Registered: Aug 2003
Location: In the boonies of Michigan
Posts: 673

I plan to tattoo the two litters of pups I have right now.
I have a tattoo set I used when I raised/showed dairy goats. It's the rabbit sized tattooer. Obviously, I'll be doing ear tattoos.
I have a couple questions on doing pups.

1) How old are the pups when you find it best to tattoo?

2) What method do you use for tattooing? Meaning, do you do one type in one ear and one in the other or just one ear? What is the method to your madness in the initials/numbers that you use? With the goats, we had a registered herd tattoo for one ear and a year code designated by the ADGA for the other year + # for order born that year here.

I'm filling out the litter papers for UKC now and will be permanently registering the ones I plan to keep. The older litter is 3 wks old today. The younger ones are just a few days old.

I'm always freaking out when I see ads for redbones on Craigslist and shelters, etc. I always contact them if they are of the age any of my pups would be. Recently, one was given to a shelter and there is no way to know who the owner was so I'm left not knowing on that one. Had he been tattooed... And yes, I do specify with all my puppy buyers that their pups have a home here, no matter what, no matter when. Even if it's temporary. I've even offered free board to someone getting rid of their dog because a lay off left them fearing lose of their home so they didn't lose her permanently.

Wish I could get an engraver tattooer so I could do thighs. If anyone has a used one to sell...

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John & Janet Ford
Michigan
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Registered: May 2004
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 1253

I've been tattooing in the ear for about 30 years. I do them at about 7 weeks old. In Canada, we use a system similar to the goat ones (I used the same tattoo set on my dairy goats). The most important thing to keep them readable for life is to rub the ink in really well, but if you've been doing goats, you're probably already good at it!
For UKC though, you could use their UKC number - if you just left off the letter at the front, you could do the 6 digit registration number - that way, each would be unique, and would always be tracable to which dog it is.
Laurie

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Registered: Feb 2008
Location: North Florida
Posts: 517

Around 5 weeks works well, as the ear grows, it makes the tattoo big when they are full grown. I use a series of letters and numbers that are sequential. I keep records on everything that is born on my place. 10 years from now, I could identify a dog based off of it's individual # that I have assigned it.

The only problem comes when you want to send in a litter registration that you plan on keeping pups from. I like the tattoo # on the registration, but if you don't choose your pick until they are 8 weeks old, you will most likey not have your registration papers back on the litter when they are given to their new owners. Keep that in mind.

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Cutter Bay Kennels

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Registered: May 2004
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 1253

As long as you have done the litter registration, you have their permanent UKC #s - if you look at the puppy papers, each one has a UKC # at the top - this is their UKC number, and will not change when you send in for the permanent papers.
Laurie

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Registered: Feb 2008
Location: North Florida
Posts: 517

quote:

---

Originally posted by Laurie Soutar
As long as you have done the litter registration, you have their permanent UKC #s - if you look at the puppy papers, each one has a UKC # at the top - this is their UKC number, and will not change when you send in for the permanent papers.
Laurie

---

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Cutter Bay Kennels

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Registered: May 2004
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 1253

Hi Josh,
Sorry, I misunderstood what you were saying! I took it to mean that you wouldn't have their registration numbers until after you had done the individual registrations.
You make a good point.
Laurie

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Registered: Aug 2004
Location: bainbridge ny
Posts: 2589

here is something i learned years ago about tatooing hounds beside the ear also tatoo the inner thigh with the same number my buddy used to tatoo all his hounds on the ears only one night we were hunting two of his hounds and one of mine all 3 were treed when we got there only one was at the tree other two were gone never to be seen a gain that night a year later his hound was found minus his ear only thing that identified the hound as being his is that he was a redbone with 3 toes on one foot being white the missing ear was the one missing i believe if the inner thigh was tatooed along with the ear that hound would have been dumped. by the way the one left on the tree had a very distinct brand on her flank.

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Registered: Jul 2009
Location: Western WI
Posts: 783

After working in a shelter, I can tell you that tatoos are very difficult for a shelter to track. The average shelter worker does not know what a UKC or AKC number looks like or how to track it. In addition, shelters don't shave the inner thighs of dogs, so if the dog has any hair coat chances are that the shelter staff won't even find the tatoo on the inner thigh.

