As well as being a legal requirement, microchipping your dog can give you the best chance of being reunited with your canine companion if they go missing.
If you have a dog, it’s vital that you get them microchipped – and ensure the details on their chip are kept up to date. And if you haven’t yet microchipped your dog, we encourage you to arrange this as soon as possible, especially if you own an XL Bully.
Read on for more information about microchipping, and get in touch with our friendly team if you need advice.
A microchip is a small electronic chip which is implanted under the dog’s skin. It’s around the size of a grain of rice, and contains a unique number that can be read by a scanner. This links to the dog owner’s contact details on a national database. So if your dog ever goes missing or is stolen, the authorities can return them to you as quickly and safely as possible. For these reasons, it’s vital that your details on the microchip are kept up to date.
A microchip is only useful if the details on it are accurate and up to date. If you change your phone number or move home, for example, you should contact your microchip database provider to let them know.
Sadly, thousands of dogs go missing every year and many aren’t reunited with their owners because their tag and chip details aren’t up to date. The good news is, it’s simple to update your dog’s microchip. You can do it online, by telephone or by post – depending on which database your chip is registered to. There will be a charge for this which varies across microchip database providers.
Not sure who your microchip provider is? Just contact one of the below databases to find out. They’ll be able to tell you who you’re registered with. Alternatively, you could try check-a-chip.co.uk. And if you don’t know your dog’s microchip number, you’ll need to have your dog scanned at a vet clinic.
The following databases have been approved by the Scottish Government for use in Scotland:
Contact a local vet for more details.
The microchip is injected through a sterile needle under the dog’s skin between the shoulder blades. A specially designed implanting device is used for this procedure, which must be carried out by someone with the appropriate training.
No, rest assured that microchipping won’t hurt your dog. There’s no anaesthetic required and the procedure should cause no more discomfort than a standard vaccination.
If a stray dog is found with a microchip, the local authority, vet practice or animal welfare organisation will contact the national 24-hour database to find the owner’s details. The owner can then be contacted and reunited with their dog.
Since 6 April 2016, all dogs have been required by law to be microchipped, before they reach eight weeks old. The chip needs to be linked to the owner’s current contact information to be compliant.
As well as being microchipped, your dog will still need to wear a collar and tag that states the name and address of their owner when in a public place.
If you’ve bought a puppy from a breeder, it’s important that you apply for a transfer of keepership and register the puppy’s microchip details to your name and address. You’ll need to contact the correct microchip database to change the details.
All breeders of puppies are required by law to microchip and register their own details prior to sale.
The microchip must initially be registered to the breeder. It’s against the law for the breeder to offer to chip and register directly into your name.
Yes, you may have to pay a fee every time you update your contact details, but you could save money in the long-run with premium services which are offered by most databases. Contact your provider for more information.
All dogs aged eight weeks and over need to be microchipped. The microchip must have been implanted into your dog and your details recorded on an approved database. If you haven’t fulfilled these two requirements, you may be served a notice giving you 21 days to comply.
By not complying with the notice, you could face a fine of up to £500 on conviction. Alternatively, an enforcer, such as a dog warden, may seize your dog, microchip them, register their details and then recover the cost from you.
If you need more advice, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
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