What is the minimum age that you have your litters microchipped and on average how much per pup do you pay for the service? I've heard conflicting advice regarding ages and chip migration etc... just thought I get some more opinions from those with experience. Thanks.

Last year I had two litters two weeks apart, so had them both chipped at the same time at the ages of 5 & 7 weeks, I would say they reacted less than having them chipped at 12/14 weeks, they were chipped put back down and they carried on playing as though nothing had happened.  My vet charges approx £20 for chipping, but less when it's a litter.

>My vet charges approx £20 for chipping, but less when it's a litter.

Hi Sharon, thanks for the response. Was it your vet that did the chipping at 5 to 7 weeks? Just asking out of interest as EVERY vet I have spoken to has always been anti-chipping until around 10 weeks, but they never really seem to give a reliable arguement about except for the chip migration due to the puppy rapidly growing. I was on the understanding that as long as the microchip site is left alone for a good week or two, migration is minimal. At least that is what a mobile chipper has told me.

On my training course we were told no younger than 8 weeks, but I've done puppies from 6 weeks onwards the same age as I tattoo from(done both at same visit too) & none of the chips I use has migrated ? £20 a puppy gosh that's expensive !

our vets' will chip at 6 - 7 weeks, £15 each. Last year I used a 'mobile' chipper friend and she charged £10 per pup, they were chipped at around 6 weeks I think?

Have mine chipped at 6 weeks with vet check at a cost of £17.50 each.

Linda

Had both the litters I bred at 8 weeks done before going to there new homes, it was £15 per puppy.

Have you thought about tattooing your puppies?  No worries about migration etc.  It's done around 7 weeks and apart from being filthy for a day or two and a tiny squeak when it's done - its easy.

I had a mobile chipper come in and do it for £10 a pup, but unfortunatley she's now living in Scotland and I'm in Bristol, just a bit too far to travel...lol.  I would rather pay the £20 and get them chipped before leaving as I always put my telephone number as a second contact number.

I tattoo from 6 weeks depending on the breed(well size of ears really)

> I would rather pay the £20 and get them chipped before leaving as I always put my telephone number as a second contact number

Costs a lot less to tattoo them & the NDTR always retain your details as breeder

I'm glad Moonmaiden is doing mine

Diane

>blushes in corner

>Costs a lot less to tattoo them & the NDTR always retain your details as breeder.

With microchipping, is it true that if the previous owner/breeder does not sign the forms, the new owner can not change the details to their own? I was also wondering this as a lady I know adopted a dog after it's elderly owner died. The son didn't have any paperwork and when they contacted the chip company they were told that without a signed form from the owner, they couldn't change the chip details into their name. This would make sense, with theft and such, but wondered if there was any way around it? I said I'd find out for her.

Tattooing is definately something to consider, although it seems a lot less popular. Thanks.

I found it worked out a lot cheaper (and easier) to take the course and do all the chipping myself as I breed both cats and dogs. I now pay around £8 per animal. I do kittens at 10 or 11 weeks (in between first and second vacc), puppies at 6 weeks.

vets @ 10 weeks at £22 each. Once I used a local chipper and the chip completely disappeared and absolutely no comeback. Cost me a fortune to have her completely body xrayed will only ever use the vet from now on.

> Once I used a local chipper and the chip completely disappeared and absolutely no comeback

Why no come back ? wasn't the chipper insured ?

my vet doesnt chip til 6 months due to the chip moving to there shoulders, next time i will consider tattoo, anyone know of someone near Fife

I had a lot of chips moving to the shoulders (in cats and small dogs only, never in the large dogs), turned out the chip gun was faulty and it never happened again after it was replaced.

You've got to have insurance if chipping other people's animals which is why I don't, I only do my own.

> my vet doesnt chip til 6 months due to the chip moving to there shoulders, next time i will consider tattoo, anyone know of someone near Fife

Bet they use Bayer chips ! bit late to chip at 6 months with so many puppies being stolen under that age !

David Bissett 01875 611297 is probably your nearest one

>anyone know of someone near Fife

Possibly. see here.

I have mine done at 6wks by the vet and it is now a legal requirement in order to complete the docking certificate as the chip links the pup to its paperwrok. Not had any problems with migration of chips at all.

Have used tattoos in addition to chips in the past but have been disappointed with results,  most had faided or were difficult to read in adulthood. Now just stick to chips.  

K

> anyone know of someone near Fife

Yes!

She did my kittens today at a tenner each.  I don't know if she does pups but I can ask, she is based near St.Andrew's.

> Possibly. see here.

The link on the map is for a tattooist in Ramsgate(I have contacted Gill to tell her about this

The nearest person is Dave Bissett as above

> Have used tattoos in addition to chips in the past but have been disappointed with results,  most had faided or were difficult to read in adulthood. Now just stick to chips.

Did you bother to report this to the NDTR ?

> She did my kittens today at a tenner each.  I don't know if she does pups but I can ask, she is based near St.Andrew's.

