Hi All,

I've decided to get Earl 'tattooed' (no jokes about is he having the busty lady or a red rose please, hubby has already been through that routine) :-)  I'm going down this route as I was worried about reports of dogs being stolen and having their microchips removed, which doesn't bear thinking about.

I've made my decision to do it, but I was just interested to know if anyone else has had their dogs tattooed, or even considered it?

Thanks....

I have all my pups tatttoed at 7 weeks and had my eldest doen when ehr first litter were doen, and she was three at the time.  also at that time my freind had a year old boirder collie, a bit of a baby, but she was absolutely fine about having it done as was my bitch.

To be hones the main reason pups protest is at being held firmly and still.  It is only a fleeting discomfort when they clamp the calipers, and the ink being rubbed in they find soothing.  Whatever you do don not wash the ink off, and opt for the black, as in my expereince it fades least, and 8 1/2 years on my Kizi's is beautifully clear as are the other two.

I wouldn't rule out chipping too, and then put on a tag the fact they have both, makes them too easily identifiable, so put off thieves.

Thanks for the good suggestion Brainless.  I've ordered a second tag for Earls collar which warns that he is Tattooed and Microchipped (I'll ask about chipping when I take him for his next lot of jabs next week).  He's getting tattooed on Thursday and amazingly the lady who does for the National Dog Register is only a couple of villages away.

All mine are tattooed & when I had my Rjj's blood samples taken for his PP my vet said his tattoo was easier to check than his chip(has to have the chip of course :( ) which had moved quite a way in the couple of months it had been in(it's now 4 inches from where it was implanted I bought my own scanner to keep a check on it)

Are scanners expensive? 

May be I can just get the vet to check his chip each time I take him in for jabs, etc.....

It was about £100 I'm paranoid about it not working if I am abroad ;) so am keeping a close eye on it on it's travels

My two were just done last weekend at a Game Fair.  They did protest a bit when the holes for the ink were being made - can't blame them really - but were very well behaved, and it was over very quickly.

I had them done for a couple of reasons - firstly, I wanted to feel safe leaving their collars off indoors (there have been a few brief escapes due to brother and dad leaving doors open), knowing they've got an instantly-readable ID; also I don#'t trust their microchips 100% - not just for the reaosn you've mentioned, as grim as it is, but also because I've read of a few cases where pets have been rehomed only to have the chip discovered, but the pet not reunited with the original owner due to refusal from the new, or problems with the data protection act.  A tattoo doesn't have to be scanned (also not all rescues have scanners, especially some unofficial ones), it's plain to see.

I was told to keep the ears dry for two weeks - not an easy feat when Opi goes in every spot of water she can find - so the ink can be taken up by the holes and stabilise in there.

Hi, where did you buy your scanner from?

This has to be a personal thing. I decided to chip my dogs after looking in the ears of some of their relatives and found I couldn't read them These are black, hairy ears. I don't know if that makes any difference. Anyway, last year I found a lump in my youngest bitches shoulder about the size of a grain of rice. Took her to the vet who scanned her, and yes it was her chip. They removed it and re-chipped her free of charge. I would still prefer to chip than tattoo, but only because of the non-readable tattoos I've seen.

mine are both chipped and tatooed, although I have noticed the hair starting to grow over Alfies so im just going to shave it with my clippers, shouldnt make a difference to the external look of his ear.  the reason I got mine tatooed is because it is visible and apparantly the only way to prove by law that you own the dog.  Both of mine were done as adults, Fagan whimpred a bit when the clampers went on and Alfie screamed from beginning to end :rolleyes:

well worth doing though :)

Pet ID  is where I got mine from

I was told by one lady her dogs tattoo was invisible, after cleaning the dogs ear of god knows how many months if not years of wax & muck The clear as a bell tattoo was visible-I asked her when she had last had her dog's ear cleaned When he was tattooed 4 years early was the reply :rolleyes:

I had one dog done in 1991 when she died in 2003 it was still visible as clear as ever & it was done in the green ink & she had black skin in her ears too

