Dog Tattooing

[labsrus]

I have a man from the National Dog Tattoo Register coming up from Inverness to tattoo my dogs on 8th March (provisional)

If anyone else is interested in getting their dog/s done please get in touch as we could possibly arrange to fit in a couple more dogs. It will take place in the Halkirk area and will cost between £20 - £25 per dog.

Call me on 01847 831083 if interested.

[Ash]

why would you tattoo your dogs?
#

im confused

[porshiepoo]

It's just a form of permanent identification. It takes seconds to do and the dogs don't even have to be sedated.
It's done inside the ear and then they're registered with a database.

[Ash]

It's just a form of permanent identification. It takes seconds to do and the dogs don't even have to be sedated.
It's done inside the ear and then they're registered with a database.

haha ok then

was worried there!

[carasmam]

the dogs don't even have to be sedated.

Ha ha my dog needs sedated to get her toenails clipped so not much hope of a tattoo

[labsrus]

As porshiepoo said its a means of identification. I dont want to microchip as I have known quite a few dogs whose chips have moved.

As I am moving abroad the last thing I want is to get to customs and them not be able to locate the chip.

Also there are some recent studies showing 2 - 10% of the rats and dogs used in the studies developed a malignant sarcoma around the microchip.

[unicorn]

with rabbits we ring them when young but they tattoo overseas.

[justine]

In germany it is standard practice to tattoo their dogs Either in the ears, or inside of their back legs..
I know this might sound strange from someone who has tatts herself but i think it cruel.A dog gets no choise in this and i dont see it as being fair in putting a dog through this....

[porshiepoo]

In germany it is standard practice to tattoo their dogs Either in the ears, or inside of their back legs..
I know this might sound strange from someone who has tatts herself but i think it cruel.A dog gets no choise in this and i dont see it as being fair in putting a dog through this....

Unfortunately these days it's a necessary evil. We have to have a permanent means of dog identification, as far as I'm concerned it should be a law that we do so.
When you take a dog to the vets for its injections, boosters, or for any other treatment, the dog doesn't get a choice either. It may be painful and upsetting but if you know it's for the best interests of the dog you know you have to do it. Pet ID is no different. It takes seconds (it's not the same process as you would have gone through) and is a means of permanently tracking that animal.
My dogs have all been done through the microchip and luckily I haven't had any move so far. Yes, a couple of the dogs may have had a moments sting but I'm safe in the knowledge that my dog can be traced back to me if he's lost or stolen.

[justine]

[quote=porshiepoo;340389]Unfortunately these days it's a necessary evil. We have to have a permanent means of dog identification, as far as I'm concerned it should be a law that we do so.
When you take a dog to the vets for its injections, boosters, or for any other treatment, the dog doesn't get a choice either. It may be painful and upsetting but if you know it's for the best interests of the dog you know you have to do it. Pet ID is no different. It takes seconds (it's not the same process as you would have gone through) and is a means of permanently tracking that animal.
My dogs have all been done through the microchip and luckily I haven't had any move so far. Yes, a couple of the dogs may have had a moments sting but I'm safe in the knowledge that my dog can be traced back to me if he's lost or stolen. [/quoteBoth my dogs are chipped. Like you say it is a mater of second, but a tattoo takes longer to do..Tattoos also fade after time, just like the microchip can shift...As far as i know microchipping is the only irreversable method of dog id...
I saw too many dogs in germany and there owners mentioned it was terrible seeing their dogs go through this.....

[labsrus]

Justine, I can understand how you might think tattoing may be cruel but it does only take a few seconds as it is done with a gun and should not hurt anymore than getting a microchip implanted, I have copied this information from an american tatto register website to explain why it is not the same as human tattoos:

"PET TATTOOS DO NOT HURT
Pet tattoos are not like human tattoos, because there are distinct dimensional differences between the structures of human and animal skin. The epidermis, or top layer of skin, on a human is much thicker, and the lower skin layers are more uneven than the layers of canine or feline skin. The epidermis is the layer of skin that dries up and flakes off, so to tattoo effectively, the ink must be inserted just below it. On humans, the tattoo must go much deeper into the skin, because of the thickness and uneven shape of the epidermis. Canine and feline epidermis is much thinner and is very regular and even. As a result, the tattoo does not need to penetrate as deeply into the skin."

I had a litter of puppies microchipped and every one squealed so its not entirely painless so I think we just have to accept that for the good of our dogs they may have to go through a minimal amount of pain to be permanently identified.

I took a dog out to Sweden last year and she was chipped only 3 days before leaving. When I got to customs in Norway they couldnt find her chip and I was in a panic! After 15 minutes of searching it was eventually found but not where it had been implanted so it didnt take long to migrate. If they hadnt found it I would have been in trouble as she couldnt go on to Sweden, nor stay in Norway and if I took her back to the UK she would have to have 6 months quarintine so I hope you can understand why I think tattooing is the only way to go this time.

If done correctly a tattoo IS permanent, virtually painless and also easily visible to would be thieves so works well as a detterent without the risks of a chip.

[labsrus]

I forgot to metion in my last post that where the tatto is done may make a big difference. In the UK it is done with a gun inside the ear. I know in the Sates they do it inside the thigh which means the dogs have to be held down while the numbers are individually written on with a pen. This obviously takes a lot longer and a lot of dogs would get quite distressed being pinned down for several minutes even if the actual tattooing was not painful.

Perhaps that is the way it is done in Germany hence the bad reports?

