Why Every Dog Needs a Microchip and Why Keeping Your Details Updated Matters

If your dog went missing today, could someone contact you?

It’s a simple question, but one worth asking.

Perhaps you’ve moved house, changed your mobile number or adopted a rescue dog whose microchip details are still linked to a previous keeper.

Or perhaps your dog has a microchip, but their collar tag has worn out, become unreadable, or disappeared altogether.

I’m Del, and I’ve been providing professional one-to-one dog walking and pet care around Finchley and North London since 2011.

During that time, I’ve cared for puppies, rescue dogs, nervous dogs and plenty of dogs who would normally never dream of leaving their owners.

But even a reliable dog can become frightened by fireworks, a sudden noise, an open gate or an unexpected encounter.

A microchip and correctly labelled identification collar are two simple protections that work together to help reunite a lost dog with their family.

In this guide, I’ll explain what UK law requires, how microchips work, what should appear on an identification tag, how to update your dog’s details and what to consider when somebody else is caring for your dog.

This article provides general information about pet identification and legal responsibilities. For current legal requirements, always refer to the official government guidance linked below.

Dog microchips and ID tags: the quick answer

In the UK:

• Dogs must generally be microchipped and registered on a compliant database by eight weeks old, subject to limited exemptions.
• Keep microchip contact details up to date.
• In England, dogs in public places must generally wear a collar displaying the owner’s name and address, either on the collar itself or on an attached tag.
• A telephone number is useful, but it doesn’t replace the legally required name and address.
• A microchip isn’t a GPS tracker.
• A microchip doesn’t replace a collar and identification tag.
• When you adopt, buy or rehome a dog, check that the microchip registration is transferred to the correct keeper.

You can check the current requirements on GOV.UK: Get Your Dog or Cat Microchipped.

My recommendation is simple.

Use both forms of identification, keep the information accurate and check it regularly.

What is a dog microchip?

A microchip is a small electronic device implanted beneath the dog’s skin by a trained professional.

It contains a unique identification number.

When an appropriate scanner reads the microchip, the number can be used to locate the dog’s registration details on a compliant microchip database.

The registered information can help an authorised person contact the dog’s keeper.

Veterinary practices, dog wardens, and rescue organisations commonly scan microchips.

Does a microchip contain your address?

The microchip itself stores an identification number, not your full household records.

The registration database associated with that number holds your contact information.

That is why keeping the database record accurate matters.

Can a microchip track your dog?

No.

A standard identification microchip is not a GPS tracker.

It cannot show you where your dog is walking, send you their location or alert you when they leave the garden.

You need to scan the chip to check the associated registration information.

GPS tracking devices are different products, usually involving a separate device, batteries and sometimes a subscription.

They may provide additional information in suitable circumstances, but they don’t replace legally required identification.

For more information, read the Dogs Trust guide to microchipping.

Is microchipping compulsory for dogs in the UK?

Yes.

Dogs throughout the UK must generally be microchipped and registered by eight weeks of age, subject to the relevant legal exemptions.

You must keep the information up to date.

In England, noncompliance can result in enforcement action and a fine of up to £500.

If your dog cannot be microchipped because of a medical concern, speak to your vet about the relevant exemption procedures.

Don’t decide that microchipping is unnecessary just because your dog is old, nervous, or rarely leaves home.

Who is responsible for the microchip record?

The registered keeper must ensure the information is correct.

In England, the keeper is generally the person with whom the dog normally resides.

The microchip record is not, by itself, conclusive proof of legal ownership.

This distinction can matter when a dog is rehomed or when there is a disagreement about ownership.

The Blue Cross guide to microchipping explains the difference between microchip registration and proof of ownership.

How do you find your dog’s microchip number?

You may find the number in:

• Your dog’s original microchip certificate.
• Veterinary records.
• Adoption or rehoming paperwork.
• Documents provided by the breeder.
• Registration correspondence from the microchip database.
• Relevant insurance paperwork.

Keep a secure record of the number alongside your dog’s other important information.