I used to have all mine tattooed but I stopped. I found the one I had done at home in Sweden was fine, his tattoo was readable all his life, but the dogs I've had done here -pointless. Several different tattooists (I think 4 different ones in total), several different colours of ink, several differeent breeds. I currently have 2 Goldens, 1 Malinois and 2 cavaliers that are tattooed, aged from 2 to 11, and not one of the tattoos can be read. The Cavaliers you can't even tell they have one as the hair is so thick on top, even with clipping it down with a no 15 blade you still can't really make out it's anything there. Maybe if I got a surgical 40 blade so it was clean shaved it might be possible. So I've been very disillusioned. I can add another 3 dogs to this that I no longer have, their tattoos weren't readable either after a few years. Well one never was from day one. So I stick to microchips now. Which is a shame because the principle of a tattoo is far better in many ways (not intrusive, no reader needed etc, IF they work) -but if I can't even read them myself...... I was also disappointed when buying a puppy 2 years ago that was tattooed, when I found it would suddenly cost me £25 to have his tattoo reg transferred to my name. So I never bothered.

I was also disappointed when buying a puppy 2 years ago that was tattooed, when I found it would suddenly cost me £25 to have his tattoo reg transferred to my name. So I never bothered.


From the NDTR site
PUPPY TATTOOING - £7.00
LITTER REGISTRATION - £20.00
ADULTS - £20.00 (inclusive)
CHANGE OF OWNER - £20.00
CHANGE OF ADDRESS - FREE
HOLIDAY ACCOMMODATION LOCATION - FREE

Why were you asked for another £5 ??

BTW there is only one colour of ink now used -black & previously this was green(changed around 10 years ago)So why yours are in so many colours  & you were asked for £5 more than everyone else really leaves me

The only poor tattoos I had was when I used a different tatooists than usual (mine had moved, but stil comes and does mine now) and she didn't shave the pups ears before doing them. 

My lady and the first lady I used that had the small calipers (which I believe all of them now use) sayt it is important to have an absolutely clean and hairless ear to get a good result.

I suggest qanyone who has a poor result complain to the NDTR.  they will get them redone for you (in the other ear) and make a note in the records to that effect.

I suggest qanyone who has a poor result complain to the NDTR.  they will get them redone for you (in the other ear) and make a note in the records to that effect.

But mine involves 4 different people having done them........... In the case of the puppy whose tattoo was never visible (I no longer have this dog) I DID enquire about having it re-done and was told no this isn't possible.

Like I say, I think it's a shame, because the Swedish dog I had tattoeed was perfect. I have personal experience of tattooing as well as Swedish show rabbits have to be tattooed in the ear, as opposed to rung as here. :) But also along that line, before in Sweden dogs were tattooed much more frequently than here, now the general opinion seems to be the microchip is such a big improvement there's no reason to use tattoos any more.

>But mine involves 4 different people having done them...........

But if they were all NDTR people then the company will organise it. After all, they have many different tattooists throughout the country but they all come under the same 'umbrella'. Of course if they weren't all NDTR tattooists it's a different matter.
:)

I DID enquire about having it re-done and was told no this isn't possible.

I know the instructions to tattooists is that if an owner requests that a dog is retattooed because the previous tattoo is not legible then the left ear is tattooed with a new number if the tattooist is not the one who did the previous tattoo(for the obvious reason that each tattooist has different identifying letters in the numbers they use) after the tattoo that is illegible has been seen. Usually the registrar will contact the tattooist who is to do the new tattoo & give the information re owner & old number etc. This is quite a rare occurance BTW but it is still the current instruction. The tattoo is never retattooed in the same ear

so where your information came from is again leaving me

so where your information came from is again leaving me

It was from a NDTR tattooist -obviously I don't want to name names in public. :)

It was from a NDTR tattooist -obviously I don't want to name names in public

Well he/she is wrong & needs reporting to Gill the registrar PDQ so they can be told & stop giving out incorrect information

My mistake, I dug it out and yes it DOES say £20, not £25. However I also checked my Malinois bitch who will be 6 this month and her tattoo is GREEN. My 2 year old Golden is blue, my 10 year old Golden black. The Cavs I can't see without shaving. :)

BTW there is only one colour of ink now used -black & previously this was green(changed around 10 years ago)

When my last puppies were tattooed (6½ years ago) the lady from the NDTR said they only used black ink - they were still using green 11 years ago but were phasing it out because it faded.

