All About Microchipping Your Dog

Dog ownership comes with lots of responsibilities – and one of these is ensuring your puppy is microchipped according to the law in the UK. While this will often be done by your puppy’s breeder before they come to you, it is up to you to check this and then to make sure that you always keep their details up to date.

As well as complying with the law, having your puppy microchipped means that should they ever go missing, they have the very best chance of being found and safely returned to you as soon as possible – and if they cause any chaos, injury or damage if they escape or stray, you can be legally identified as their owner.

Keep reading to find out all about microchipping, how it works, and the current dog microchip legislation.

Is dog microchipping compulsory in the UK?

Yes, dog microchipping is compulsory in the UK. Since 2016, the law in England, Scotland, and Wales states that all dogs over eight weeks old must be microchipped and registered on one of the authorised databases. In Northern Ireland, microchipping is already one of the conditions of the dog license. Failure to comply can result in a fine of £500.

Under this law, it is the breeder’s responsibility, as the first keeper, to microchip their puppies by the time they are eight weeks old. They will then pass on the relevant paperwork to the new owner.

There are a few current exemptions to dog microchip laws:

• Health exemptions: If your vet feels that microchipping would have a negative effect on a puppy’s health - sometimes this can be the case in really tiny puppies. If this is the case, the breeder or first caregiver will have to get an exemption certificate with an expiry date, and the dog will need to be chipped before it runs out.
• Working dogs with docked tails: For these dogs, the microchipping time limit will be extended to 12 weeks, but there is no reason not to do it before then.

Your ongoing microchipping responsibilities as a dog owner

Once your dog is microchipped, the responsibility shifts to you, the owner, to ensure its effectiveness.

• Registering your details: you’ll need to ensure the microchip details are transferred into your name on an authorised database. The breeder or previous owner should provide you with the necessary paperwork to facilitate this transfer.
• Keeping details up to date: It is your legal responsibility to ensure that your dog’s microchip records are kept accurate. If your details change (e.g., if you move house, change phone numbers, or if ownership of the dog is transferred), you must update them on the microchip database. If these details are found to be outdated, you may face a fine. While the first change is often free, subsequent updates may incur an admin fee, depending on the database provider.

Are there other benefits to microchipping my dog?

As we said, your dog or puppy could go missing and there are many reasons why this may happen. They might get scared by another dog, a loud firework or rumble of thunder, or they may even become disoriented or distracted by a new environment – such as if you’re going on a new walk, are on holiday, or have just moved house. If the worst happens and your dog gets lost, a microchip can help to ensure that they’re returned to you safe and sound.

What is a dog microchip and how does it work?

A microchip is a tiny computer chip that’s about the size of a grain of rice. It contains a unique 15-digit identification code that corresponds to your dog’s details, which are logged in a national, authorised database. Along with this code, the database stores your contact information, including your name, address, and emergency telephone number.

If your dog is found lost or having escaped, a vet, police or rescue centre can scan the embedded microchip to find your details from the microchip database, so they can contact you to collect your pet.

How is a dog microchip implanted?

The microchip is inserted by a vet or a qualified microchipper, injected under your dog’s skin, typically between the shoulder blades.

The procedure only takes a matter of seconds and is relatively painless - the actual sensation is said to be similar to what we feel when we have our ears pierced. Once the microchip is in place, your puppy won’t even know it’s there!

What happens when our dog is found?

If your furry friend does wander off one day and is lucky enough to be found by the police, a dog warden or ends up at a rescue centre, all they have to do is use a scanning device to check if your dog’s is microchip. The scan doesn’t cause any additional stress to your dog and is completely pain free.

With a quick scan, they’ll be able to find your unique 15-digit code as well as details of the microchip database your dog is registered with. 

From here they can find out your contact details and aim to reunite you as soon as possible.

Want to find out more about your new puppy? Read all about what to expect on your puppy’s first visit to the vet.

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