DIY microchip - Page 1

How easy is it to inject a microchip into a 7 month old GSD? I only recently know that AKC sells this type of injection for microchip.

Is it more or less difficult than giving vaccine injection?

Well, it is injected with a larger needle than you use for shots.
If you are inexperienced in giving 'normal' injections, IMO you
would do better to stay away from the DIY approach with chips;
It is also wiser to have a scanner available at the same time, so
the chip can be confirmed to be working properly and you can
read that the number matches the paperwork.  Better to ask
your vet.
 

It's totally different than giving a regular shot. The needle is huge, so you have to really hold the skin taut or it won't go in. The best way to do it, I've found, is to give some food in a stationary bowl and pull the "tent" up when they have their heads down. I don't think it's harder or easier- just different. There are videos that will give you an idea. If you get nervous once you have the chip, just bring it to the vet and have them do it. 

The needles seem to be much better these days...sharper and much less noticeable going in (but I have bulldogs)...the ones from about 6 years ago really required a hard pop to get them in.  

I agree, it's best if you have access to a scanner, so you can make sure it made it in and is working.

I buy microchips from Germany and they cost $5-6 each if you buy 50 of them including shipping.  I would say microchipping looks rougher than it is.  Most dogs and puppies don't seem to be fazed by the microchip insertion and it is likely a lot less traumatic or painful than a tatoo.  If you don't get them in and under the skin they can back out and sometimes do so be sure the chip went in and under the skin and does not just lodge in the layers of skin or it may back out sooner if not later.  Checking them is a good idea after insertion or wait until your next vet visit or if you know someone with a reader get them to check it.  Just don't register the chip until you know it is in and can be found.  Chips sometimes migrate and can be hard to find .. some say they go bad but I have never had that problem.  I use the ISO 9 series 15 digit chips with typical number like 900096000041756.

What is wrong with knowing the number but not registrating until your dog is lost? If someone knows that the dog has a microchip, would someone wait a bit?

I have often wondered.

I don't register my microchips at all .. but that is my choice as I don't expect to lose my dogs or have them stolen.  I suggested waiting before registering with AKC CAR or other registries until you made sure the microchip was readable in your dog if you don't have a reader to check the chip at the time of insertion.  In NC they tell me that if your dog has a rabies tag on their collar and they still have their collar when found the vets can trace your dog back to you via your rabies vaccination certificate and/or the vet who gave the rabies vaccination.  As you suggested if you have the dog's microchip number you can register the dog after it goes missing.  Of course if the dog has a collar when found with a phone number usually that will get your dog's location to you more quickly than any other means.  

Risky, imo. I had a situation with my (very well bred) Chihuahua where a lunatic actually STOLE him. She was supposed to keep him for one night and she left the state with him and refused to tell me where she was or when she was coming back. Had his microchip not been registered, his ownership could've been in dispute if I had just hurried up and registered him after she took off with him. She could say he was hers, I'd say he was mine, and the date registered would be AFTER she already had possession of him. The date SHOULDN'T matter, but look how many negligence cases there are in the world that cause all sorts of sad stories. I would not risk NOT registering my dogs' chips as soon as I knew they worked. JMO. 

I can't see any reason to not register my chips. Otherwise why even bother to get one? I don't ever expect my dog to get lost either. But i did have an escape artist that loved strange men. So she would have been the perfect dog to make off with. Lucky for me the 3 times she got out i found her within 15 minutes. And i've also worked for a vet and had dog's come in that were chipped. Each case the dog was returned to the owner. And a few were actually not registered to their owners, but they were chipped at a vet office. So the chip's number went back to the vet's office.
I also had my puppies chipped before they went to new homes. In case somethign ever happened i could get my dogs back. Had one of the females chipped, they scanned her. No chip. Scanned all over the dog, no chip. Chip was scanned before going into dog. So we knew it worked. Even changed the batteries in the scanner.  No chip.
Chipped the whole rest of the litter and went back to first puppy. No chip. Cheched the needle, no chip. Tech happened to look down. There was chip on the floor! Poor little runt got chipped a second time. Not one single pup made so much as a squeak. But i've heard other dogs scream bloddy murder. You need to try and get the chip into the little fat pad between the shoulder blades. So it doesn't migrate.
On older skinny dog i've groomed i've felt the chips on their sides, up the neck in other weird spots.
Fry

I can't usually feel them in GSD pups, but I can find my Pits' chips easily. In fact, when they're in show condition, you can even see them if they flex just right.