Microchip vs Tattoo

ed1911 · 10-03-2011, 08:56 AM

Going for a BH this weekend and was told I needed a microchip or tattoo. Got a Microchip only to find out that I have to supply a reader. Instead of buying a reader I am going to get a tattoo kit and tattoo him. A reader is $250 and a tatto kit is around $100 but the big difference is that chips shift or die and will cause you to DQ before you walk on the field. I bought Leerburgs tattoo instructional on demand and have watched the breed warden tattoo pups at the club so I will give it a shot. I would like to see a couple good and bad ear tattoos if you wouldent mind posting pics. This will give me a better idea of placement and ink color.

Liesje · 10-03-2011, 09:19 AM

My first thought is if your BH is this weekend, your dog's ear will still be solid green so how will the tattoo be read? The tattoo is done by clamping and then rubbing the ink into the ear. You are supposed to let it set and just let it wash away and fade on its own, generally takes 2-3 weeks. Also I've heard that people don't tattoo dogs older than a few months because you risk damaging the ear cartilage. Not sure about that but I've never seen a dog getting a tattoo older than 3 months other than a pen tattoo on the thigh or belly.

Have you contacted the host club and asked if they have a reader for the trial?

Liesje · 10-03-2011, 09:25 AM

As for examples my Nikon has a really nice tattoo, very readable, 5 digits. He was tattoo'd pretty late (since the breeder didn't do it I found someone else), around 14 weeks I think.

As he got older and his head grew the tattoo is not as centered but still very easily readable within a few feet.

On the other hand my Pan was tattooed at 7 weeks by the breeder and his is barely readable. You can't even tell he has one without looking for it. I showed him on Sat. and had someone bring a chip reader just in case but the judge was able to make out the last three digits of the tat and said that was OK.

BlackPuppy · 10-03-2011, 09:39 AM

If you use a European-type microchip, you can find cheaper scanners. However, if your dog gets lost in the US, that chip is useless.
Pet Microchip Scanners Datamars Micromax - Pet Travel Store

Here is some more info on tattoos.
http://shepherdcentral.com/viewtopic...bde1a25839ec76

I'm interested because I will need to do something with Boaz.

**Chris Wild** · 10-03-2011, 10:31 AM

Personally, I wouldn't recommend someone who's never done it before doing a last minute DIY tattoo on an adult dog a week before trial.

Contact the club hosting the trial. With chips becoming more and more prevalent, more and more clubs are providing readers for trial. So they may have one to use. Other options are to borrow/rent one from someone in your training group, local breeder, rescue, your vet, etc....

Liesje · 10-03-2011, 10:36 AM

OP do you have a scorebook? Don't you need to provide the tattoo/microchip certification in order to obtain the scorebook for trial? If you have obtained your scorebook using the microchip then that is probably what the judge is going to want to use as verification.

msvette2u · 10-03-2011, 10:36 AM

See if you can borrow a reader. If I was closer I'd let you use ours. It's an AVID scanner. What brand is your chip?
**Actually I do have one I could let you use, if you paid S&H for both ways? It's an AKC one and I don't care for it, but it works, if I know what brand your chip is. This is what the AKC one looks like - you have to have the center of the circle directly over the chip for it to work but if you know where the chip is you can get it the 1st time. It even tells you the type chip it is instead of just showing the chip #.

http://www.lostmypet.com/L00011.html

ed1911 · 10-03-2011, 04:58 PM

Its an AVID chip. Neither the host club or my club have a scanner. Ive spoke to a couple vets in the area and there is an auction this weekend and their scanners are needed for horses.

onyx'girl · 10-03-2011, 07:14 PM

You may be able to borrow one from a shelter or rescue(with a hefty deposit)....I agree with Chris, I'd never attempt to tat my dog, especially shortly before a trial. Your scorebook info won't include the tat # anyway.

Liesje · 10-03-2011, 08:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by onyx'girl

Your scorebook info won't include the tat # anyway.

Exactly. This is kind of a moot point so close to trial. If your dog is not tattood yet there's no way the tat number is going to be on the scorebook so you're going to have to find a way to use the chip.

10-03-2011, 08:56 AM	#1 (permalink)
ed1911 Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Louisiana Posts: 137	Microchip vs Tattoo Going for a BH this weekend and was told I needed a microchip or tattoo. Got a Microchip only to find out that I have to supply a reader. Instead of buying a reader I am going to get a tattoo kit and tattoo him. A reader is $250 and a tatto kit is around $100 but the big difference is that chips shift or die and will cause you to DQ before you walk on the field. I bought Leerburgs tattoo instructional on demand and have watched the breed warden tattoo pups at the club so I will give it a shot. I would like to see a couple good and bad ear tattoos if you wouldent mind posting pics. This will give me a better idea of placement and ink color. __________________ http://www.pedigreedatabase.com/germ...html?id=694462 http://www.pedigreedatabase.com/germ...html?id=687555