My 2 year old Golden is blue,

It will have been done in black & can appear to be blue in some dogs

Did you see blue ink being used ?

It will have been done in black & can appear to be blue in some dogs

Did you see blue ink being used ?

He was tattooed when bought as a pup so don't know. I have used blue ink myself on rabbits so know it exists, but yes, guess it could be faded black although the 10 year old Golden has clearly black.

I have all mine tattooed. The oldest tattoos were done 11 years ago and they're still perfectly legible. The more recent ones (using the new-style calipers - 6 years old) are now like clear lines rather than dots.

... I do admit to mine being microchipped but I do it for the opposite reason to you ;-) I am afraid that it is all to easy to cut an ear or part of an ear off, so decided micrchipping was safer. Digging out a chip involves a scanner to find it and a real desperation, where as if the gypsy traveller sort stole a dog with a tatoo, I'd be worried they wouldn't think twice about hacking off an ear or a bit of an ear...

But of course thats not exactly looking on the bright side of life ;-)

Di

Horrible we have to think like this isn't it.  I'm going to do both after reading this thread - better to be protected on both fronts I feel.....

Probably a mighty good plan in this day and age.... ;-(
Di

I am afraid that it is all to easy to cut an ear or part of an ear off,

Can you tell me of any non (dumped by their owners) racing greyhounds that have been subjected to having their ears cut off to remove the tattoo, Gill the NDTR has no reports of any NDTR tattooed dogs having had this done to them, despite the claims of the microchip companies & people like yourself

There are several dogs that have been mutilated trying to get the chip out BTW One was a husky/malamute & this case was reported to the police & the dog examined by a vet who confirmed the damage

Four GSD puppies were stolen to order by travellers in the North East, they were recovered in tact each with a complete undamaged set of ears within hours So much for travellers lopping off ears to remove ID after all not much resale value in a one eared dog

Ears are lopped off generally DEAD dogs to prevent their owners being tracked - as obviously, offing your dog once it cannot race is against the rules (unless its pts by a vet).
Occasionally, greyhounds are found alive with ears hacked off - they werent intended to be found alive though.

All the above points to the fact that its the OWNERS who do not want to be traced and the dogs are being got rid of, rather than ears being hacked off to prevent anyone proving ownership (lets face it, its a bit flipping hard to sell a dog with its ears a bloody manky mess!

Some chips are damn easy to find without a scanner, i can find all three of my dogs chips, (fourth isnt done yet) by touch alone and i suspect a stranger with a bit of knowhow would find at least two of them very easily as well.
Removing a chip if you can feel it under the skin involves very little time and very little damage so its easy to remove one and sell on a stolen dog.
That aside, you cannot TELL a dog is chipped by sight alone so it cannot work as a deterrent, and i am put off trusting chips alone by the scary amount of vets, dogwardens and rescue staff who either do not scan, or dont scan properly!

Em

There are several dogs that have been mutilated trying to get the chip out BTW

In all my cats and in the Papillon I know exactly where the chip is as it can be clearly felt and it would be very easy indeed to cut it out. In the big dogs (and the Cavs) however they seem to be a lot more deepseated.

