Microchip FAQ

What is a microchip?
A pet microchip is a tiny computer chip that’s about the size of a grain of rice. It contains a unique code that matches up to your pet’s details.

Microchipping a dog is a quick and simple procedure. The chip is inserted under a dog’s skin, usually around the scruff of the neck, using a needle. It takes seconds.

Dogs can be checked for a microchip using a handheld electronic device, called a scanner. When this is waved over the dog’s neck, the scanner will recognise the unique information held inside the chip.

Why should I get my dog microchipped?
A microchip is a permanent form of identification. As long as the details are kept up to date, you can always be contacted if your dog goes missing.

How old does my dog have to be to be chipped?
Dogs can be microchipped at any age, but it’s more comfortable for puppies if they’re at least seven weeks old before being chipped.

Under the new microchipping law that came into effect on 6 April 2016, all dogs and puppies must be microchipped and registered by the age of eight weeks.

Will microchipping hurt my dog?
Microchipping is a quick procedure but it does involve a needle so is likely to be uncomfortable for your dog for a few seconds. However, many dogs don’t even notice!

If you think your dog or puppy has had a reaction to a microchip, contact your vet straight away.

What’s the law on dog microchipping?
Since 6 April 2016, all dogs in England, Scotland and Wales must be microchipped.

As of that date, owners of dogs and puppies over the age of eight weeks must also have registered their pet’s microchip details on one of the authorised databases. These databases are run by private companies, and not by the government or the council.

Dog owners are also required to keep their pet’s details up to date with the database under the new law.

As well as being microchipped, it is still a legal requirement for dogs to wear a collar and tag with the owner’s name and address on it when in a public place.

Owners who do not get their dog microchipped and registered with an approved database face a fine of up to £500 if caught.

The only exception to this law for pet dogs are those who a vet believes should not be chipped for health reasons.

If you rehome your dog to someone else, you must give the new owner the correct microchip registration paperwork so that they can contact the database and register as the dog’s new owner.

Will my new puppy be microchipped before I take them home?

Puppies must be microchipped before they go to their new homes under the new law that came into effect on 6 April 2016.

The breeder should be the first registered keeper of the puppy – they are breaking the law if they do not register the puppy by the time he or she is eight weeks old. Breeders should also pass on correct microchip paperwork to the new owner when the puppy goes home.

If you are buying a small or toy breed, such as a Chihuahua, a vet may decide it’s better to wait to get the puppy chipped when they are older and bigger. If this is the case, the breeder must give you a certificate signed by a vet to prove this instead of the certificate of registration. However, there is really no reason for small breeds not to be chipped; kittens are frequently chipped from as young as eight weeks, and they are much smaller than small breed dogs.

Is my dog’s microchip proof of ownership?
No. Under the new Microchipping of Dogs (England) Regulations legislation, the person who primarily cares for the dog and keeps them in their home is called a ‘keeper’, not an ‘owner’.

The dog’s microchip must be registered to the ‘keeper’, who may not always be the owner.

How do I check if my dog’s microchip details are up to date?
When you get your dog microchipped you should receive confirmation from the database your dog’s details are registered with. To check if your dog’s details are correct, simply contact the database that holds the details on your dog’s chip.

If you don’t have a certificate of registration or other type of confirmation from the microchip database, you can check which database the chip is registered to at www.check-a-chip.co.uk

How do I change my dog’s microchip details?
If you move and have a change of address or name, don’t forget to update your dog’s details too.

To do this, get in touch with the database that holds your dog’s details. Depending on which database your dog is registered with, you might be able to do this over the phone or online, or you may have to do so by post.

If you don’t keep your details up to date, the chances of you being reunited with your pet if they go missing significantly decrease. Don’t run the risk of never seeing your dog again.