Make the right
details count.

What each form of identification does.

England.

Dogs must be microchipped and registered on a compliant database by eight weeks old, with the keeper’s details kept current. GOV.UK also says a dog must wear a collar and tag showing the keeper’s name and address in a public place. Ask for proof of the chip when taking on a dog and complete the database transfer promptly.

Scotland.

Microchipping a dog by eight weeks and keeping the record current are legal requirements. A veterinary exemption may apply in limited circumstances, and the signed certificate should be retained and passed on if ownership changes. Local authority rules can also affect where dogs may be exercised or required to be on a lead.

Wales.

Welsh Government guidance confirms the UK-wide eight-week microchipping requirement and highlights wider responsibilities: meeting a dog’s welfare needs, managing anti-social behaviour, taking care around livestock and complying with dangerous-dog law. The practical rule is to check the current Welsh Government and local authority position rather than assume that a rule from another nation applies.

Northern Ireland.

A dog must be microchipped by eight weeks and before an owner applies for a dog licence. Domestic pet dogs must be licensed individually; the licence normally lasts 12 months. The current nidirect guidance gives the standard licence fee as £12.50, with concessions and exceptions in specified circumstances. Check your council’s process before relying on a local fee or exemption.

Republic of Ireland.

A dog licence is required for dogs kept in the Republic of Ireland. Microchipping and registration are also important identification duties, particularly when a dog is bought, sold, transferred or travelling. Check the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and your local authority for the current licence route, approved database requirements and any situation-specific rules.

When ownership changes.

1. Ask for the chip number and proof. A certificate, veterinary record or database confirmation is more useful than a verbal assurance.
2. Have the dog scanned. A vet, dog warden or rescue centre can usually scan a chip if the number is unclear.
3. Transfer the record. Contact the database promptly and check that your name, address, telephone number and email are correct.
4. Check the visible tag. Replace worn, unreadable or loose tags and make sure the collar fits safely.
5. Check local requirements. A licence, lead restriction, housing rule or travel document may sit alongside identification duties.

Do not publish a dog’s microchip number or your full personal details online. Send them only to the relevant database, veterinary practice, local authority or other trusted service when necessary.

Identification is not a guarantee of safety.

Keep doors, gates and transport secure; use a lead or long line where appropriate; and follow local rules around livestock, roads, wildlife and other people. Microchipping improves the chance of reunification, but it does not prevent a dog escaping, being stolen or causing harm.