If you cannot find it, ask your veterinary practice to scan your dog.

A vet, dog warden or rescue organisation may also be able to help you identify the number.

Don’t buy a new microchip simply because you’ve lost the paperwork.

First establish whether your dog is already chipped.

How do you check which database your dog is registered with?

Every dog owner should know this.

A microchip only helps somebody contact you if the registration can be found and the details are correct.

Start by locating the microchip number.

Then use the official GOV.UK microchipping guidance, which provides an up-to-date list of compliant databases.

The government also links to a microchip-number checking service that can help identify the relevant database.

Once you know where your dog is registered, contact that provider to check your details.

What information should you check?

At a minimum, confirm:

• Your registered name.
• Your current address.
• Your main telephone number.
• Any additional telephone number.
• Your email address, where recorded.
• Your dog’s name and identification details.
• Any permitted secondary emergency contact.
• Whether the correct keeper is registered.

Some databases charge a fee for updating information.

Check the provider’s current terms rather than assuming updates are always free or that you must purchase an additional subscription.

What if your details are wrong?

Contact the registered database and follow its updating process.

Don’t assume that changing your address with your vet automatically changes the microchip database.

These may be completely separate records.

If you’ve moved house, changed phone numbers or adopted a dog, checking the microchip details should be one of your first administrative tasks.

When should you update your dog’s microchip details?

I would check the record whenever there’s a meaningful change.

When you move house

Update the address promptly.

A missing dog may be found close to your new home, but an outdated address can delay contact.

When you change telephone numbers

Your mobile number may be the quickest way for somebody to reach you.

Make sure the registered number is one you actually use.

When you adopt or rehome a dog

Don’t assume the microchip has been transferred correctly.

The dog may still be registered to a breeder, previous keeper or rescue organisation.

Ask for the microchip details and follow the provider’s transfer process.

When your emergency contact changes

If the database supports a secondary contact, check that the person is still willing and able to help.

When your personal circumstances change

If family or household arrangements change, make sure the keeper details remain correct.

During an annual pet-care review

Even if nothing has changed, a quick annual check is worthwhile.

I would make it part of the same routine as reviewing insurance, veterinary contacts and emergency pet-care arrangements.

Why does your dog still need a collar and identification tag?

A microchip is important, but someone who finds your dog may not have access to a scanner.

A visible identification tag can provide an immediate way to contact you.

Imagine your dog slips through an open garden gate.

A neighbour finds them at the end of the road.

If your contact details are clearly displayed, the situation may be resolved with a quick telephone call.

Without visible identification, the person may need to arrange for the dog to be scanned.

That can take longer, particularly outside normal working hours.

What does the law say?

Under the Control of Dogs Order 1992, dogs in public places in England must generally wear a collar displaying the owner’s name and address, either directly on the collar or on an attached plate or badge.

There are limited exceptions for certain working and other specified dogs.

A microchip does not remove this requirement.

What should you put on a dog tag?

I would include:

• The owner’s name.
• The owner’s address.
• A current telephone number, where space permits.

For example:

D Chambers
12 Example Road
London N2 0XX
07XXX XXXXXX

The details above are fictional and are for illustration only.

The telephone number is useful for quick contact, but the name and address are legally required.

Should you put your dog’s name on the tag?

That’s a personal choice.

It isn’t a legal requirement.

Some owners prefer to use the space for another contact number.

Others prefer not to display the dog’s name publicly.

Whatever you choose, make sure the legally required details are present and readable.

Choosing a suitable identification tag

You don’t need an expensive identification system.

A simple, durable tag can do the job very well.

I would look for:

• Clearly engraved information.
• Legible lettering.
• A suitable size for the dog.
• A secure attachment.
• A design unlikely to catch unnecessarily on objects.
• Materials appropriate for normal use.
• Enough space for the required details.

Engraved metal tags

These are a straightforward option.

Check that the engraving remains readable and that the attachment ring hasn’t become loose or worn.

Collar-mounted identification plates

Some owners prefer identification plates attached directly to a collar.

