I'd like to hear about the pro/con of each of these identification methods.
A tattoo can be seen by anyone without any aide other than eyeglasses. A micro-chip can not be seen by anyone without a very special tool to FIND and read the microchip.
A micro-chip may contain many lines of information. This is great. How will a lost, stolen, abannoned, dog be identified?
What kinds of tools are involved in finding and reading the chip? Who has them and when are they used? Every vet visit? Before destruction?
What does it cost to identify a dog? Who pays for that?
Please comment pro or con of either tattoo or micro-chip!
Tattoos are not *always* readable. I bought a bitch that has such dark pigment you would have to know what it says to read it.
On my pup it is plain as day and can be read while he is jumping around. BUT, if he turns up in a shelter are they going to know where to look to find me? Chances are not great.
Neither way is perfect, having both can't hurt. Don't forget to have your ID tag on the dogs collar at home as well. The more bases you have covered, the more likely you are to get your dog back.
Will Rambeau Moderator Reg: 01-25-2003
Posts: 5983
Loc: Idaho
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The ear tattoo allow the trial judge to identify the dog for score verification. It's usefulness for confirming identity for breeding and hip x-rays is obvious.
Vets can find the microchip as it has a universal placement point on a dog. If they have a scanner, it's easy to find.
I think a tattoo is so superior, that for me, the microchip is just another AKC gimmick.
From a breeder and owner's perspective a chip is great. If the breeder gets the dog chipped in their name they know whenever the dog gets picked up by animal control. And if the dog is stolen a chip can't be removed, but a tattooed ear can be cut off or the tattoo can be messed up.
Tattoos are a good way to let someone know that the dog is owned, and there are tattoo databases (I think one is run by the AKC) that can store info to match the tattoo.
Auster is just chipped because I don't know of anyone with a tattoo set. My next dog will have both. If I have to have Auster put under and there's a tattoo set around I might have "feedme" added to Auster's ear at her request <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> .
"Dog breeding must always be done by a dog lover, it can not be a profession." -Max v Stephanitz
Will Rambeau Moderator Reg: 01-25-2003
Posts: 5983
Loc: Idaho
Offline
Umm...the failure rate on the chips is between 3% - 4% as per the manufacturer's literature.
And lack of tattooer's is a real problem in many area's <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />
You'd think all those guys learning to apply tattoo's in prison would be willing to help us out there.......
Two of my dogs are chipped and the rest tatooed. Just had the chip checked on my 7 yr. old (was put in at 8 wks. of age) and it is exactly where they put it...right between the shoulders.
Tatoo is necessary for shows, but the chip is useful and serves a good purpose as well. Most pounds, vets have the equipment needed to read the chips now.
Some people will do both. In Canada a dog must be tatooed or chipped before you sell it, so it is the breeders cost. Cheaper to do a tatoo.
Chips are very cheap in Canada, and tattoos are not always readable, particularly in older dogs, seen quite a few myself. Dogs killed on the road in most areas, BTW, are not checked for tattoos or chips - so folks with run aways will always wonder regardless of ID method.
Call me old fashioned but I still prefer the tattoo. Ear(clamp) type tattoos can be hard to read so I prefer the gun type as you can write bigger. I have a couple of real old dogs and their flank tats are very clear and readable.
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