How to make a dog paw print on paper

Maggie is a writer and author, whose first book, Clicker Dog Training: The Better Path to a Well-Behaved Pup was published by Open Air Publishing. When she's not writing (or reading books about grammar), she teaches writing courses to college students and professionals who want to nail down the basics of communication. Outside of work, she hikes, throws dinner parties, plays with her three dogs and cat, and travels as much as possible.

Ever thought of taking a print of your dog’s paws? Yes, it sounds a bit weird but it is not wrong at all. There can be plenty of reasons why you might want to take your furry friend’s paw prints. Some take their dog’s paw prints for school art projects whereas some take it for mold casts to represent them as a member of their family.

People also get tattoos of their dog’s paw prints to immortalize them. Whatever the reason is, it is always a good choice to take the prints of your dog. And if you are also curious about how to take one of those, this article for you.

Dog Paw Print Kits

There are some dog paw print kits available in the market that help you in getting a cast of your dog’s paws. Cremation and memorial services take a paw print for you as a memorial in case your dog has passed away recently. But it is always better to take your dog’s paw prints by yourself which can also be DIY project and bonding experience with your dog.

A necessary thing to consider first before taking a print is to make sure that your dog’s paws are clean. If not, a quick wipe down with a moist towel is all that it takes. However, you should not do anything if your dog’s paw is cut or injured. Here are some ways that you can use to take your dog’s paw prints:

Paints

If you choose to use paints, make sure that they are child safe. Any paint that is easy to clean will work very fine. Washable finger paints and body paints work best and as they don’t cost too much, they are worth trying. Furthermore, water-based or tempera paints are also good for printing as they are non-toxic.

When you are done selecting the appropriate paint, just dip your dog’s paw in the paint and then gently press it onto a robust paper for a few seconds. Afterward, lift your dog’s paw straight up and wash it properly. At last, expect to take more than one print to confirm that you get a good print.

Dough

When it comes to taking a paw print of your dog, the dough is one of the safest ways to take a good imprint. First, mix a cup of flour with a cup of salt adding water until you have enough to kneed for making a ball. Cover the resulted mold with some wax paper.

After covering the mold, press your dog’s foot into it. Then you can bake the pressing at a temperature of about 200 Fahrenheit for approximately 2 or 3 hours. Lastly, just be sure to check the pressing at a regular interval, otherwise, it might crack.

Inks

Ink is another great option to imprint your dog’s paw. Despite resulting a bit messier sometimes, it is still one that deserves a recommendation. Always remember to choose a non-toxic and archival ink for imprinting as it is less likely to fade in comparison to others.

After choosing a suitable ink, just apply it to your dog’s paw properly and then press it to a clean paper or a wooden plank. Make sure that the print has resulted correctly. At last, don’t forget to wash your dog’s paws after printing as they can lick it. Though non-toxic, it is not good for dogs to lick ink.

Safety Measures to follow while printing your dog’s paw

After discussing the ways to print your dog’s paws, here are what you should consider while printing:

• Don’t forget to wash your dog’s paws after applying ink and paint methods to print.
• Never use these methods if your dog’s paw has a cut or injury. It can worsen the condition.
• Make sure your dog’s paws are clean before applying any of these methods.
• You should not let your dog lick the ink or paint. It doesn’t matter whether if they are non-toxic, they, in no possible way, are meant to be licked.
• Use paints and inks that are child safe and washable.

Visit Doglime for more dog related information.

How to get a dog paw print on paper without using an inkpad? from answers

Creating a print from your pet’s paw is a special bonding experience that results in a print that will be treasured in your heart forever. Create just one print or make a decorative piece of art using multiple prints and colours.

Before you start any paw print project make sure you decide on what you are doing before starting. This will reduce any stress or anxiety your pet may experience. Making a game plan before starting will also allow for your project to go a lot smoother. Always protect the area where you are working to prevent mess and reduce your clean up. Whichever technique you choose to create your print with, make sure to reward your pet throughout.

Below are 3 ways to get your pet’s paw print:

Inkpad prints

In my experience of creating paw print artwork, I like to work with larger pieces of paper that I can print onto multiple times then cut out my favourite sections. For ink pad prints you will need regular printer paper or cardstock and a non-toxic ink pad. For my example below, I used ColorBox Pigment Ink Pad, which is non-toxic and acid-free. The process for creating the print using the ink pad was very straight forward with beautiful results. Simply press your pet’s paw onto the ink pad then onto the paper, pressing down on all the areas of the paw to get an even print. Try not to move your pet’s paw on the page as this can cause the print to smudge. Slowly lift the paw from the page to relieve your pet’s paw print. The ink pad that I used is slow-drying, so you will need to leave the page for 24 hours to fully dry. You may be able to find a non-toxic quick-drying ink pad. After you have completed making the prints, wash your pet’s paw thoroughly with soapy water.

Paw Impressions

You can create an impression of your pet’s paw using clay, plaster, or salt dough. All materials will produce slightly different results. For my example, I created an impression with a salt dough recipe for 1 cup of flour, 1/2 cup of water, and 1/2 cup of salt. Combine all ingredients then knead for 5 – 10 minutes until the dough is fully formed. Roll out the dough to approximately 1/4″ thick. You can use a cookie cutter to create the shape for your print before or after creating the impression. Press your pet’s paw into the salt dough firmly and slowly remove it to relieve their print. Bake the impression at 300°C for 30 minutes.

From a photo

You can take a photo of your pet’s paw and send it to Comfort Connects to create a digital paw print for you. You may need someone to help you take a picture of your pet’s paw or you can get a sneaky photo of their paw when they are sleeping. Below is a photo of my pet’s paw and the digital paw print created from it. Try to take multiple photos of the paw, with and without flash for better results in the digital print.

Are you interested in having a digital copy of your pet’s paw print created? Have one created below.

Create a digital paw print

Maybe you are interested in preserving your pet’s actual paw print in a different way. See more examples below of preserving their paw print with their hair or ashes in a custom memorial pendant or ornament or in pocket stone. The pieces below can be created using any of the paw print techniques listed in this post.

If you are looking for other paw print ideas, be sure to check out our other blog post below:

14 Things you can do with your pet’s paw print

Do you have an ink pad paw print from your pet, an impression of their paw, or maybe even a photo of their paw? I’m going to share some ideas for what you can do with your pet’s paw print. Firstly, if you haven’t got a digital paw print created, I strongly recommend doing so. […]

Read more