Why Dog Tattoos Are Restricted in Many Countries

1 Overview

If you follow dog shows often, you’ll notice many show dogs also have tattoos – but these are uniformly tiny and placed where they’re hard to spot.

Why is that? Do show dogs get some special privilege?

Tattoos on purebred dogs

In fact, even today many countries and regions still tattoo purebred dogs. This helps ensure a puppy can’t be secretly swapped for another after it grows up, and protects the buyer’s interests.

Why not just microchip them? A chip is certainly a good option, but every year plenty of dogs have rejection reactions to implanted chips, so tattoos are the more conservative and safer choice by comparison.

On closer look, a purebred’s tattoo is usually a set of numbers and codes, placed in discreet spots like the inner thigh, inside the ear, or the armpit.

In other words, purebred tattoos were born of necessity under earlier circumstances, and even today they exist only to ‘keep the bloodline from being tampered with’ and ‘protect the buyer’s rights.’

What’s more, there are clear rules on timing: generally at 6 weeks for standard breeds and 9 weeks for toy breeds.

Many animal-welfare groups abroad actually recommend tattooing dogs – but only a small set of numbers and a small symbol, never any decorative design meant for show.