The shelter once had an owner threaten to sue the shelter because they placed his tatooed dog. The tatoo was shaped like a wine glass. How the hell is a shelter supposed to track that! I can honestly say that when I was at the shelter, we only saw about half a dozen tatooed dogs and was not able to track any owner with any of them.

If you are looking to protect your pups if they end up at a shelter, consider using microchips.

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Registered: Aug 2003
Location: In the boonies of Michigan
Posts: 673

You all make good points.
I realize it will make it difficult to track a dog using a tattoo. My point was to be able to use it as a permanent, unique mark to enable me to identify it as a dog of my breeding. This is why UKC allows you to register the tattoos. It can then stand up as proof of ownership.

I would prefer the thigh tattoo but that requires a tattooer I do not own. I did put a message in to a local lady who is a tattoo artist. She did a 6" long by 2" wide tattoo on my 20 yr old son for just $40 so I would like to know how much to tattoo my pups in the thighs. Maybe a way to go...

I may go microchips one day. The cost to begin sets me back. That and not all shelters will look, have the right scanner to look and sometimes they migrate. Lot of risk with them as well. And now, I hear that HSUS is tied to the Avid chips and has the abilities to track us/our dogs through the Avid database so they can kiss my redneck butt before I'll use Avid.

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John & Janet Ford
Michigan
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Registered: Aug 2003
Location: In the boonies of Michigan
Posts: 673

Oh... yes, I saw the cost difference so went ahead and got the perm. reg. sent for one the female from the one litter I'll keep. Didn't get to use the tattoo area though.

Can I later ask UKC to update the papers to reflect the tattoo once I give it to her? Same thing would apply to my adults as I plan to tattoo all their beautiful bods soon.

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John & Janet Ford
Michigan
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The only time that you should look down on anyone is when you're helping them up.

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Registered: Jul 2009
Location: Southwestern Michigan
Posts: 10

Janet - you're absolutely correct about HSUS having a relationship with Avid. I worked at my local Humane Society and the director (who is crazy and shouldn't be around animals, anyways) had personal stock in the Avid company.

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Joanna Reichert
Current Veterinary Technician student
Southwestern Michigan
"Oh, yeah, what are you gonna do? Release the dogs? Or the bees? Or the dogs with bees in their mouth and when they bark, they shoot bees at you?"
~ Homer Simpson

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Registered: Feb 2004
Location: West Kill, NY
Posts: 2047

dont know anything about tattoo technology, but I just watched the Dept. of Env. Cons. here tag a trapped bear. They put the tattoo on the inside of the upper lip. Small tool. Took less than a minute. That might be a good place to tattoo?

http://i349.photobucket.com/albums/...beartrap009.jpg

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Registered: Aug 2003
Location: In the boonies of Michigan
Posts: 673

Joanna,
Sounds like the director I knew. LOL I used to volunteer (ashamed, forgive me) for the HSUS years ago when I was real heavy into rescue. I couldn't foster but I did get the Copemish flea market owner to allow me a free booth so every sunday I traveled a few hours to take pups and kittens to the public eye and adopt them out, give out alter certificates and GASP! take donations. It didn't take long before I learned their political agendas (I was only 21 so young and foolish then) and walked but did continue to help the lady with her cat rescue in finding homes. HSUS doesn't help those volunteers so I did!

Since then, I've done a lot of private rescue work. Usually not fostering but have had my share. Got 4 horse rescues right now. Maybe 5... my mare looks like she had a boyfriend before she came here...

I'm looking at starting a coonhound rescue section here as our kennel facility is expanded, likely in 2010. Also putting two large coon pens up. One for adults (acres) and one smaller one for pups. Will combine that with the rescues to test and/or train to make them more adoptable. And yes, I WILL be checking for tattoos, freezebrands, chips...

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John & Janet Ford
Michigan
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Registered: Aug 2003
Location: In the boonies of Michigan
Posts: 673

That is neat, Emily. Thanks for sharing the pic.
I would worry about them going off feed if their mouth was made sore, though. Or bacteria being introduced too easily. Maybe I'm wrong, just what comes to mind.

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John & Janet Ford
Michigan
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