.D disk on his collar with my name, address and cellphone number. And I have been looking at micro chipping and tattooing.

Is it worth getting both the tatto and microchip? Or would one be sufficent?

Im probably sounding like a paranoid doggy mother, but I would hate to lose either my, or my sisters dog. And as we had one of our dogs stolen from our front yard when we were kids we are both a little worried about it ever happening again.

Thanks.
L...

No harm in gewtting both done

you could always get him DNA'd as well - cant get any better confirmation that he's your dog if he goes missing than that

I have a Chihuahua and I don't ever let him out of my sight. I am just as paranoid as you ;)! I have both done as well.....microchip and tattoo. In that case ID tags are not necessary, because in case the dog gets lost and some (nice and normal) person finds it, every vet will be able to identify the dog just by scanning the microchip.

Over here it's the law that all dogs must wear a collar with an ID tag with the owner's name and address. :)

Oh I see, I didn't know that. Well, I am not sure if I'd like that because in that case it's even easier for some crazy person to know my dog's name and my address without taking him to the vet. Any responsible person that finds my dog will do anything to find the real owner anyway....

It also makes it easier for a nice person to return your dog straight to you when he's gone missing on a Saturday evening, when the dog warden won't be on duty till Monday, and the vets are only on call for emergencies. ;)

Ory also here the requirment is your name not dogs name although many people do put pets name on.

Oh, I see.... that's better. But I can't find a tag small enough for my Chihuahua. It seems to bother him a lot and it's practically dragging on the floor :( ......

I know they make them for dogs but with him being so tiny a cat identity collar would be big enough..

http://www.kittycollars.co.uk/personalised-cat-collars.htm

JG , do our dogs need to wear a collar with id tag by law even if chipped ??

Yes, even if chipped and tattooed, dogs still need to wear a collar with ID tag when they're out.

Yep mine have all three.

Dog version..

http://www.petsafe.uk.com/products.php?id=1

To get round that I put on my post code.  And just my surname... no initial.  So in that by law there is enough to tracee the dog to me if anyome wants tp prosecute me.  And Have it engraved ( micri-chipped )
...but I also have my home phone number included too.  As already mentioned you are right to Never include the name of your dog.

In theory I am still breaking the law as it is very specific in what we should include... but I think itn is a good compromise.  however the law on dog tags is out of date.  You could include you initials and post code on a small tag. It is only our in public areas that they neeed this... mine never wear their in the house ir our garden.... they are never outside alone and my garden is fully enclosed so there is no risk of escape.

I somehow lost the whole collar and because I had included my phone number a kind lady found it and rang me up and even dropped it off for me ( cos it turned out we knew eachother! ) Anyway... even the collar and tags together cost about £20 so it is nice to havethat returned to me!

Any responsible person that finds my dog will do anything to find the real owner anyway....
if a dog gets lost and gets all dirty and has no ID tag it is hard for people to realise it is loved and well cared for and some good caring people will keep the dog thinking that is the right thing to do. It is not worth taking that risk. If the worst happens and the dog gets lost and dies it will most likely not be scanned for a microchip ... but there is a greater chance a tag would mean someone would take the time to contact you.

My first dog Jack was stolen when he was 6 months old. I got him back but it makes me even more careful then I was already being with him.... you just can never be too careful!  I had taught him to respond to a dog whistle just the day before and fortunately someone saw the direction he had been taken and so I walked the streets there blowing the whistle and he heard the whistle  the guy was in his house at the end of a long terraced street and had Jack still on the lead but the front door must have been open and Jack heard the whistle and bolted out of the house and down the street dragging this fella behind him.

Mine is chipped with a tag with my home & mob number & also states that he is chipped. I didn't put his name on either far to easy if anyone was to ever steal him. I also have him registered with missing pets bureau ( pet back protect) they are very good. My boyfreind lost my last dog once the 1st time he ever looked after him! but within mins the missing pets bureau had phoned my work, home, sister & my mobile number too inform me that he was missing & the area, as someone had phoned them & quoted the unique identification number on the tag they provide. You get free dna kit if you have the lifetime plan. Not expensive either. www.missingpetsbureau.com 

I use the cat barrel tags that are small and you put the information inside it on a piece of paper.  I put tape round them to keep it waterproof and then the only people who will access the info is any one who finds my dog if she should get lost.  That also prevents people reading the tag when they speak to your dog and perhaps finding out where you live so they can steal your dog from the house or rob your house when you are out with the dog.  I am equally paranoid about losing my dog

It is YOUR name not the dogs that shopuld be on the tag.  I ahve often walked a straying dog home when there has been a tag with address, but one without is an awful lot of bother especially out of office hours, adn I don't want to take a strange dog home to my house.

I've had to let a loose dog go again when there's been no address on its tag. :(

just another point of veiw but if you put your whole address on then i thought that if your dog was stolen then the theives may also go to your home as you will be more than likely to be out looking for your dog.
not sure if that is true but hey just a little point of veiw

Somehow I doubt your local burglar is scouring the streets for lost dogs to check theri tags on the off chance the owners home will be empty :D

i have heard it happen to a few people. and i am not saying that they would go out to get dogs but if they find one on the offchance. and as i say it has happened so i was just putting a point of view accross.

I'd rather increase the chances of getting my missing dog returned as soon as possible! ;)

Hi I have my dog microchipped and she has a tag on her collar but i'm intrigued by this tattooing.... i haven't heard of that before.  sorry if that sounds a bit dumb but I've just got a new dog after years of not having one so I'm not up to speed with all the new things that are out.  can you tell me more about tattooing and where it can be done and how safe it is for the animal as I'd be quite keen to have her done as i'm petrified of someone stealing her.

You best bet is to contact the National Dog Tattoo Register for details of your nearest tattooist. It takes about 5 to 10 seconds, and can be done in your home. :)

thanks ... i'm going to crufts this year so I'll check out their stand. 

what my mum has put on her labs tag- is her details, and also 'diebetic dog', even though he isnt, this is to deter theives from taking him, we hope it works if he ever gets out, as he's a big entire male and some people may steal him to sell him on..
we also have them chipped and collared, thinking about taking swabs too.

Hi there

All my dogs are microchipped and have a disc with MY name and no.{DO NOT PUT YOUR DOGS NAME ON DISC}

After having one of my girls stolen 5 yrs ago, i still think about her, were she is

and are they looking after her.

I wish i had kimba microchipped earlier, i might of got her back.:rolleyes:

Anyway goodluck with deciding on what to do

You can also discuss everything with your local vet if your still not sure on what to do.

Alley x

Call me Capt. Cautious if you like but my dog has a tattoo in her ear, is micro chipped and her ID tag has both home tel number and mobile number in case I am out looking for her should someone try to phone. ;)

Ditto

Whether or not the name of your dog is on the ID tag is IMHO completely irrelevant.

A friendly, sociable dog will go off with anyone regardless of if they know their name.  A dog that is not so sociable will not suddenly become more amenable just because you call it by its name..................

Try it, most totally strange dogs will come to me if I just say "pup, pup, pup" in a high voice ;)