From: saavik@mentor.cc.purdue.edu (Marla Belzowski (K-9's))
Newsgroups: rec.pets.dogs
Subject: Re: Need Help in Finding Stolen Puppy
Date: 8 Apr 92 19:49:43 GMT
Organization: Purdue University

In article <167C38F91.X005CB@tamvm1.tamu.edu> X005CB@tamvm1.tamu.edu (Chris Barnes) writes:
>In article <44255@mentor.cc.purdue.edu>
>    saavik@mentor.cc.purdue.edu (Marla Belzowski (K-9's)) writes:
>> depending on the number of dogs you do.  It's not that hard to
>> use, but it does take some practice to get nice looking numbers
>> and letters.  NDR--National Dog Regestry is my prefered group.
>> You can contact them at 1-800-NDR-DOGS and ask for the closest
>> tattooer in your area.
> 
> 
>Some more questions:
>1)  Do you have any suggestions on something to practice on
>    (a piece of leather, an orange, etc)?
>    I doubt the club would be willing to pay a person to do the
>    tattooing.

I used a few sheets of paper to practice a few times.  I also used
my own wrist (without the ink) for practice.  I think somthing like
a banana or apple with a thin skin would probably work ok too.
The real practice comes when you do the real thing.  It's usually
not very pretty the first time, so I put it in an area where the black
hairs covered the tattoo pretty well.  The second time was a lot better.

>2)  Is it painful to the dog (ie.  will we need to hold the dog
>    down)?  I can't imagine that there are many dogs that would
>    just lie there and let it happen if it's uncomfortable.

Well, I did Mauii first, but I didn't finish it immediately because I was
leaking ink all over the place.  I tried Wolfie later while he was
sleeping on the floor.  He woke up when I turned the tattooer on (it
runs on a little battery so it soundly like a loud electric razor),
but went back to sleep after I started.  Apparently, he didn't think
it hurt (and this is the same "big-baby" that cries if he hurts himself
playing.)  Mauii didn't like the noise, but I held her for a bit, while
I put the first set of numbers on.  After a bit she calmed down and
let me finish the whole thing.  I also did it on my wrist.  It only
feels like a razor burn to me.  The tattooer is like a mini-hand sewing
machine.  The little thick looking needle goes up -and-down very quickly
but not very deeply.  Just about I'd guess 3-5 mm.  It is adjustable.
I try not to draw any blood when I do it, and the mark is deep enough to
be perminant.  You do need to clean the tattooer and skin with rubbing
alcohol before starting to make sure you don't cause an infection.
I also use a little "benzocaid" (I'm not sure how to spell this).
It's for minor tooth aches and braces pain.  It's like novicane.
It has an alcohol base with only about 2% benzocaid.  It does a
really good job of just numbing the area for a little while.  I couldn't
feel my lips for two hours when I just barly touched them to get the hair
(my hair) out of my face.

>3)  Do we need to shave the hair off of the area to be tattooed?

I shave off just the part where I'm tattoing.  It's not very large really
and in the inside of the thigh, you can even see it once your done.
I put the tattoo where the hair is light and thin anyway so I don't
trim it afterwards because you can see some strange little black marks
through the hair and this would cause anyone who found my dog to
look a bit closer.  Also, if a vet was checking for spaying scars,
they would immediately see it.


>4)  What number do you tattoo on (AKC number?)?

I'm using both my social security number for the NDR registry and
the AKC registration number (smaller sized) under it.   
like this:

       SS 307-99-9999
       AKC DC12345

That way I fit both the AKC requirement to have perminant ID on my
dogs and I only have to register my Social Sec. number once with NDR
for $35 dollars and all my dogs can have the same number on them.

Also, this way if someone finds my dog and doesn't know any tattoo
registry place's phone number, they can call the license Dept. and
get my address from my drivers license.


-----------------------------------------
Marla Belzowski   saavik@mentor.cc.purdue.edu
Mauii Nikki Belzowski CD CGC TDI CERF
Brittish Legend of Beowulf (1leg CD) CGC TDI CERF  tri-color collies
Newsgroups: rec.pets.dogs