These can avoid a dangling tag, although the attachment must be secure and the information readable.

Make sure the collar and plate suit your dog.

QR-code tags

Some identification products offer QR codes that connect to an online profile.

These may provide additional information, but I wouldn’t rely on a QR code alone to meet the legal requirement.

Someone who finds your dog may not be able or willing to scan it.

The required name and address should still be clearly displayed.

My recommendation

I’d choose a simple, durable, correctly fitted collar with clear identification.

Check the tag regularly.

If the engraving becomes unreadable, replace it.

For more advice on comfortable walking equipment, read my Dog Leads and Harnesses Buying Guide.

That guide includes selected equipment recommendations and clearly identified affiliate links.

Should your dog wear a collar if they walk on a harness?

Yes, you can wear a suitable identification collar alongside a walking harness.

I use properly fitted harnesses for many of the dogs I walk.

They’re often appropriate for comfortable, secure handling.

But a harness doesn’t automatically replace the identification collar required in public places.

I would also avoid relying solely on a tag attached to a removable walking harness.

If you take the harness off, the identification goes with it.

Some owners use an appropriately fitted flat collar for identification and a separate harness for walking.

As always, check the fit and suitability for your individual dog.

A collar should not be used in a way that creates unnecessary discomfort, strangulation or entrapment risk.

Equipment for very small dogs, puppies and animals with particular medical concerns may need individual consideration.

What about nervous and rescue dogs?

Identification is particularly important when a dog is unfamiliar with its surroundings.

A newly adopted rescue dog may be frightened by traffic, unfamiliar people or sudden noises.

Some dogs try to escape when overwhelmed.

Others may slip backwards out of an unsuitable harness or react unpredictably when startled.

Before bringing a rescue dog home, I would check:

• The microchip registration.
• The identification collar.
• Harness fit.
• Lead and clip condition.
• Garden and gate security.
• The journey home.
• Who will handle the dog.
• Whether additional properly fitted safety equipment is needed.

No harness should automatically be described as escape-proof.

A dog with a history of escaping may need an individual safety arrangement agreed with the rescue organisation or an experienced professional.

My Rescue Dog Support Hub explains how I approach calm, one-to-one care for nervous and newly adopted dogs.

For the settling-in period, also read my New Dog Transition Guide.

Should your dog wear your house sitter’s identification tag?

This is a question worth considering when somebody else is looking after your dog.

If you’re away on holiday and your dog escapes, the person providing care may be the person who can respond most quickly.

A temporary additional contact tag displaying the sitter’s telephone number may be useful, provided everyone has agreed, and the arrangement is safe.

However, I would not remove the dog’s normal legally required identification and replace it with a tag showing only the sitter’s details.

Your dog’s normal tag should continue to display the required owner’s name and address.

The additional tag can provide another way to make contact.

What should you agree with your sitter?

Before leaving, discuss:

• Whether your dog will wear an additional contact tag.
• Which telephone numbers should be used.
• Whether the microchip information is current.
• Who to contact first if the dog escapes.
• How quickly the owner can be reached.
• What the sitter should do immediately.
• Whether the sitter has suitable handling equipment.
• How the dog normally reacts to unfamiliar people and noises.

A professional carer should also know where your dog’s veterinary information and emergency contacts are kept.

If your dog is particularly nervous, reactive or likely to escape, it’s important to discuss these risks before the booking.

My Pet and House Sitting Service is based on maintaining suitable routines in the animal’s familiar home.

I work with one household at a time and agree practical care arrangements before a house sit begins.

What should you do if your dog goes missing?

First, stay as calm as possible and act promptly.

What you should do will depend on where your dog disappeared and the circumstances.

Useful immediate steps include:

1. Contact your local council’s dog warden service.
2. Contact your dog’s microchip database and report them missing.
3. Notify nearby veterinary practices and appropriate rescue organisations.
4. Contact trusted people who can help.
5. Share a recent photograph and clear description.
6. Check familiar areas where it is safe to do so.
7. Keep a reliable contact number available.
8. Update the relevant organisations once you find your dog.

