• The microchip provides a permanent means of identification that remains in place.
• It cannot be altered or intentionally removed (without the services of a vet).
• A microchip with an identification code is implanted between the shoulder blades of the dog. It is about the size of a grain of rice.
• A licensed veterinarian or someone experienced (many breeders do this and help out at micro chipping fairs) should do the micro chipping.
• It is a simple procedure and is very similar to the administering of a vaccine. The chip is implanted under the skin between the shoulders of the dog. You cannot see the chip once it is implanted in the dog. Once implanted, any vet can read the chip I.D. number with a scanner.
• Some vets have scanners that are not universal but their scanner should still be able to indicate the presence of a chip so you can go to another location where they have a universal scanner.) Thus leading to the return of the dog. All reputable breeders microchip their puppies before they are sold. Long-term testing has shown that the microchip is safe for your dog.

Once the dog is chipped, you fill out a simple form that your veterinarian provides and send it in with a check, usually under $15.00, to register the chip number. The information is then entered in a database. Changes in dog ownership are easily updated in a registry's database.

Of course, all dogs should wear collar identification when not at home. There are a variety of dog tags ranging in price, and various types of tags such as the Pet Scope tags. Some people write their dogs information on a piece of tape inside the dogs collar. There are embroidered collars that you can put the dog's name and telephone number on. (Many people feel you should not include the dog's name since this is a piece of information which will assist you in proving ownership if a thief does not know the dog's name. This is a call you must make for yourself.) However, tags and collars can come off.

• Tattooing dogs is another means of dog identification. Tattooing can blur over time, making it very difficult to read and a tattoo can be altered.
• At Gunbil German Shepherd we tattoo our "show" dogs on the right ear as this  is acceptable in Germany and in most GSD clubs world-wide, the right ear is preferred for the implementation of the tattoo. 
• We are aware of dog's having their ears cut off by dog thieves in order to remove the identification but we must tattoo our dogs in order to show them in major dog shows around the world.