10-03-2011, 09:19 AM	#2 (permalink)
Liesje Crowned Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Grand Rapids, MI Posts: 12,971	My first thought is if your BH is this weekend, your dog's ear will still be solid green so how will the tattoo be read? The tattoo is done by clamping and then rubbing the ink into the ear. You are supposed to let it set and just let it wash away and fade on its own, generally takes 2-3 weeks. Also I've heard that people don't tattoo dogs older than a few months because you risk damaging the ear cartilage. Not sure about that but I've never seen a dog getting a tattoo older than 3 months other than a pen tattoo on the thigh or belly. Have you contacted the host club and asked if they have a reader for the trial? __________________ UCH Alta-Tollhaus-Krieger Lamb Chop FO OB1 CL1R CL1F RA TT HIT TDI CGC VPC's Coca-Cola HIT CGC SG UCH Alta-Tollhaus Bono SchH1 AD T1 FO PA CL1R UNJ UCA HIT TT CGC OFA SG Pantalaimon vom Geistwasser BH AD HIT CGC

10-03-2011, 09:25 AM	#3 (permalink)
Liesje Crowned Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Grand Rapids, MI Posts: 12,971	As for examples my Nikon has a really nice tattoo, very readable, 5 digits. He was tattoo'd pretty late (since the breeder didn't do it I found someone else), around 14 weeks I think. As he got older and his head grew the tattoo is not as centered but still very easily readable within a few feet. On the other hand my Pan was tattooed at 7 weeks by the breeder and his is barely readable. You can't even tell he has one without looking for it. I showed him on Sat. and had someone bring a chip reader just in case but the judge was able to make out the last three digits of the tat and said that was OK. __________________ UCH Alta-Tollhaus-Krieger Lamb Chop FO OB1 CL1R CL1F RA TT HIT TDI CGC VPC's Coca-Cola HIT CGC SG UCH Alta-Tollhaus Bono SchH1 AD T1 FO PA CL1R UNJ UCA HIT TT CGC OFA SG Pantalaimon vom Geistwasser BH AD HIT CGC

10-03-2011, 10:31 AM	#5 (permalink)
Chris Wild Administrator & Alpha Bitch of the Wild Bunch Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Michigan, USA Posts: 12,604	Personally, I wouldn't recommend someone who's never done it before doing a last minute DIY tattoo on an adult dog a week before trial. Contact the club hosting the trial. With chips becoming more and more prevalent, more and more clubs are providing readers for trial. So they may have one to use. Other options are to borrow/rent one from someone in your training group, local breeder, rescue, your vet, etc.... __________________ *Wildhaus Kennels* Kaiser ~ SchH3 CGC TDI (HOT) Raven ~ SchH3 AWD2 PD1 P1 PA T1 UCD URO2 CGC TT (B/HOT) Della ~ SchHA TR1 PD1 P1 PA T1 URO2 CGC TT (B/HOT) Wulf ~ SchH1 PD1 P1 T1 URO2 CGC TT (B/HOT) Heidi ~ BH CD UCD RN URO1 (B/HOT) Jazz ~ Superpup In Training

10-03-2011, 10:36 AM	#6 (permalink)
Liesje Crowned Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Grand Rapids, MI Posts: 12,971	OP do you have a scorebook? Don't you need to provide the tattoo/microchip certification in order to obtain the scorebook for trial? If you have obtained your scorebook using the microchip then that is probably what the judge is going to want to use as verification. __________________ UCH Alta-Tollhaus-Krieger Lamb Chop FO OB1 CL1R CL1F RA TT HIT TDI CGC VPC's Coca-Cola HIT CGC SG UCH Alta-Tollhaus Bono SchH1 AD T1 FO PA CL1R UNJ UCA HIT TT CGC OFA SG Pantalaimon vom Geistwasser BH AD HIT CGC

10-03-2011, 09:39 AM	#4 (permalink)
BlackPuppy Crowned Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 4,420	If you use a European-type microchip, you can find cheaper scanners. However, if your dog gets lost in the US, that chip is useless. Pet Microchip Scanners Datamars Micromax - Pet Travel Store Here is some more info on tattoos. http://shepherdcentral.com/viewtopic...bde1a25839ec76 I'm interested because I will need to do something with Boaz.

10-03-2011, 10:36 AM	#7 (permalink)
msvette2u Crowned Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Beautiful Pacific NW Posts: 5,533	See if you can borrow a reader. If I was closer I'd let you use ours. It's an AVID scanner. What brand is your chip? *Actually I do have one I could let you use, if you paid S&H for both ways? It's an AKC one and I don't care for it, but it works, if I know what brand your chip is. This is what the AKC one looks like - you have to have the center of the circle directly over the chip for it to work but if you know where the chip is you can get it the 1st time. It even tells you the type chip it is instead of just showing the chip #. http://www.lostmypet.com/L00011.html Last edited by msvette2u; 10-03-2011 at 10:39 AM.*

10-03-2011, 04:58 PM	#8 (permalink)
ed1911 Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Louisiana Posts: 137	Its an AVID chip. Neither the host club or my club have a scanner. Ive spoke to a couple vets in the area and there is an auction this weekend and their scanners are needed for horses. __________________ http://www.pedigreedatabase.com/germ...html?id=694462 http://www.pedigreedatabase.com/germ...html?id=687555

10-03-2011, 07:14 PM	#9 (permalink)
onyx'girl Crowned Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: SW, MI Posts: 17,611	You may be able to borrow one from a shelter or rescue(with a hefty deposit)....I agree with Chris, I'd never attempt to tat my dog, especially shortly before a trial. Your scorebook info won't include the tat # anyway.

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