Puppies at 6 weeks old
Tattooing the pups
Pups are tattooed to help
identify them in case they are lost or stolen. Microchips are great,
but sometimes do not always work, and they tend to migrate, and have
some breeders wondering, how safe they really are, when they are
implanted in the neck, and found a year later in the rear leg. A
Tattoo can be removed, but a microchip is more difficult to remove.
The number on the pup is like a license plate, and will lead back to
the breeder, & the owner, if the dog is registered with the CKC, as
the CKC registers all tattoo's automatically. Some breeders
microchip dogs, which means a chip is inserted into the dogs neck
that when scanned an identification number shows up. However,
tattooing is usually a better method, as with the microchip, you
have to have a special scanner available and you cannot tell the dog
has the microchip unless you have a scanner and run it over the dog.
You do not need any type of special tool to see the identification
number on a tattooed dog, if the tattoo is legible, and 50% of them
are not done properly. For a dog that is just lost, there is a 24
hour #, to call, and anyone can find out the owner of the dog, where
as with a microchip, you would have to find a chip reader. My
personal advise to pet owners, is to have both. Tattoo the puppy at
6-7 weeks old, with a legible tattoo, AND, then, if your vet
recommends a microchip, have him implant one properly at 6 months,
of age, when you spay or neuter your puppy. (IT IS VERY IMPORTANT<
that the vet scans and checks the microchip, BEFORE insertion, as
many are faulty.)
First clean the area well with
alcohol. The Tattoo gun, also needs to be very clean with alcohol. I
have never had a tattoo infection, BUT, I have seen others that
have.
My pups were sooo good, Emily
held them, and one even went to sleep.
It takes about 30 seconds to
one minute per pup, to do a permanent tattoo. I like to do large
breeds at 6 weeks, and toy breeds at 7 weeks.
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Sassy with her six week old pups being goofy
Sassy playing with her 6 week old pups
Emily trimming Gus Gus's nails
When trimming nails, if you cut a quick, have
quick stop on hand. Don't make a big deal of it and carry on.
This pup is 6 weeks old, look how BIG he is
already. He is 13.2 pounds. Notice the pot belly! :)