If your dog is frightened, avoid creating a dangerous chase or encouraging untrained people to pursue them.

Seek useful advice for the circumstances.

The Dogs Trust guide to finding a lost dog provides more detail.

You can also use GOV.UK to find your council’s missing-dog service.

If you believe your dog has been stolen rather than lost, report the suspected theft to the police and notify the microchip database.

Keep recent photographs

I encourage owners to do this.

Make sure you have a recent, clear photograph that shows your dog’s appearance and identifying features.

A picture from several years ago may not accurately show an older dog or a puppy who has grown considerably.

Don’t publish your full microchip number, home-security information or other unnecessary private details in public lost-dog notices.

Fireworks, storms and other escape risks

Even a dog who normally stays close to home may panic when frightened.

Fireworks, thunderstorms, strong winds, unexpected bangs and unfamiliar situations can all create additional escape risks.

During times when your dog may be worried:

• Check doors and windows.
• Secure garden gates.
• Inspect fencing.
• Keep identification up to date.
• Use appropriate walking equipment.
• Avoid unnecessary exposure to frightening situations.
• Make sure visitors understand the door arrangements.
• Provide a comfortable, safe place to rest.

Don’t assume that a GPS device or identification tag can make an unsafe situation acceptable.

Preventing escape remains the priority.

For more information, visit my Seasonal Pet Safety Hub.

What about GPS dog trackers?

GPS devices may offer an additional way of checking a dog’s location.

Some owners find them useful, particularly when travelling or exercising dogs in suitable open areas.

However, there are limitations.

A GPS tracker may depend on:

• Battery power.
• Mobile network coverage.
• Subscription payments.
• The device remaining securely attached.
• The tracking system’s accuracy and limitations.

The device may also become detached or stop working.

A GPS tracker does not replace a microchip, identification collar, secure lead or sensible escape prevention.

I would be cautious about buying a tracker simply because its advertising promises peace of mind.

Look at the actual features, reliability, suitability and ongoing cost.

My current recommended product register treats GPS tracking as a possible future buying-guide topic rather than an approved direct affiliate recommendation.

Do cats also need to be microchipped?

Yes, in England.

Owned cats must generally be microchipped and registered before they reach 20 weeks of age, including indoor cats, subject to the applicable rules and exemptions.

The rules differ in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, where cat microchipping is currently voluntary.

Microchipping is still worth considering for cats even where it isn’t compulsory.

Unlike dogs, cats do not have the same general legal requirement to wear an identification collar.

Any cat collar should fit properly and be designed to release safely if caught.

For official information, visit GOV.UK’s dog and cat microchipping guidance.

For more everyday cat-care advice, read my Cat Care Advice Hub.

Include identification in your emergency pet-care plan

Include your dog’s microchip number and registration details in their emergency information.

If you were unexpectedly taken into hospital, delayed overnight or unable to return home, another person might need to arrange care.

They should know:

• Your dog’s name and description.
• Where the microchip information is recorded.
• Who the emergency contacts are.
• Which veterinary practice your dog uses.
• Where you keep their harness and lead.
• What to do if the dog escapes.
• Any relevant handling or behaviour concerns.

My Emergency Pet Care Plan Guide explains how to prepare this information for dogs, cats and other household pets.

It’s a particularly important step for people who live alone or have pets requiring regular medication or specialist routines.

Would you like help preparing for a new pet?

If you’re bringing home your first dog, adopting a rescue animal or reviewing your pet-care arrangements, I offer a Pet and Home Readiness Visit in Finchley.

The standard visit costs £75 per household and includes up to 60 minutes in your home and a personalised written checklist.

We can discuss practical arrangements such as:

• Identification and emergency records.
• Door and gate security.
• Suitable walking equipment.
• Your pet’s normal routine.
• Emergency contacts.
• Medication information.
• Preparing for a future pet sitter.

It’s a practical pet-care preparation service, not a veterinary examination or professional security inspection.

For suitable local owners, I also offer Solo One-to-One Dog Walks, Rescue Dog Support and Pet and House Sitting.

