Ear Tattoos

[3Beasties]

I don't often hear about ear Tattoos any more but a thread on FB today got me thinking about them. They seem like another great form of identification (but not as popular since microchips came around?) and I wondered if it is something I should have done to my current and future dogs as standard; and also any litter that I may breed in future.

I am forever paranoid about my dogs getting stolen so am willing to add any deterant possible. I will be honest though and say that I know very little about them.

So, pros and cons please?

 

[CorvusCorax]

Ear tattoos do fade over time. I've checked a fair few and on older dogs I've found some barely legible. It's a bit of an ordeal trying to read them if the dog is already stressed. However I'm sure no more stressful than waving a wand repeatedly trying to find an errant chip.

I don't think I've seen a tattoo since 2015 and that was in a 7 year old.

They can also be done on the thigh I believe but I've never had one presented to me.

Sadly I've also heard of dogs (ex racing greyhounds) having their ears cut off so they cannot be traced.

 

[Clodagh]

Foxhounds have ear tattoos, I have not heard of it being done in 'cur dogs'.

 

[CorvusCorax]

Foxhounds have ear tattoos, I have not heard of it being done in 'cur dogs'.

It used to be very big in GSDs, all ours were done as pups but the chips have made them obsolete really. All the breed magazines used to carry ads and lists of registered tattooists.

 

[MurphysMinder]

I have always had my dogs tattoed for as long as it has been available and had my last litter tattooed, that was 5 years ago I like it because it is instantly obvious that they re marked, though as CC says the downside is the tattoo can fade over time. Unfortunately, dog wardens and pounds don't seem to check for tattoos routinely which is very annoying .