Microchipping

As it says, really. Do you microchip your dog?

Dempsey's microchipped. Partly for safety in case he ever got lost/stolen (heaven forbid!), but also because from April 2016 in the UK all dogs must be microchipped by law.

Yep, I would always microchip my dog.

Yes for safety reasons

yes

yes, am thinking about the tattoos too but want to look into them more first

Kuchar is the first dog I've had microchipped. It's an additional peace-of-mind comfort.

ella wrote:yes, am thinking about the tattoos too but want to look into them more first

I know several people who have their GSDs tattood (they have to for schuthund training). In fact serendipity has had Link tattod, so if you want any questions answered, I'm sure she'd be only too happy.

LyndaW wrote:Kuchar is the first dog I've had microchipped.  It's an additional peace-of-mind comfort.

Yes, Dempsey is the first dog I've had chipped as well.

It's something I'm definitely going to look into further

ella wrote:yes, am thinking about the tattoos too but want to look into them more first

Link has a tattoo, I will always Tattoo any future dogs too  

Link has both but after seeing where it travelled on her xray Im not sure I'd do it again  
The Boys and cats are all microchipped.
I only found out about Link's chip because she had her hip and elbows scored and its ended up near her front left leg!
I dont like the fact it has moved so far and there not always read able
Id prefer a tattoo anyday, but would reccomend they are tattooed early

Vets should scan over the shoulders and all around if they can't find the chip. Some of them, unfortunately, have been known to neglect it though.

Serendipity wrote:Link has both but after seeing where it travelled on her xray Im not sure I'd do it again  
The Boys and cats are all microchipped.
I only found out about Link's chip because she had her hip and elbows scored and its ended up near her front left leg!
I dont like the fact it has moved so far and there not always read able
Id prefer a tattoo anyday, but would reccomend they are tattooed early

I'd heard that they can move. I think the big problem is that at the moment the law won't let you choose to either microchip or tattoo. I think you should have the choice as long as the registers for both are done properly.

ECdogs wrote:Vets should scan over the shoulders and all around if they can't find the chip. Some of them, unfortunately, have been known to neglect it though.

Exactly and stupidly not all scanners work, sometimes forcing the owner to have to get another chip inserted!
Personally I wouldnt want a chip inside me floating around  

Something they also don't tell you is that, with a certain type of microchip (can't remember which) administered before 2005/2006 (can't remember which, again) can only be read with a specific scanner, so your dog can end up going into quarantine if you get to another country and find that their scanners can't pick up the chip.

In 2016, it will be a legal requirement to chip dogs. I'd personally choose a chip over a tattoo, but there are pros and cons to each once and I think it depends on the owner's preferences. Both forms of identification are useful and do their job.

And people like Linda who do schutzhund work have to tattoo - there's no choice! So they'll have to get both done.