" Can you tell me of any non (dumped by their owners) racing greyhounds that have been subjected to having their ears cut off to remove the tattoo, Gill the NDTR has no reports of any NDTR tattooed dogs having had this done to them, despite the claims of the microchip companies & people like yourself "

I beg yours??? ??? People like myself? I didn't say I had evidence, i just said personally I thought it could happen so didn't use Tatooing... Just personal choice - still allowed in the UK I believe (wink).
Di

As a slight detour off the thread.......   I have laminated some signs to put on our gates asking visitors to keep them shut as there is a dog and a toddler running free.  I've also added a line at the bottom reading something along the lines of, "WARNING - Dog is microchipped and tattooed and on the National Dog Register". 

My hubby says I shouldn't have put this as it draws attention to the fact that we may have a dog worth stealing.  However, I argue that if they wanted an RR they would spot him anyway and that the warning would put people off taking him because they will know he can easily be traced.  They'd move on to find an easier target.....

Help settle an arguement anyone?  ;-)

I an understand both views. I always struggle these days hen i place my yearbook and national press adverts occasionally... does one include details or not of location. I usually to now think 'yes' but I know there are enough horror stories for me to be more hesitant, and, with a yearbook advert you are displaying all your best dogs, their pet names, their successes and shouting 'I have great dogs, and this is my address!' Its a scarey thought...

Might think myself about tattooing too to compliament my microchipping after reading all the posts in this thread.

Di

I am afraid that it is all to easy to cut an ear or part of an ear off, so decided micrchipping was safer.

where as if the gypsy traveller sort stole a dog with a tatoo, I'd be worried they wouldn't think twice about hacking off an ear or a bit of an ear...

, i just said personally I thought it could happen so didn't use Tatooing

Hm You have not actually put IYO or that you personally believe it could happen

Your posting reads that is easy to cut off an ear or part of one, not you believe it is so the post appears to be a statement of fact rather than an opinion which you have a right too

In my experience of chipping(using the current chips)is that they move Not my opinion but fact my puppy's chip has moved 4 inches since september last year So it could end up anywhere in his body in the next 15 years !

Interestingly they chip wild big cats in the top of the tail so that if they get into a fight, rough play etc the chip will not get damaged & there is less incidences of them moving! This isn't conjecture but from the people who run the conservation projects !

A badger project in the UK uses tattooing(as per the PBT with a tattoo pen & not the NDTR system)as the chips were not reliable & got damaged too easily or moved !

Is it possible to have the dog tattoed on a place other than the ear,like the inner leg(where no hair grows) or somewhere? I must admit i have heard the ears/ear tips getting cut off stories too,i dont know the details as in dogs being dead or alive,but these stories are around,so im assuming they do happen??!

Sorry to be so cynical :o but if someone really wants a dog wont they just get the original tatt done over with something else to make it ineligble.I know it would all be alot of trouble to go through,but if people are desperate enough to try and rip a microchip out wouldnt covering up a tattoo be a piece of cake?

Is it possible to have the dog tattoed on a place other than the ear,like the inner leg(where no hair grows) or somewhere? I must admit i have heard the ears/ear tips getting cut off stories too,i dont know the details as in dogs being dead or alive,but these stories are around,so im assuming they do happen??!

1. Not by the NDTR
2. No dog tattooed by the NDTR tattooists has had there ear cut off

Someone on here claimed that there dog's ear had been tampered with but when I asked for details by PM so I could contact Gill There was a noticable silence & no PM ever appeared

Let us get the facts correct the only dogs that had ears cut off or tampered with are ex racing greyhounds dumped by their owners& left dead or dying Their aim is to get rid of the dog & not have it traced back to them. If the dogs had to be microchipped these would be removed.

There are cases of stolen dogs having had an attempt successful or otherwise at removing the chip & these cases are on record.

If someone stealing a pedigree dog 99 % of the time it is for resale/ransom. It would be very hard to sell a dog with one ear

Are you aware that for a rescue not to check a stray for a tattoo & rehome a tattooed dog without contacting the NDTR(if it an NDTR registered tattoo)it is a criminal offence. UK property law is quite clear-if found property is permanently marked then it cannot be disposed of until efforts have been made to trace the legal owner. Not to do so is the criminal offence of theft by finding ! which has a 13 week prison sentence & I think a £15,000 fine. They do not have to scan for the chip as the chip is not a permanent marking

As for masking or altering the NDTR first buy a human tattoo kit then apply to the dogs ear simple er no how do you hold the dog still a GA or heavy sedation would be needed & then all you have to do is exactly match the colour of the ink & oh dear the numbers of the NDTR number die stamps are such that the numbers cannot be altered without it being obvious. So what would you alter it to that would prove you own the dog ?

