Microchipping Your Doodle

What is microchipping?

A needle is used to place a little chip under the dog's skin, usually between the shoulder blades. That chip has a unique number on it that can be picked up and read by a scanner.

How long does it take?

It takes the same amount of time it takes to give any injection. It takes seconds. It takes more time to do the paperwork than implant the microchip.

Is it painful to my dog?

It hurts about as much as having blood drawn. It’s a large needle. There’s a pinch. But we've seen a lot of our puppies not even flinch when it happens.

What does it cost?

Typical cost is about $50. However, we cover that cost for all or our new puppy owners. We want our puppies to have the best protection against the possibility of separation.

How will it help me get my dog back if he is lost?

If your dog is picked up by your local animal control or by a good hearted person and they take him/her to a shelter or veterinarian’s office, they will be scanned for a chip. Some people think chips are like a tracker or a GPS device, but a microchip only works if someone scans the chip.

Once they get the chip’s number, and the company that made the chip, they’ll contact that company to find the owner. And that’s one of the most important things people need to remember - the chip is only as good as the registration. A lot of people think, “OK, I’ve got this in. I’m done.” But if your registration isn’t submitted and then kept current, it’s useless. If you move or you change your phone numbers, you have to update that information.

Do all shelters scan for microchips when they find a dog?

All shelters should scan any pet that comes in for microchips and they should do so with a universal scanner. 

If my dog is micro-chipped, does he/she need a tag, too?

Pet owners also need to understand that a microchip is only one part of your pet’s identification system. Your pet also should have a collar with tags on it. 

You can’t just assume the person who finds your pet will know anything about microchips. They might just keep your pet or give away your pet. But if your phone number is right there, everyone knows what to do with that. And honestly, that’s the most important thing you need to have on there. They don’t need to know your pet’s name. They don’t need your address. They just need to know how to contact you if they’ve got your pet. And make it a number with a voicemail.

Does the U.S. use a different frequency chip than other countries? Does that mean if I take my pet to another country, their scanners won’t read his chip?

The U.S. and Canada use the same frequency scanners. Europe uses a 134.2 kilohertz chip. In this country we’ve used 125 and 128 kilohertz chips, although some companies now are implanting the European frequency chips as well. And there are scanners now that can pick up all three. But it’s so important to be sure your shelters can read whatever chip you have implanted.

And if you take your pet abroad, you need to check each country’s requirements. Many have regulations about not just the type of chip, but when it’s implanted.