Chip or Tatoo what you think? - Page 2

Tattoo's are great as long as they can be identified, chips are great too, as long as they are placed correctly and do not migrate and can be read.
I have used both.
I was contacted of late by the person who posted the lost dog thread and the registry thing, the subject came up of how people deal with identifying lost dogs here, and I told her collars, with owner identification do more good here than either tattoo's or chips when its only a case of a lost animal.
In the case of theft, or court, I would say a chip or tattoo could make all the difference.  Good photos are another help.
As far as the SV changing, I think its just going to cause more problems in the long run.
Chipping must be done properly and half the time that is not the case in my opinion.
DNA sounds great if it came down to absolute identification.  But at what cost and who holds the sample.
Litter mates from any breeding of the same sir and dam would be hard to separate genetically.
I like BabyEagles idea, a little tribal on the hip hidden under the fur.






My bad..........:)

Moons.

Moons,
it won't cause problems in Germany. All the (former) tattoers are being schooled in chipping. It is not any more difficult than vaccinating your own dogs, once you know how to. When I was in Germany in September/October, I was so supposed to watch a whole litter get chipped and DNA'ed. Unfortunately, we came back a bit late from a dog show. All the pups were done already. But a vet, a breed warden and the ID commissioner (formerly tattooer) were present. Every puppy got the individual chip. A sticker was placed on the litter application. Then, they had an identification card where a blood drop was pressed on out of the puppy's ear (the spot that bleeds easily). The blood was depressed just like a diabetic would do on a fingertip for a blood sugar test. Along with the litter application, the blood samples are turned in at the same time by the ID commissioner. That way, the DNA sample is done already as well, along with the microchip. No possibility of switching puppies around. The good thing for foreign buyers is that they can request their DNA certification without ever subjecting their dog to a test again and worrying where to get it done. The SV has all blood samples stored from every puppy born in Germany (starting January 01, 2010). The breeder does not have to pay for that service. The owner will, when requesting it (I think it is 25 Euros if I am not mistaken). Europe uses the same microchip everywhere, too. It is the U.S. that has to be different with their systems. I invested good money in Germany for a scanner and we are now prepared. Supposedly, we can read U.S. microchips as well (have to try it on my cats). But we will now carry this scanner everywhere, to a show or to a vet visit, since my dogs are chipped with the Euro Avid transponder. I will continue to tattoo our puppies, but the ones we keep and end up sending to Germany will be chipped as well. I just have to order or bring back European transponders when I go over there. Keep in mind that the European Union requires the dogs to be chipped as well. Starting next year (if I am not mistaken), a tattoo won't be sufficient anymore.
And yes, dogs can have two chips. The German chip is usually inserted into the left shoulder side. So, you can always put an American one on the right.
Other breeds in Germany have been chipped like that for a few years now. The SV is acutally lagging behind and finally catching up with other canine organizations.

Silbersee,
As you can tell I'm clowning around more than being serious, just came in from a morning hunt that was unsuccessful.
Try again later.

I figure its a good idea, any problems would be in the keeping of records.  Change always brings confusion at first.
Keeping DNA samples is not as easy as it sounds as far as being contaminated or degrading just from what I have read.
But, what do I know....    
I suppose it is just keeping up with the times.     Progress.
Probably a good idea.

Moons.

The problem with tatoos are that many faid later in the dogs life and are difficult to read and also especially if the ear is of dark pigmentation. I decided to chip my GSD, and if you are not to familiar make sure it is an ISO chip.    Greg

Moons,
the SV has a qualified medical lab under contract for storing blood samples. No worries!

Yes, tattoos fade. We just tattooed a couple of black puppies and realized that they already have that dark pigment. The same with their 2 year old black halfbrother. His tattoo is almost not legible anymore. So, he was chipped in Germany  and the SV certified that. His breed survey, AKC certified pedigree and scorebook all contain his chip No. We showed him and just took the scanner along. Works like a charm! No tugging on ear trying to decipher anything. The scanner does not even need to touch him to display the number on the screen. I love microchips.
Now, I can see that it is better for pet owners to have a visible identification (that is why we will continue to tattoo) but I definitely will now recommend to our puppy buyers to microchip their dogs.

Tattoos are far superior to chips, as they are visible. If I find a dog and I want to keep it, who will ever discover the chip?
The vets do not scan dogs a client comes in with as their dog. They try and sell them a chip.. There is no universal scanner that shelters have to the 9 chips being marketed in the US.
Tattoos are painless and take only a few minutes to do. They last for the life of the dog.
If you want to see a video of dogs being tattooed, go to www.tattoo-a-pet.com scroll the home page in the middle after Rustys story and click in. 

Just to let readers of this post, of my personal experience with this subject.
My dogs were tattooed and registered thru a dog club by Tattoo A Pet a National registry
about 4 yrs ago. One of the dogs was stolen,and reported to the company. which when it was not recovered in 7 days, they
requested a picture of my dog and sent out a statewide Hotsheet on her.  She had a homeagain chip on her as well that the vet conned me into getting.About 3 weeks after they sent that  Hotsheet , I got a call from them that my dog had been
taken into a  Vets shop for a bath, the groomer who bathed it notice the tattoo, had a copy of the Hotsheet and called Tatoo-a Pet. I was called immediately and was able to get my dog back. They had the name of the person who brought in the dog as his pet, and the police questioned him. he could not be locked up for theft,he said he had just found the dog.
I told the vet it had a chip also,they scanned. quess what  Nothing.  They were also notified, they did nothing Without
the tatoo and lifetime registration of my dog, I would have never gotten it back. TATTOS WORK, CHIP DID NOT and with out
the nice work of the tattoo company I would never of gotten her back.  Best $25.00 I ever spent.  The chip was twice that amount and did nothing. i have watched these boards this is the 1st time I really have anything to say.

 Sample ear tattoo. Some are NOT readable.

Like seriously, who would tattoo a sioux sun on the inner-thigh of a Mailnois and register it with the state?

LMAO

Yeeehhhawwwwwwwwwwwwwww

There is no alternative for German breeders anymore with the beginning of 2010. Only chipping will be allowed within the SV. A small thing is , that the breeder has to sign a form, that releases the ID Commissioner from any liability, in case something goes wrong with the process of chipping. Therefore the breeder has the choice of either have the ID guy do it, or meet with the ID guy & breedwarden at the Vets office. The Vet still has to use the chips provided & sold by the SV. (Yup, these are cheaper then at the Vets) Second thing, the breeder has to buy a chip reader - price ranging from approx. 100€uros to 250€uros. I had my last litter of 8 pups vaccinated & chipped at the Vets - not a cheap deal !
However, I did buy a Chip reader from Virbac, Modell iMAX. This far I am very happy with it. It reads all FDX-B (ISO 11784/85),
as well as FDX-A / FECAVA.
Also not an cheap investment, but one needs it.
Ulli