So then just obliterate the tattoo & replace it with a big solid mark in the dogs ear er very time consuming & keeping the dog under sedation or GA for the very long period of time required would need medical expertise

On the other hand to prevent a chip from being read without taking the original out is quite simple. implant another chip close to the original & the scanner will read neither & the result is a scrambled useless number QED

On the other hand to prevent a chip from being read without taking the original out is quite simple. implant another chip close to the original & the scanner will read neither & the result is a scrambled useless number QED

That isn't correct MM. I know the NDTR did tests like that years ago, but microchips have improved since then. I have just done a test, took 2 microchips not implanted into any animal, put them SIDE BY SIDE and scanned them. The reader will read whichever it is closest to, can easily pick up both, and no matter what I do it does NOT scramble the numbers up, both numbers come up 100 % correct. And that is with them being far closer together than they logically could be inside an animal as it would need a lot of luck to get them just a few mm apart.

Likewise the other day I tested the other myth often mentioned, that microchips can be wiped by using a magnet. I placed one actually in between  2 magnets for a couple of minutes and it didn't damage the chip at all.

I have just done a test, took 2 microchips not implanted into any animal, put them SIDE BY SIDE and scanned them.

Hm interesting as obviously you are a microchipper then ? with the latest chips & scanner. Unlike the majority of rescues who have the old scanners which still do scramble the numbers. It's not the chips that are scrambled BTW the scanner being unable to read the individual chip & the old scanners still can't read two chips in close proximity

Likewise the other day I tested the other myth often mentioned, that microchips can be wiped by using a magnet. I placed one actually in between  2 magnets for a couple of minutes and it didn't damage the chip at all.

You've lost me there why would a magnet affect an electronic piece of circuitry ? I do know if I wear my battery powered wristwatch next to my bio magnet bracelet the mechanical movement is affected, but if worn next to a purely digital watch it has no affect.

Microchips do move(even the superdooper new ones) & do fail my puppy's has moved & is down 4 inches down his back & the chip company has offered to pay for the operation to remove it & have him rechipped-not having done as a special operation as I don't want my boy under a GA & opened up just for the chip. I'm tracking it's movement & when he is hip scored my hip scoring vet is going to do a scan to check it is still intact etc

A lady with a rescue had her dog's chip fail after only a week. She had to take her dog back to the rescue to prove he had been done & get back part of her hefty donation that covered the castration fee(the rescue didn't castrate him or chip him before sale as he was too ill when he left them & needed one to one care)The chip was still in place & not working & after the dog warden & vet couldn't get it to read either he has now been re chipped & the old one removed for the chip company to examine. Poor dog two GA's in a fortnight ! He tattoo is fine & easily read despite him having black skinned ears

I don't decry chips by telling people that they move & fail when I find out their dogs are only chipped, however I do point out that a chip is not proof of ownership under the law which if the dog is stolen means you may or may not get the dog back once found. The tattoo on the other hand falls under the permanent marking of property & under English & Welsh law is proof of ownership. On the otherhand I get the quite false stories about tens of tattooed dogs being stolen & their tattoos being obliterated or their ears cut off by the thieves, which is a total & utter load of tosh, when people find out all my dogs are tattooed.

On my dog's website on Roy's page there is a photo of his tattoo 48 hours after it was done(poor quailty photograph as I was holding him & taking it not ideal)clearly visible & yes it was done in black ink with the small calipers

Hm interesting as obviously you are a microchipper then ? with the latest chips & scanner.

Rekative up to date stuff yes, but no, NOT the very latest.