Contact me about practical pet-care support in Finchley.

Your dog identification checklist

This is a quick check worth repeating regularly.

Microchip

• My dog has a microchip, unless a valid exemption applies.
• I know the microchip number.
• I know which compliant database holds the registration.
• The correct keeper is registered.
• The address is current.
• The telephone number is correct.
• Any additional contact information is current.
• I know how to report my dog missing.

Collar and identification tag

• My dog has a suitable identification collar.
• The tag displays the legally required name and address.
• A useful contact telephone number is included where practical.
• The engraving is readable.
• The attachment is secure.
• The collar fits comfortably.
• Identification remains suitable when the walking harness is removed.

Emergency preparation

• I have recent photographs of my dog.
• My emergency carer has the necessary information.
• My pet sitter knows what to do if the dog escapes.
• My veterinary contact details are current.
• I have checked my home and garden escape risks.
• The emergency plan has been reviewed.

Frequently asked questions

Does every dog need a microchip in the UK?

Dogs must generally be microchipped and registered by eight weeks of age, subject to limited exemptions. The registered information must also remain up to date.

Is a microchip the same as a GPS tracker?

No. A microchip contains a unique identification number that an appropriate scanner can read. It doesn’t transmit your dog’s location.

Does my dog need a tag if they’re microchipped?

Yes. In England, dogs in public places generally need a collar displaying the owner’s name and address, even when microchipped.

Is a telephone number enough on a dog tag?

No. A telephone number helps, but the legal requirement is the owner’s name and address. You can include a telephone number, too.

Do I have to display my dog’s name?

No. Your dog’s name isn’t required on the identification tag.

Can I put an ID tag on the harness instead of the collar?

I wouldn’t rely on that alone. The legal requirement concerns identification on the collar, subject to the applicable exceptions. A separate identification collar is generally clearer.

How do I find out which microchip database my dog uses?

Find the microchip number and use the microchip-checking information linked from GOV.UK. If you don’t have the number, ask a veterinary practice to scan your dog.

Can I update the microchip details myself?

Most databases let keepers update their information, often online. Contact the registered database directly and follow its instructions. A fee may apply.

What happens if I adopt a dog whose microchip is still registered to the previous keeper?

Contact the relevant database and follow its transfer process. Record the current keeper’s details correctly. Keep any adoption or transfer paperwork.

Does microchip registration prove that I legally own the dog?

Not necessarily. The microchip identifies the registered keeper, and registration alone isn’t conclusive proof of legal ownership.

Should my house sitter put their telephone number on my dog’s collar?

An additional temporary contact tag may be useful, but the dog’s normal legally required identification should remain in place. Agree the arrangements with your sitter before travelling.

Do GPS trackers replace microchips?

No. GPS devices are optional tracking aids and don’t replace compulsory microchipping, identification or secure handling.

Can you help me check my new dog’s safety arrangements?

Yes. My Pet and Home Readiness Visit covers practical preparation, including identification records, access arrangements and potential escape risks. It doesn’t include veterinary procedures or professional security certification.

A few minutes that could make an enormous difference

I hope you never have to rely on your dog’s microchip to get them home.

I hope a stranger never needs to use their identification tag.

And I hope all those careful checks of the garden gate seem completely unnecessary.

But I’d rather spend five minutes making sure everything is correct than discover there’s a problem when a dog has gone missing.

It’s such a simple part of responsible dog ownership.

Check the microchip.

Check the registration.

Check the identification tag.

And make sure your emergency contacts know what to do.

Because however much we love our dogs, they don’t understand that they should stop and tell somebody their address when they’re lost.

For more practical guidance, visit my New Pet Owner Hub, Emergency Pet Care Plan and Dog Leads and Harnesses Buying Guide.

It is also worth reading my advice on dog theft prevention

And if you’re based in Finchley or Muswell Hill and would like help with suitable one-to-one pet care, you’re welcome to contact me.

First published: 2 February 2014

Substantially updated: 26 October 2026