Tattoo Question... - Page 1

If you're thinking you may want to do SCH with a pup that has not been tattooed and is now 5 months old what is the procedure and process one must follow in order for it to be done correctly?

Would you say it's better to tattoo or microchip?  I was told that if a dog is microchipped and you plan to do SCH the handler must provide their own scanning device.  Is this true?

I also wondered if there is a specific numerical system used to identify a dog.  In other words can the vet who does the tattoo use any numbers or does it have to be something specific?

Then once the tattoo is done how do you go about having the number listed on the pups AKC papers?

You need to have the number registered. I'm pretty sure there is someone in every region in charge that will do the tatoo if you are a member.

You can put whatever you want up to a certain amount.  On my one dog, I gave him "FU2" .  I was gonna go with "MOM".

I hate tattooing my puppies. They cry, I feel like crying too, I'm such a softie.  I had one litter whose ears were just too short until they were about eight weeks to even think about tattooing. 

SchUSA has a microchip reader offered which can supposedly read any microchip, even foreign ones.  It costs $225.  I bought one, to check the microchips on the puppies I microchip myself, and we also used it recently at our club trial.  It did a good job.

Check for the microchips on your trialing dogs BEFORE you go to trial...sometimes they migrate very far from the origional injection site, or even apparently quit working.  You need enough time to re-microchip and change the microchip number on your scorebook.  I need to re-microchip my own dog, who was microchipped by the vet two years ago.  I cannot find her microchip anywhere on her body.

Veronica

As a tattoo'er for USA, and a Regional Breed Warden, I would not tattoo a 5 month old puppy with the standard equipemnt we use to tattoo young puppies. Nothing bad would probably come from it, I would not want to take that chance. Also, at this age, if you found someone willing to do it, you would certainly have to put the pup under anethesia.

You can do a pen tattoo in the ear. I did that with an older dog I acquired who had no tattoo. I did it when I went to take her for her adult OFA's, and it turned out fine.

You can make up yor own tattoo number, using anythign out of your imagination, or takng the numbers from one of the dog's registration numbers, etc. When one registers thier kennel name with USA, they are supplied a code to use to identify the pup came from that kennel.

A microchip is an acceptable form of identification now for USA trials with any USA recognized judge presiding and Breed Shows with a USA Koemiester. Currently, you still need a tattoo for a Breed Survey under an SV Koermeister.

The handler is responsible for supplying the reader. However, many clubs are now buying one to keep on hand. It is the handler's responsibility to check with the hosting club to see if they do indeed need to bring thier own, and if not, if the supplied reader will read your dog's brand of microchip.

Kandi

I only tatoo I do not trust micochips and tatooes are seen immed....

The different ones of the  chips  are hard for vets to id  and only big clinics have the gun to read them all...I know there is a registry,,but if a dog disappears you can bet a tatoo will be seen long before any crook takes a pup to a vet....and if you transfer the chip , it is a fee,and you have a fee every year due.....

I use my three initials    like   mag1   mag2  mag3    so I never forget...when you register pups there is a space for tatoo id...and ofa records it , because you have to record it on the card  sent with x-rays....

Your akc registration will include data for trials...When I register the pups I put the tatoo on the papers and then if ears are too small , we do it as soon as they get bigger....but their id is theirs no one elses....I now register all pups before I sell them and tatoo , as the story of the pup that the man claimed was that mans on the data , and wanted his money back  ,,,,good thing he had a ppic of what his pup looked like, and as turned out, it was not his pup that the man was trying to scam him .....

I just had similiar happening, with a pup being resold, and person  inquiring wouldnt id herself, and I told her ..I didnt sell you a pup, sorry, until you Id yourself for myAKc records and send me pics of the pup , I wont answer your inquiries.....personal info at vets also lead to people finding your home and they can steal your whole kennel while you are at church or gone to town.....

YRT- my microchips have a one time only fee, even the country bumpkin vet down the road has a reader, and my girl has had her chip 3 years now with no problem, same with my boy, we chipped him ourselves, easy as pie, and his can be read at the vets with the same reader, even though my girl has a Homeagain and my boy has an Avid Eurochip. Still & all, his tattoo stands out , it glows against the skin of his ear, you can even read it in pictures!!..jo

Thanks everyone.  I know my vet tattoo's and yes he told me the pup would have to be put under which I feel better about anyways.  I don't think my heart could take the crying of a puppy getting tatooed.  I have 2 myself and I know they both hurt like hell. lol 

I prefer to tattoo my pup because like YRT said it's visible.  I knew that many people do the tattooing themselves when the litter is born but I wasn't sure since the puppy is older now if I could have any vet do it and it be recognized by the judges and SCH USA.  Does anyone know what it costs to have it done to an older pup?

We do both.