Unlike the majority of rescues who have the old scanners which still do scramble the numbers.

Well really, you can't then blame the act of microchipping for this, when newer equipment DO work. They obviously saw a problem and put it right. (Like presumably the tattooists did with green vs black ink?) Of course rescues are short of money, but if their equipment is too old to function as it should, then clearly it is THEM that have the problem. Has any rescue ever pointed this out to any of the chip companies to see what response they'd get? The microchip companies are usually very good at helping out and putting things right if needed.

You've lost me there why would a magnet affect an electronic piece of circuitry ?

Like I said, this is another myth often repeated, in particular on the internet: "People have found out they can wipe a microchip  on a stolen dog if they pass magnets over it." Which is why I tested that theory out as well to see for myself.

Microchips do move(even the superdooper new ones) & do fail

I've never said they don't move now, have I. :) But even when they do, they can still easily be found IME. As for failing, I personally have never come across a failed microchip (have you? personally as opposed to being told about it?), not saying it doesn't happen, I wouldn't know, but I'm talking personal experience here. So if I compare approx. 120 working microchips to 1 readable tattoo and 8 UNREADABLE tattoos that again I have PERSONAL experience of, then perhaps it isn't so hard to see why I come out in favour of microchips. (And BTW I dont' chip for profit. I just do my own animals and those of friends, at cost price, so I have no vested interest.)

On my dog's website on Roy's page there is a photo of his tattoo 48 hours after it was done(poor quailty photograph as I was holding him & taking it not ideal)clearly visible & yes it was done in black ink with the small calipers

Oh mine were readable at that stage as well -but a year or two down the line -no chance.

I've just wiped the ears of my lot and had a good look at their tattoos. The only one where some of the numbers are a bit faint is that of the 11 year old who was done as a 7-week puppy, but with the old calipers. Her ear has obviously grown and the dots spread. Her mum, who was done at the same time (but obviously with adult-sized ears!) still has a perfectly legible tattoo. The boys (done at 7 weeks with the new-style calipers, and now aged 6½ years) have very clear tattoos - every digit legible. In fact they look exactly like the examples on the NDTR website. :)

I wish mine was -I would really, really much have preferred tattoos that ANYONE can see witou a scanner, and had such a good experience with the first dog. One of my current dogs tattoos was readable for about 8 years before it faded, now I can't make it out myself. I always used to show his ear off to people as an example of just how readable tattoos can be. Now I can't make it out myself. :(

Just had a look at mine.  The one on my Pharaoh Hound bitch (lovely pink ears with no hair) is still clear and easily readable.  She was nine years old yesterday (bless :D ) and I had her done when she was 18 months.  It is, however in green ink so they were obviously still using green 7 years ago.  The import bitch isn't done.  The two Border Collies were done at 4 months old (they're now 4 years old) and I can only JUST about make out the one in the bitch's ear (she's smooth coated) due to fading - the dog's (long coated) isn't visable at all due to the hair on his ears and when I part the hair that's faded too. :rolleyes:  They both had their ears shaved to have it done.

They're all microchipped too so at least that's something.

Debs

Have you cleaned the ears with spirical spirit ?

Marianne, I've emailed you a couple of pics. :)

I personally have never come across a failed microchip (have you? personally as opposed to being told about it?), not saying it doesn't happen,

Should have added I too tried to read the chip with my scanner before it was removd(could feel it under the dog's skin so I wasn't just told about it plus have seen the letter from the chip company agreeing to pay for all the costs of removalk, now I don't think they would do that if it hadn't failed or are the chip companies benevolent & pay for things that haven't happened

Our local all breed rescue approached all the chip companies(is it 10 or 12 ?)& they all said the same thing yep you can have one of the new scanners it will cost you £XYZ +VAT no discount & at the cheapest they are over£100 that they don't have available

IMHO if the chip companies really do have animal welfare at heart(something I have concerns over when they refuse to divulge information under the data protection act that isn't covered by it)they should donate the  upto date scanners to rescues after all they would be a tax deductible expense & they do make good profits(not heresay I have seen the company results of most of them) from running the various schemes. The chips actually cost pence to produce(not heresay BTW have been offered chips at cost(the same price the companies(not the chippers pay))yet buy the time they are implanted the cost is well into at least a tenner at the cheapest.

