NDR Tattoo registration

[responsiblek9]

  This tattoo registry has been around a very long time .  They state "All service dogs are registered at no charge to their owners." over on their "why register" link

http://www.nationaldogregistry.com/register.html

So I emailed them on how to register existing tattoos on a service dog. And what proof would they need to do so. 
Last time I registered the tattooes with CAR . But not very good customer service and they kinda have the upheavals of the AKC stuff. Plus they only wanted to recognize service dogs who were registered or trained by a non profit service dog agency.
I had that at the time on the dogs I had then. But have not done so with my current two.
Thoughts? or experience? 

[k1maplewd]

Regal was registered with NDR.  I never had any bad experience with them, it was easy to register with them (this was 13 years ago though). 

[responsiblek9]

  Well got a quick responce from NDR. Got confirmation they put both my SDs into the  tattoo database . In 4 to 6 weeks will get the new certificate of registration .  Not bad at all!
 

[Magesteff]

Responsiblek9, are any of your dogs microchipped? My pet dog and both my cats are and I have them registered with Home Again.

[Amber]

Okay, this might be a silly question - but how do you tattoo a dog?  Where do you do it?  I've tattooed rabbits, tagged cavies, microchipped dogs, and owned a tattooed horse (actually she was burned on her neck so it was white, but I've also seen horses tattooed on their upper lip), but never tattooed dogs.  What is the process?  What do you use?  I'm really curious now! 

[responsiblek9]

 
No, I  had problems with  the chips migrating and had one get erased by the service dog being too close to an MRI. Was on the following vet visit a week later when I found out magnets can erase a chip. Oops.
 I get MRIs a lot.
So quit using the chips and just stuck to visible tattoos in ears and on the belly along with flat brass ID plates on their gear and collars. I was enthusiastic when the chips first came out. But with all the problems I had with them, decided not worth the headache.
 
I use the biothane collars and never take them off when bathing a dog because they don't absorb water and can be wiped while still on the dog.
Seems many people forget to put collars back on their dogs after a bath .

[responsiblek9]

  You can get a vet to tattoo the dog when the dog is knocked out for their OFA hip xrays. They can use a small animal livestock tattoo pliers, or a tattoo needle. 

[Spectrum]

I don't know of any places around here that tattoo dogs. I know the humane society tattoos their dogs that they alter themselves, but they just put a little line on the belly (people ask us all the time why they can't get the pen mark off their dog, and why there is a pen mark in the first place). But nobody around here actually tattoos dogs anymore.


Mine are chipped, but I do check them regularly to make sure their chips are still in place and working. I don't leave collars on my dogs. They're naked unless we go somewhere. Gavroche's skin gets irritated from collars, and a collar will mess up the coat on Logan's neck and he still needs to finish in conformation (breeder's contract). They also play pretty rough and I don't want them getting caught on eachother's collars.  I am thinking of getting their new collars engraved, though. They have a metal quick release buckle that would be perfect for engraving.

[Amber]

That is really interesting, I believe that no one around here tattoos dogs.  I've never heard of it anyway.  If I were to consider possibly tattooing Maigee (and I'm not, I'm asking this for the sake of the question because I really am curious), could I use my clamp style rabbit tattoo kit and india ink to tattoo her ear?  I'm thinking it would be much harder to do a dog because their ears (or at least Maigee's) are so thick.  That would also make seeing blood vessels far more difficult to see, increasing risk of hitting an artery.  I really don't think I could do it.  I've done hundreds of rabbits, but I don't know, a dog just seems different.

[responsiblek9]

  NDR may know who in your area tattooes. They also sometimes do tattoo clinics in various areas. Some vets do it and more than likely a livestock vet will.

[Amber]

At this time, I'm not actually seriously considering tattooing Maigee, I was just wondering if theoretically I could tattoo her with a rabbit clamp tattoo set.  Is it similar to what they use for dogs ears?  I'm not going to do it, if I were, I'd go to someone who had tattooed dogs before, but I'm wondering if I theorectically could do it.

[Sheenar]

Pebbles had a black line on her inner thigh (I guess a tattoo after her spay.) I've heard that you shouldn't tattoo a dog or cat on the ear, though. Too easy to remove an ear and remove the tattoo if dog or cat comes up missing. Inner thigh is recommended.

My 1st program dog (Pebbles) came microchipped and had that black line on her inner thigh. But we were never told about tattoos/that she had a tattoo. Just about the microchips and how they are registered in the program's name. I also had many MRIs while I had Pebbles, but she was never allowed in the room with me b/c of her harness, so I had to shut her in the dressing room or bring a back -up handler.
 I am wondering if the program will be ok with me tattooing my successor. I really feel more secure about a tattoo over a microchip (but will use both of them plus a regular ID tag.)

[state_of_nowhere]

At this time, I'm not actually seriously considering tattooing Maigee, I was just wondering if theoretically I could tattoo her with a rabbit clamp tattoo set.

I don't think anyone on here as tattooed their own dog using a set specifically designed for rabbits. I'd recommend doing your own research on the topic.

[LolaMarigolda]

I've seen hounds inked with the rabbit pliers.  It leaves the ear feeling funny.  I'm NOT a fan of ear ink because I have seen dogs that were stolen and recovered but missing the ear.  Since that is done more like a punch, it will take it longer to heal than one done with a regular tattoo gun and require more after care. 

We always do the left inner thigh (generally with the animal's registration number) with a regular human grade tattoo gun.  Scooter has been the only dog I've had sedated for it; the APBTs and the other hounds (Beagles and Walkers) were held by two people (one holding the head and shoulders and the other the back end and left leg) while the third applied the ink.  A dab of triple antibiotic ointment and off they go.  I used name brand Neosporin (with pain relief) on Scooter's and made sure he didn't lick it.  I treated it like it was mine, and his was healed in 3-4 days and never scabbed.

I had to call the Maryland Department of Agriculture to find a vet that would do it; most vets don't understand why someone would want "outdated" ink when "microchips are soo much better".  I pointed out that ink automatically means the dog can't end up as a lab subject.  I had to drive 90+miles to get it done.

Scooter is also chipped; the military requires a Home Again chip that not only gets put in the HA registry, but also the DOD one.  He also has an ISO chip, as required by Japan.  Both chips and his ink is registered with CAR too.  I'll have to check out the NDR and get his ink registered with them as well.  The more places, the better.

 

[Amber]

Thanks so much for all the great information, Lola!