We've spent years taking tiny hand and footprints of babies, and paws are a different game. They wriggle, they lick the paper, and halfway through they decide it's time for a walk. The good news is that a clear paw print, and a nose print beside it, is very doable at home with the right kit and a little patience.
Here's what works, whether you're doing it for fun while they're young, or because you'd like to keep something of them while you still can.
Why a nose print too?
A paw print is lovely, but a dog's nose print is something else. The lines and creases on a nose are individual to each dog. In a 2021 study of beagle puppies, researchers found each pup's nose pattern was set by about two months old, stayed the same as they grew, and was clearly different even between littermates. Cats' noses are thought to be just as individual, although they've been studied far less.
So we keep both. On our A4 foil print, their paw print and nose print sit side by side, both exactly life size.
What you'll need
An inkless kit is the way to go. A special wipe goes on the paw pad, and when you press it onto the reactive paper, the print appears. There's no ink on their fur, nothing to wash off and nothing on your carpet.
Our pet paw print kit comes with two inkless wipes, four papers and a simple step-by-step guide, so you can have as many goes as you need. Kits are posted the next working day after you order.
Pick your moment
- After a walk or a meal. A sleepy dog is a far more willing one.
- A quiet room. Turn off the telly and keep other pets out of the way.
- Two pairs of hands. One person cuddles and hands out treats, the other takes the print.
- Let them sniff the paper first. A new rustling sheet is a lot more interesting than one they've already met.
- Long fur between the pads? A tidy from your groomer a few days before helps the shape of each pad show.
Taking the paw print
- Put the paper on a firm, flat surface, such as a hardback book or a tray, so you can bring it to them rather than the other way round.
- Wipe the pad of their paw with the inkless wipe, covering every pad.
- Press the paw gently and evenly onto the paper, then lift it straight up. Don't slide or rock it.
- Have another go on a fresh sheet if the first one smudges. That’s what the four papers are for.
Taking the nose print
Noses take a little more coaxing. Wipe their nose the same way, then press the paper gently against it rather than pushing their face into the paper. Holding a treat just above the sheet helps them lean in and keep still for a second.
A very wet nose can blur, so a quick pat dry with a tissue first can help. Cats are often less keen on the nose part than dogs are. If it isn't happening, don't force it: a lovely paw print on its own is still a lovely paw print.
Sending it to us
Choose your best sheet and photograph it in good daylight, with all four corners of the paper in view. Upload the photo, add their name and a date, and choose your card, foil and frame colours.
Our studio checks every print and tidies any smudges, keeping every pad and line. We never resize or redraw it: it's their paw and their nose, exactly as they are. You'll get a digital proof within one working day, and if a nose print isn't clear enough to foil, we'll tell you before anything is made. Once you approve it, we foil your print and post it back within 5 working days.
What you can have made
An A4 foil print. Their paw print and nose print together, side by side, exactly life size, in real metallic foil using our Foil Fusion Technology™, with their name and a date. A smaller A5 print holds one print on its own, the paw or the nose.
Framed, or ready for a frame of your own. The Foil Print Kit is £29.95, the Framed Foil Print Kit is £44.95 with a frame included, and the Premium Kit is £54.95, boxed and gift-ready. Kit postage is £4.95, and free when you order two or more. You can see everything that comes in each kit on the pet kit page.
If you're saying goodbye
If your pet has died, or you're saying goodbye soon, you don't have to do this yourself. Your vet or pet crematorium's own team can take the paw and nose print with our inkless kit while your pet is in their care. It has to be done before cremation, so it's best to ask as early as you can.
You choose a package with them, from £39 for a pair of keyrings to £149 for two framed prints and four keyrings, and pay as part of your bill. The original prints go home with you, and the finished keepsake comes straight to your door, framed. If your vet doesn't work with us yet, tell us who they are and we'll contact them for you. You can read how it all works on our pet memorial keepsakes page.