& if I could get my 11 GSD to sit long enough I would take one of her 11 year old one done with the old calipers that would be on the site too.

The tattoo ink doesn't fade however if not applied correctly & allowed to dry natually the intensity can be reduced

I've seen a black tattoo clearly visible despite the lame brain owner washing all the excess ink off with in a couple hours of the tattoo being done !

I'd love to find someone who would chip my two cavaliers for their PP at cost. Shouldn't be more than 10p as the chips cost less than 5p each ! & it doesn't say in the PP guff the chip has to be registered !

now I don't think they would do that if it hadn't failed or are the chip companies benevolent & pay for things that haven't happened

Well my experience has been they do not ask for evidence of any kind just offer to help. But what about the NDTR in comparison, if a tattoo is useless what do they do? Do they pay for a new one to be done?

Our local all breed rescue approached all the chip companies(is it 10 or 12 ?)& they all said the same thing yep you can have one of the new scanners it will cost you £XYZ +VAT no discount & at the cheapest they are over£100 that they don't have available

Agree with you 100 %, that is NOT acceptable in any way whatsoever and it did surprise me. Wonder what would happen if an article on the subject appeared in the press? What do you reckon, worth a try? I can most likely get the right person on to it if the rescue would speak to him.

The chips actually cost pence to produce(not heresay BTW have been offered chips at cost(the same price the companies(not the chippers pay))yet buy the time they are implanted the cost is well into at least a tenner at the cheapest.

Agree but at least when you buy the chips (as a chipper) the registration cost is included. My pups/kittens are all reg'd on Pet Log in the new owner's name the day they leave my house and it doesn't cost me a penny extra to do, now when I bought a tattooed pup I was expected to pay £20 to get the tattoo into my name. And that I do think is VERY expensive indeed. If I buy 10 chips at a time they work out at £7.50 each. (They can get as cheap as a fiver each if you buy more but I seldom have the kind of money to lay out for larger amounts.) I very much like the fact the new owner doesn't have to do anything -if they had a car accident on the way home and the pup got out, it would already be registered in their name on the database.

>when I bought a tattooed pup I was expected to pay £20 to get the tattoo into my name.

Yes, because there's a change of ownership, from the breeder to the purchaser. The KC charges to change the ownership details too (not sure how much) and so does Petlog (again not sure of the exact price, but several pounds). What's the difference? What the NDTR doesn't charge for, where Petlog does, is to register a change of address to the same owner. Now there's a nice little earner!

Edit: Reading through the chip-registry leaflet I was horrified to read:

"If your pet is 'fostered' or 'adopted' through an animal welfare scheme, Petlog reserves the right to update the database record for this pet without your permission, if so requested by the animal welfare organisation concerned."

The implications of that statement beggar belief.

Yes, because there's a change of ownership, from the breeder to the purchaser. The KC charges to change the ownership details too (not sure how much) and so does Petlog (again not sure of the exact price, but several pounds). What's the difference? What the NDTR doesn't charge for, where Petlog does, is to register a change of address to the same owner. Now there's a nice little earner!

Because with PetLog you do NOT pay to transfer from breeder, you register in the new owner's
name at once . If you want to transfer to a new name or new address, it is £5. If you want to have unlimited changes of adderss for life for that animal (and 2 contact addresses/people) it is £15. So still def. cheaper than NDTR. :)

I can't find anywhere that Petlog say they'll register temporary holiday addresses free; NDTR do ... ;)

Yes if you pay the £15 (PetLog Plus is where you find it on the PetLog page) for 2 contact addresses and unlimted address changes etc they do holiday details.:) Oh and I just noticed it is £11.50 if done online rather than £15.