Identification: what are the requirements?

Your dog knows his name. But for the official databases he also has an identification number! This number makes it possible to recognise the animal and trace the keeper’s contact details.

Identification applies to every dog: LOF (the French stud book) or not, ring champions or sofa companions.

When is it compulsory?

MyDogShow tip: remember two situations in which your dog’s identification cannot wait:

• Before any sale or gift, whatever the dog’s age. Identification is the responsibility of the person handing the dog over.
• For any dog over four months old, even if it stays with the person who bred it and is never handed over.

A puppy given away at three months must therefore be identified before joining its new family: you don’t wait until he is four months old.

Microchip or tattoo: how does it work?

In France, identification can be done by electronic microchip or tattoo, using approved methods.

The microchip is placed under the skin by a vet. It contains a unique number, usually fifteen digits long, which can be read with a scanner. The tattoo carries a visible code, notably in the ear. These details are recorded in the French national I-CAD database.

The tag on the collar is useful, but it does not replace official identification. It can also come off along with the collar.

Contact details must follow the dog’s life

Identification must make it possible to reach the right person. So check the following in your I-CAD account:

• Your name and contact details.
• Your telephone number and email address.
• Your address after a move.

You can also declare a temporary address, for example during the holidays or when the dog is left with someone else.

When a dog is sold, adopted or given away, the change of keeper must be declared to I-CAD. The previous keeper can do this from their online account; the new keeper is then given access to the dog’s identification card.

And at a dog show?

The identification number links the dog being shown to his documents. Before filling in the entry, copy it carefully: two digits swapped can create an inconsistency in the file.

MyDogShow tip: microchip or tattoo, make sure your dog’s identification can be checked easily on the day of the show or of a confirmation. A tattoo must remain perfectly legible.

Identification and LOF: two numbers, two roles

An identified dog is not automatically registered in the LOF. Identification and recording of a dog’s ancestry are two separate procedures.

Beginner — three tips to get started

1. Check the identification as soon as the dog arrives. Don’t settle for a number appearing in an advert.
2. Look at your I-CAD account. Make sure the dog is linked to your contact details.
3. Keep his card accessible. Download it and prepare the documents the show asks for.

Intermediate — three tips before a show

1. Compare the numbers on your documents. The I-CAD card, birth certificate or pedigree, and the entry must all match.
2. Have the reading checked if you have any doubt. Use a vet visit to check the microchip or the legibility of the tattoo.
3. Update your phone number before travelling. You must be reachable if your dog gets lost.

Advanced — three tips for planning ahead

1. Check the rules of the country where the show is held. For travel, a tattoo is only accepted under certain conditions, notably if it was done before 3 July 2011.
2. Check the file of an imported dog. A foreign identification must go through the applicable French registration procedures.
3. Sort out errors before the closing date. Contact the relevant body as soon as a reference doesn’t match.

Sources

• I-CAD: identification of dogs and cats (PDF, in French)
• I-CAD: French national identification database (in French)
• European Union (Your Europe): travelling with pets in the EU