You had your kittens tattooed ? We are not allowed to make up the charges as we go along for tattooing it should be £20 per litter & £7 per kitten/puppy  Can you PM me the tattooist details as the NDTR map is wrong

> I had a lot of chips moving to the shoulders (in cats and small dogs only, never in the large dogs), turned out the chip gun was faulty and it never happened again after it was replaced.

The chip gun was faulty ? That's a new reason for chips moving. The gun I use is a simple trigger action that pushes the chip out is yours different ?

No, it was in response to the person who asked about a chipper in Fife.   I wouldn't want pedigree kittens with huge green tattoos in their ears - yeuch!

They were asking about a tattooist in Fife not a chipper.

Easch to their own, but the tattoos wouldn't be "huge"as they would be done with small callipers & an abbreviated no & in black

The chip gun was faulty ? That's a new reason for chips moving. The gun I use is a simple trigger action that pushes the chip out is yours different ?

Yes mine is exactly the same. When I had several chips move I contacted the manufacturer about it, and we went through all possible causes. One thing they suggested was that there might be something wrong with the gun, so they sent me a new one to try, and since then not a single chip has moved. This must be about 3 years ago now and I've chipped quite a few since then (16 pups and at a guess around 30 or 35 kittens) so it was quite an obvious difference with the new gun.

Thanks Christine w, i have never had it done on one of my dogs before, where is it done on the dogs , does it fade,
St Andrews is only 30 mins from me that would be great , thanks

> Thanks Christine w, i have never had it done on one of my dogs before, where is it done on the dogs , does it fade,
> St Andrews is only 30 mins from me that would be great , thanks

Christine was referring to a microchipper not a tattooist, the nearest tattooist I know of to you is Dave Bissett & tattooists are done in the right ear & should be done in black ink. My XB was tattooed at 9 years of age with the old green ink & 11 years later it was still readable & hadn't faded at all

The Mutts in answer to you question I would expect that with sight of the death certificate and details of probate etc the executors should beable to sign everthing on behalf of the deceased person. Certainly everthing else is done this way and if the chip company wont agree I would talk to CAB or  ask the son (assuming he is the executor) to speak to his solicitor if thats practical.
You could also ring the chip company and ask what paper work they need  for this circumstance.

> an abbreviated no & in black

I have had my pups done in black for the last 12 years,and I can still easily read Kizi's, the green does not give such good results. 

I once used a different tattooist and the results were poor (my H litter) but the other two tattooists I have used the tats have been legible for good.  It is important that the ink in the ear is not washed out but allowed to disperse naturally.

The tattooist always dropped one of the zeros to make the number shorter as my pups usually have neat small ears and are not done before 7 weeks.

No I must admit that I didn't report the poor results, just opted to stick with chips alone based on my experiences - especially as chips are needed for the passports and docking certs. I may have been unlucky - all mine have been done with green ink.
K

I have very poor sight and must admit can't see the green, but have no problems reading the black with just 20% sight.

I paid to do the training course a few years ago,so that I could do my own dogs and puppies,thr chips cost about £8 each,and although the vets have reduced their charges in recent years it has more than covered the cost of the course.It was not suggested to us that we would need insurance to do other peoples pets.I guess the age to do them depends how big they are,my westies being fairly small I usually leave chipping until they are fully vacinated and ready to go out,but will do them at 8 weeks if they are going to new homes a distance away.I have chipped cats in their own homes,which caused minimum stress so doing the pups while they are still with mum is probably the best way

It was not suggested to us that we would need insurance to do other peoples pets.

When I took the course we were told in no uncertain terms we'd need insurance if chipping other people's pets, and given advice on how to go about finding it.

Have answered my own question before I finished typing it (ie. does the KC recognise tattoos as a permanent id - answer yes, cos it's on the registration docs) oh I'd be dangerous with a brain.

I not from the website that it's £25 to change ownership, I assume most breeders would include this in their "sale price" of the pup rather than add it on afterwards.

Right, off to search out my local one, got a feeling there won't be anyone down in Rye

> I not from the website that it's £25 to change ownership, I assume most breeders would include this in their "sale price" of the pup rather than add it on afterwards.
>

It's up to the new owner to change ownership with KC and tattoo, chip registries.

The NDTR have an offer of reduced cost tattooing if the transfers are arranged by the breeder, but who pays for it is between breeder and new owner, the NDTR assume it will be added to the price.

Personally I leave the transfers of ownership with KC and NDTR to the new owner.

> The NDTR have an offer of reduced cost tattooing if the transfers are arranged by the breeder, but who pays for it is between breeder and new owner, the NDTR assume it will be added to the price.

Most of the breeders I tattoo for include the tattoo & transfer in the cost of the puppy & they all want to be notified if anything is reported to the NDTR. What happens in the transfer fee is reduced by the tattooing fee if the breeder does it, which means that the tattooing fee is nil if the breeder sends in their transfer fees & if the whole litter-except the one(s)being kept by the breeder(s)-are transferred then the litter registration fee is refunded-meaning the cost to the breeder is just the tattooing fee for the puppy(ies)they keep