microchipping - Page 1

Can anyone explain microchipping - Does the breeder usually do this or does the new owner decide whether or not to microchip the pup? Are there different types of microchips? Do you pay a monthly fee or something or is it a one-time purchase? Are they worth it? Any other info about microchipping would be great.

Hello, All my dogs are both tattooed and microchipped. I will have all pups tattooed and I will ask that all buyers do microchip the dog. There are different companies producing microchips and until recently, there was a problem with scanners being able to read a particular kind of chip. That has now been rectified. There are several registries, including some private companies who do it. I personally prefer to microchip with the chip that AKC registers as I consider the one thing they (the AKC) are good for is keeping records. The breeder could microchip but normally it is the purchaser/owner. I wait until my dogs have their preliminary hip x-ray, but it is a small needle that inserts the device which is about the size of a grain of rice. It is a one time purchase and one time registration fee for all the microchips used in the USA. Some people have complained that chips migrate, but in doing GSD rescue, and talking to vets, for me this has never been an issue. If a scanner is operating correctly and used correctly, microchips can be found. Personally, I prefer chipping, but the United Schutzhund Clubs of America sticks with the SV stand that only tattoos are allowed as confirmation of who the dog is. The reason always given is that a chip could be removed. I guess that is true, but tattoos are often all but illegible and, in some situations I suppose tattoo practice can and is also abused. For me the bottom line is that if a dog is lost, all clinics and shelters in my state would immediately scan the dog as soon as it was brought in. I believe that if owners do their work and keep the registry up dated about their location, in such a case there is a higher liklihood that they will get the dog back. As a person involved in GSD rescue, I have personally been involved repeatedly in locating an owner because the dog was chipped. My two cents, for what it is worth.

Microchipping can be a wonderful thing.Some breeders will do it themselves along with tattoos,but tattoos are needed for showing. There are several (3 I think )types of chips out there.The popular belief is that because there are different types, they are not effective in returning the animal if lost as you have to have a chip reader for each brand name,but almost all animal control shelters and humane societies have a universel readers that can read them all.Most vets only have one type of reader though. The cost is a one time thing for life and is between $20-$70 for the chip to be implanted and registration. I work for a Humane Society in N.C. that mocrochips the animals for an addional fee for adopters if they wish and just recently got a call from an animal contol in Ohio that they had one of our dogs in there shelter.We were able to locate the owner who had lost the dog at a rest stop while driving across the country.If the dog had not been microchipped,they might not have ever found him-so you can see how it could be a good thing. The AKC is trying to impliment a rule that all registered breeders permantly idenify a litter and microchipping is an option as well as tattooing.But that may take a while to really come about. Hope that helps a little.

If your dog is off-leash and you care about him/her, do the chip. It's painless and, if the dog runs off to meet a new sweetheart, etc., the likelihood is that he'll be identified if he/she is not wearing tags. Aside and apart from this GSD and pedigreedatabase.com stuff, "ANIMAL PLANET" will confirm this. and you just can't argue with animal planet..............

T-bone, Microchips are very effective. It can be purchased on line (see link below) for about $10 a piece, or simply take your dog to your vet and have him insert the microship. http://www.avidmicrochip.com/products.htm

You need to check with your local animal control dept to see if they even own readers to check for microchips. I know of 2 counties, my own included that don't have readers to check them.

vomlandholz, If you are located in the US, your county animal control departments can get the readers free by requesting one from one of the major manufacturers of the chips. There is no excuse not to have a scanner as they are free for qualified organizations, shelters, vets and even rescue organizations. Perhaps your counties do not know this.

Although the chip itself is a one-time purchase, if you register your animal with the company's tracking service (Avid's PETtrac is the one I'm familiar with), there may be an enrollment fee and a fee every time your address changes. This does allow the company to contact you directly, however, rather than having to go through the vet or whoever implanted the chip to find you.

Over here in Holland breeders are obliged by the Dutch Kennelclub to use a microchip. Tattooiing is rarely used, but fairly a lot used for GSD. We ask to do both, for several reasons. In Germany and Belgium the microchip isn't accepted yet and the tattoo is. And also some of out pups are and will be exported to Belgium, USA and Thailand. It's a one time purchase. You pay an amount per pup to the Kennelclub. THis is for registration, pedigree, identification etc. For 2004 it's around 50 euro's a pup When you are a breeder and you whish to receive a pedigree.... only the kennelclub may put the chip in. If a vet should do it..... you've got a problem. Dogs without pedigree or crossbreed can get a chip from the vet and it'll cost you about 40 euro's. For both: when registering to a database you pay an additional price, i'm not sure if that's one time or on a yearly base

Thanks y'all. Sounds like a good deal to me. I thought it was like a low-jack kind of thing where you can track your dog via satellite or something like they have on cars as anti-theft devices. That might be good in case your dog gets stolen. I didn't know someone had to find him first. Still worth the small amount of expense in any event. T-Bone