Up until now we have not needed to microchip our dogs.

Having a desirable dog in terms of theft and considering possible future dog passport issues we are now seriously looking at both tattoo and microchipping. I'd fit a GPS tracking device if they made one !

I've read a selection of the threads that the search function here throws up on the subject so I've seen the cons in terms of movement and induced cancer and also the wide variation in prices charged.

I know of different 'chip' standards used around the world and can research that for the countries that are relevant to us.

What else might we consider?



For ear tattoos I'm considering a "normal" serial number tattoo in one ear and then something similar to Post Code and house number tattoo in the other ear. I know this seems excessive but the "address" would not change as the property details are historical rather than something that would change with a simple house move. (Difficult to explain in English terms)

To get a 'good' tattoo I assume that the dogs ear might need to be shaved first?

I assume that tattooing would require the dog to be sedated ?

Could anyone offer experience in this area please?



The other new technology Iris Security Scans for Dogs (another link) cropped up in my Google searches. As far as I can tell this is the first thread within this forum mentioning iris scans for dogs in terms of security and doggie identification. So obvious really I'm surprised no one had thought of it before, it offers better (?) security identification than implanted microchips. No compatibility problems and the imprint will not change - assuming the same process as for human eye scans. Maybe this is the solution for all dog identification in the future.


The technology is being developed for horses too, this link, as an anti theft process.


So, I think that microchipping although is the current best solution it is the betamax tape of canine (all animal) security tagging although technically good it has be surpassed by developments and will be replaced by eye scanners in the not too distance future.

With developments in smart phone cameras and instant connectivity everywhere I can easily foresee the day where any lost dog simply needs to be kept still long enough in front of a 'normal' phone to be identified and seeing things like owner, inoculations, bloodline and pedigree etc.

Something to think about. (Did someone say UK franchise ?)

I think yes identification will get better in the not to distant future but the problems with new technology is its ok to use it to identify your pet but you need the people who find it him to take him to a vet that has the required technology.

To give an example my italian greyhound Buck was microchipped by his breeder vet before he came to me. His chip is one that reads the dogs temperature as well as his identity chip. Before christmas he went to the vets were she said she would take his temperature and gets a thermometer out. Thats ok just read his chip it'll tell you. The vet then tells me not all chip scanners will read the temperature you need a special scanner to do it. So technolgy that was meant to save the dog having the thermometer stuck up his bum is no use as my vet doesn't have that scanner he could have had the cheaper option of a standard chip.

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Sammy you may be gone but your sprit will always live on in the sunbeams R I P Sammy

William- 6/11/03 - 24/3/10
Midge - 8/2/11 - 10-2-11

Dogs are not sedated to have the tattoos done

GPS would be a nice idea and I can remember a group of us looked into it a few years ago - would have come in very useful when we lost my eldest boy last week (thankfully we got him back!!!).

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What you need to know before buying a Labrador puppy