[justine]

I forgot to metion in my last post that where the tatto is done may make a big difference. In the UK it is done with a gun inside the ear. I know in the Sates they do it inside the thigh which means the dogs have to be held down while the numbers are individually written on with a pen. This obviously takes a lot longer and a lot of dogs would get quite distressed being pinned down for several minutes even if the actual tattooing was not painful.

Perhaps that is the way it is done in Germany hence the bad reports?

I lived there for 18 yrs and had three dogs done.It was horrendous...
I do prefer the microchip,but then a tattoo is easier to see.Our pup has a tag saying i am chipped. also a tag with our number on it and a pet protect tag where he is in the national data base.If he goes missing then they can let us know if any one has found him.So hopefully my dogs are covered and have enough tags to put people of taking them............Talk about over protection.........but thats what it takes these days....

[labsrus]

Yes it is sad that we have to go to such lengths to keep our dogs safe. Do you mind saying how your dogs were tattooed, was it with a gun or a pen and whereabouts on the body as I would be interested to know?

I had my horse freeze marked and never again as it was 4 letters held on for a minute each time. I also had Exmoor ponies who had been hot branded (before I got them) as at that time it had to be done for the stud book. People were saying how cruel hot branding was but after I saw it being done myself it was much kinder than freeze marking and much less painful, over in about 5 seconds and the foals seemd to forget it had been done immediately whereas my boy will still freak out if a vet goes near his neck 15 years on!

[justine]

Yes it is sad that we have to go to such lengths to keep our dogs safe. Do you mind saying how your dogs were tattooed, was it with a gun or a pen and whereabouts on the body as I would be interested to know?

I had my horse freeze marked and never again as it was 4 letters held on for a minute each time. I also had Exmoor ponies who had been hot branded (before I got them) as at that time it had to be done for the stud book. People were saying how cruel hot branding was but after I saw it being done myself it was much kinder than freeze marking and much less painful, over in about 5 seconds and the foals seemd to forget it had been done immediately whereas my boy will still freak out if a vet goes near his neck 15 years on!

All three were done with a gun..Toby and pip(yorkshire terriers)were done in the ear and Rocky(st bernard) was done in ear and inside of the leg.Took about 5 mins for the smaller dogs and if i remember about 10-15 to do rocky.He never liked the vet after that...I know that it is the law but i hope that it has been changed now..I know i should not say this but it is like seeing what the poor Jewish people had to go through......I know that i will never put my dogs through that now..I will stick with the chip and the tags..But then i keep my dogs in, they are not alowed to roam the streets
Unless Bingo the big dog decides that he is gonna go over the wall, which he can do pretty well.Although he does come back when called.....
I would be more worried about Tank as he is a staffie, but i wont be letting him out of my sight so no-one will have the chance to pinch him.......

[labsrus]

Sounds horrible if it took 5 - 15 minutes to do your dogs so I can understand why you would not put them through that again! I certainly would not want to put my dogs through such an experience either.

I can however reassure people that in the UK it only takes 1 - 2 SECONDS to do the tattoo. I have many friends with Labs who have had their dogs done and they all said dogs yelped for a second (like you have trod on their foot) but instantly recovered. Some dogs did not even seem to notice any discomfort at all.

Quite a few of these people had already microchipped their dogs and said that it seemed actually more painful to the dog (chipping), so probably not much to choose between the two procedures.

I just like the fact that it is visible to the naked eye so no doubt that the dog belongs to someone which would certainly put thieves off. Out of interest a tattoo is considered legal proof of ownership of the dog whereas a microchip is not.

[Raven]

If you do travel with your dogs abroad and want to re-enter the UK, the only way you can do this is when they are microchipped, tattoos are not recognised under the pets travel scheme, so it would be utterly useless for us.
In Germany you can choose weather you want tattoos or chips, but now vets generally recommend the animals to be microchipped.

[justine]

If you do travel with your dogs abroad and want to re-enter the UK, the only way you can do this is when they are microchipped, tattoos are not recognised under the pets travel scheme, so it would be utterly useless for us.
In Germany you can choose weather you want tattoos or chips, but now vets generally recommend the animals to be microchipped.

I am glad that they have changed it then.I was the from 1982-1997 so i assume that the vets have changed things...
I also thought that if you want to bring your pet across waters you also need a pet passport..My mother has two dogs that came back with her and they both have passports...

[Raven]

I am glad that they have changed it then.I was the from 1982-1997 so i assume that the vets have changed things...
I also thought that if you want to bring your pet across waters you also need a pet passport..My mother has two dogs that came back with her and they both have passports...

Oh yes, they do need passports, rabies inocculation (6 months prior to re-entry) and microchips to be allowed to re-enter. Also worm treatment 48 hr prior to entry in UK.
We have never had a dog checked for "ID" when we went out of the UK though, nor do they check "ID" between crossing borders to Holland, France, Belgium, Austria, Italy or Germany so far at least

[justine]

Oh yes, they do need passports, rabies inocculation (6 months prior to re-entry) and microchips to be allowed to re-enter. Also worm treatment 48 hr prior to entry in UK.
We have never had a dog checked for "ID" when we went out of the UK though, nor do they check "ID" between crossing borders to Holland, France, Belgium, Austria, Italy or Germany so far at least

Can well believe that.Travelling through belgium holland france and germany was never stopped at any of the borders, in fact most of the time there was nobody on the border checkpoints.....Could smuggle anything through there if they wanted......