Before we go on the road next summer I'd like to get both Ryuk and Gambit tattooed on the inner thigh so that if I ever needed to instantly prove they were mine I wanted a visible but discreet method that I know about but potential problem causers may not. I'm looking for a design, not a number I have to register as they are microchipped and I'd prefer an easy to identify mark.

I've been considering this a while but recently I was pulled over while traveling (the cage in the back of my car concerned the police officer...odd but legit I suppose) and accused of catching and transporting a wild animal. It wasn't until the second cop showed up and believed Ryuk was a dog that they let me go. I've started carrying papers with me from my vet that prove Ryuk's a dog now, something I NEVER thought I'd have to do (I could understand if I owned a Tamaskan or something...even a sable husky...but an ACD?!). I figured identifying him with a tattoo (something a random wild animal I caught on the side of the road PROBABLY wouldn't have -_-) may not be a bad idea. Of course instant visible (but discreet so a thief may not see it to get rid of it) non refutable ID can have other useful purposes to if my dogs were ever stolen.

My vet recommended I skip vet tattooing (and there aren't any local vets that do it on older dogs and not on the ear) and instead find a human tattoo artist who will do it.

An artist I know who's a licensed and respected human tattoo artist is considering doing it for me and has the equipment to do so.

A few sources have noted that is doesn't hurt the dog and can be done when the dog is awake. I sort of think this is BS (um...it's a tattoo...tattoos hurt!) but as we're not doing this at a vet's office they have to be awake. The artist is confident he can do it in about 5-10 minutes (super simple single color design) even with some wiggling. Both are okay with handling and have always let me wound clean or apply a medication without issue, comfortable rolling on their sides and being groomed and tick checked. I figured I'd muzzle to be safe (both are used to muzzles). After care seemed similar to humans but considering size and placement should be a short healing time. The artist in question is clean and hygienic (I'd get a tattoo from him), I don't foresee any major problems there.

However does anyone have any experience with this? Anything I should know? Anything I should avoid? Does this entire thing sound insane and I should be locked up? Any of that stuff?

One of my collies was tattooed (with a number). He didn't even flinch when it was done but I don't know if the human tattooing or colors would make a difference. You will need to be able to hold the dog in position and that may take more than one person.

Jamie, there maybe an easier fix for this. Get him a pink collar for travel. Yes a pink one. The more frilly the better. With one of Ed's collars our dogs look too serious. I had an purple (martha stuart would have called it eggplant') nylon collar on Hank and it had the bad habit of making people think he was 'softer' than he was, Him and the collar got 'skunked' so it went into the garbage. But remember cops are people too and first impressions have an immediate impact, so when someone see's your 'wild dog' in the back they will notice silly collar first. "Who would put a 'that' collar on a wild animal?"

Here's one, a disney princesses collar! - Don't worry he will get over the embarrassment before you will!
http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=13185887&lmdn=Dog+Collars%2C+Tags+%26amp%3B+Leashes

I wouldn't think that a tattoo would feel the same to a dog as it does to a human. After all, they have very loose skin and take injections with a lot less discomfort than humans do. If you can tattoo an ear or a lip, why not anywhere else.

OTOH, getting tattoed on the inside of the thigh might hurt, regardless of how loose your skin is. Could there be a better location for the tat?

Another place with thin enough hair to make it visible? Abdomen would be worse than inner thigh. Inside the armpit maybe, but that would be a booger for healing.

Maybe you can have their ears pierced - Ryuk would look dashing with some pirate hoops! Too bad they would likely rip them out playing.

If memory serves me...Bob Scott had one of his dogs tattood on his inner theigh as an older pup. (Most ear tats are done on pups like 6-7 weeks old) If I recall he said it wasn't that big of a deal...he just held the dog while it was done. But also think it was done by someone that did dogs not a people tatto artist. Maybe he will see this & comment.

Or maybe it was Charlie Snyder....can't remember it was mentioned maybe 7 years ago.

I would imagine that alot would depend on the individual dog as to how much they would tollerate.

Great idea, Jamie.

My dogs' ears were done as young pups by the breeders. But I always liked the idea of the additional ID. They are done down in the ear, so as not to be that visable unless you are looking for it. Especially with the tread these days of snathing dogs.

If I was going to get one of my dogs tattooed for identification, I'd probably just go with my birthdate tattooed on the inside of the thigh. It's a number that's not going to change, is easy to remember and easily linked to you yet isn't putting out info that's too sensitive (like a SS#). And it would be quick and low stress for the dog.

Someone suggested to me once long ago to never use a SSN because the average person can't track it (if you were using it to ID a lost dog) but to instead use your drivers license number and state abbreviation as it is relatively easy to track for ID purposes and generally doesn't change, whereas telephone numbers etc may..

I can't imagine a grown dog being too still for the vibrating of a tatoo gun, I'd consider icing the area to numb it or asking your vet if you could put EMLA cream or a lidoderm on to numb it-fur would probably have to be shaved. Good luck.

My last GSD's had a tattoo, so does Roger. If I had a choice, I would do a simple symbol of some sort, not numbers.

Would you consider freeze branding? Freeze branding dogs