Tattooing a dog - Page 1

I would like to have my older dog tattooed on his thigh.  Is there a listing somewhere of people who do this?  

I saw a video of people tattooing little Pomeranian dogs on a website that sells the equipment, but I will not be doing this often enough to spend the money to buy a pen.  

You may want to consider a microchip or tattooing the right ear. I've seen two thigh tattoos at an event. The hair grew back, the tattoo was there somewhere. The dog was on it's back, owner was trying to pick through the hair to show the judge the tattoo while the poor dog was in some severely submissive situation. From a distance it looked like monkeys picking bugs off each other. The dog was disqualified as the tatto could not be read. Just something to think about.

I'm finding the microchip is not as reliable as it needs to be. I had a situation this weekend where a dog I was handling's tattoo could not be read. Long delay to the class usually resulting in disqualification. I bought an 8 week old puppy that had been microchipped. When I picked the puppy up, it could not be located. We had to rechip him and redo the paperwork.

I generally tattoo a puppy that is chipped as a backup.

Tattooing in an ear has been a problem for years...*Too much hair...*Tattoo too light and un-readable...*etc...
One of the best tattoo jobs was on a female I had imported and it was also the only dog I've ever had with the tattoo on the dog's thigh...I know "hair" can be a problem in this area...but the one dog I had with the tattoo on the dog's thigh was very Dark and very Readable...So i guess it all depends on the particular dog and the person doing the actual tattooing...
Something to think about when going to have your dog tattooed is what are you planning on doing with your dog...If you're planning on Showing in a Show Ring or in a Sport such as Schutzhund and will have to show the tattoo to a judge then you should think about the process you have to go through to show the dog's tattoo...
I know the dog I had with the tattoo on the thigh...I wasn't too happy about having to basically put the dog on the ground and turn them on their back or side to present the tattoo...I trialed this dog in Schutzhund...
If you're going to be showing in some form of activity that you'll be needing to show the tattoo to a judge I'd seriously think about...if you're absolutely wanting or needing a tattoo...to put the tattoo in the right ear...
I know my vet has offered another solution to the tattooing...And that is to have the dog put under a local and have a very nice heavy tattoo on the dog's gum...This is what they do with some farm animals...But once again you must think about presenting this to a judge and what you and the dog will have to go through...

~Bob~

One of my dogs is tattooed in the ear and it's very difficult to read.  I thought maybe the underside would be more clear.  I guess not.  

I was wondering if anybody thinks that tattooing might be more of a deterent for theives.  I feel so badly for Al and his loss.  I just hope somehow his guy finds his way home.  

When a tattoo has some light digits, I've been able to darken them by going over the dots by pricking them with a needle and reinking.

I'm with Dog1, I do both, as it's quick and easy to just read an ear tattoo at a show/trial,  and have the microchip as a more "permenant" ID.  I've also had many microchips "move"  and disappear, requiring me to redo thiem, but he tattoo doesn't.